Places Of Honor
Preaching
Preaching The Parables
Series III, Cycle C
1. Text
On one occasion when Jesus was going to the house of a leader of the Pharisees to eat a meal on the sabbath, they were watching him closely.
[7] When he noticed how the guests chose the places of honor, he told them a parable. [8] "When you are invited by someone to a wedding banquet, do not sit down at the place of honor, in case someone more distinguished than you has been invited by your host; [9] and the host who invited both of you may come and say to you, 'Give this person your place,' and then in disgrace you would start to take the lowest place. [10] But when you are invited, go and sit down at the lowest place, so that when your host comes, he may say to you, 'Friend, move up higher'; then you will be honored in the presence of all who sit at the table with you. [11] For all who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted."
[12] He said also to the one who had invited him, "When you give a luncheon or a dinner, do not invite your friends or your brothers or your relatives or rich neighbors, in case they may invite you in return, and you would be repaid. [13] But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, and the blind. [14] And you will be blessed, because they cannot repay you, for you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous."
2. What's Happening?
First Point Of Action
When Jesus was going to eat on the sabbath at the house of a Pharisee, he was watched closely.
Second Point Of Action
Jesus notices that the guests chose the places of honor. He tells them a parable. He said if you are invited to a wedding banquet, avoid the disgrace of sitting in the place of honor only to find that someone more distinguished than you arrives and your host must ask you to move.
Third Point Of Action
Rather, take the lowest place so your host tells you to move to the highest so your friends can enjoy your company.
Fourth Point Of Action
Jesus concludes with the wisdom saying, "For all who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted."
Fifth Point Of Action
Jesus turns to his host and tells him when he gives a luncheon or a dinner, not to invite those who can repay the invitations -- friends, relatives, or rich neighbors, but rather to invite those who cannot repay him -- the poor, the crippled, the lame, and the blind.
Sixth Point Of Action
Jesus tells the host he will be blessed. The host will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.
3. Spadework
Blessed
Of the 221 "blessed" references, 38 occur in Genesis, 22 in Psalms, and 34 in the Gospels. Of those, nine are in Matthew, four in Mark, eighteen in Luke, and three in John.
The Hebrew beatitudes for everyday life read:
[I]f you obey your God,
Blessed shall you be in the city, and blessed shall you be in the field.
Blessed shall be the fruit of your womb, the fruit of your ground, and the fruit of your livestock, both the increase of your cattle and the issue of your flock.
Blessed shall be your basket and your kneading bowl.
Blessed shall you be when you come in, and blessed shall you be when you go out.
-- Deuteronomy 28:3-6
However, for the disobedient the "cursed's" begin. (See Genesis 3:14-19.) The New Testament Beatitudes read:
Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.
Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy.
Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.
Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account.
-- Matthew 5:3-11 and Luke 6:20-22
Next follow the "woe's." (See only Luke 6:24-26.)
One "blessed the Lord" (Genesis 24:48), was "blessed by the Lord" (Genesis 9:26), said, "Blessed be the [Lord] [God]" (Genesis 14:20 and 24:27), and is "the blessed of the Lord" (Genesis 26:28-29).
Sometimes the blessing is with an action: From the seed Isaac planted he "reaped a hundredfold. The Lord blessed him" (Genesis 26:12) and "Be fruitful and multiply" (Genesis 1:22, 1:28, and 9:1). See also Isaiah 51:2.
Sometimes the blessing is with words: "[Israel] blessed Joseph, and said, 'The God before whom my ancestors Abraham and Isaac walked, the God who has been my shepherd all my life to this day, the angel who has redeemed me from all harm, bless the boys; and in them let my name be perpetuated, and the name of my ancestors Abraham and Isaac; and let them grow into a multitude on the earth' " (Genesis 48:15-16).
Blessing is multi-directional. God blesses, people bless, and people are blessed: " 'Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, from everlasting to everlasting.' Then all the people said 'Amen!' and praised the Lord" (1 Chronicles 16:36 as quoted from Psalm 106:48). Isaac blessed Esau, thinking he was Jacob, while acknowledging " 'the smell of a field that the Lord has blessed' " (Genesis 27:27). "Saul said, 'May you be blessed by the Lord for showing me compassion!' " (1 Samuel 23:21).
The blessing is a hope for well-being, like offering one the shalom of God. "Surely the Lord your God has blessed you in all your undertakings; he knows your going through this great wilderness. These forty years the Lord your God has been with you; you have lacked nothing" (Deuteronomy 2:7).
Blessing is a way of saying thanks: "Then the women said to Naomi, 'Blessed be the Lord, who has not left you this day without next-of-kin; and may his name be renowned in Israel!' " (Ruth 4:14). God blesses the generous who share their bread with the poor (Proverbs 22:9) as does God bless "those who trust in the Lord, whose trust is the Lord" (Jeremiah 17:7).
Overflowing with "blessed," the Psalmist sings that "blessed" is a good state of being: "[B]lessed be [the Lord] [God]" (18:46, 28:6, 31:21, 41:13, 66:20, 72:18, 72:19, 78:19, 89:52, 113:2, 118:26, 124:6, 135:21, and 144:1).
How better to pay tribute to God than to bless God? "Awesome is God in his sanctuary, / the God of Israel; / he gives power and strength to his people. / Blessed be God!" (Psalm 68:35) and "Blessed are you, O Lord; / teach me your statutes" (Psalm 119:12).
The circle of blessings continues in the New Testament. When Elizabeth learned about Mary's pregnancy, she said, "Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb." (See Luke 1:42 and 1:45.) Simeon took the child Jesus in his arms at the temple and blessed him. (See Luke 2:34.)
We hear a frustrated Jesus sigh to his disciples, "And blessed is anyone who takes no offense at me" (Matthew 11:6 and Luke 7:23). Jesus blesses Simon Peter for acknowledging that Jesus is "the Messiah, the Son of the living God" because "flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father in heaven" (Matthew 16:16, 17). He tells Thomas, "Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe" (John 20:29). He blesses the loaves and fish (Matthew 14:19 and Mark 6:41), the children (Mark 10:16), and before his ascension, the disciples (Luke 24:50).
On Palm Sunday, crowds wending ahead of Jesus shouted, "Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest heaven!" (Matthew 21:9). See also Mark 11:9.
"For I tell you, you will not see me again until you say, 'Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord' " (Matthew 23:39). Those who are blessed by God will " 'inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world' " (Matthew 25:34). In John, Jesus says we are blessed if we act upon knowing that "servants are not greater than their master, nor are messengers greater than the one who sent them" (John 13:17). He says, "Blessed is that slave whom his master will find at work when he arrives" (Matthew 24:46).
Exalted
To exalt is to elevate in rank, character, or status. Further, to exalt is to praise, glorify, or honor, to sing the praises of. Self-inflated exaltation is false. Scripture generally reads the passive "exalted (by)" unless God exalts God. Twenty-two of the seventy instances of "exalted" are from Psalms.
We cannot exalt ourselves; but God can: " 'Now I will arise,' says the Lord, 'now I will lift myself up; now I will be exalted' " (Isaiah 33:10). See also Psalm 46:10. We can, however, exalt God: "Yours, O Lord, are the greatness, the power, the glory, the victory, and the majesty; for all that is in the heavens and on the earth is yours; yours is the kingdom, O Lord, and you are exalted as head above all" (1 Chronicles 29:11). See also 2 Samuel 22:47, 1 Chronicles 29:11, Job 36:22, and Psalm 21:13.
We or ours are exalted by God: "See, my servant shall prosper; he shall be exalted and lifted up, and shall be very high" (Isaiah 52:13). A kingdom is exalted (Numbers 24:7, 2 Samuel 5:12, and 1 Chronicles 14:2). A house is exalted (1 Kings 8:13 and 2 Chronicles 6:2 and 7:21). A person is exalted (Leviticus 21:10, Joshua 4:14, 2 Samuel 22:49 and 23:1, 1 Kings 14:7 and 16:2, 1 Chronicles 29:11 and 29:25, and 2 Chronicles 32:23). "Your name" is exalted (Nehemiah 9:5). "[The mighty] are exalted a little while" (Job 24:24a). Some exalt themselves" (1 Kings 1:5).
Honor(s)
Half of the sixteen occurrences of "honor" in the Gospels refer to honoring one's father and mother. "Honor" appears 126 times in the Bible. God gave to Solomon riches, possessions, and honor because he had not asked for them but asked rather for wisdom and knowledge for himself. (See 1 Kings 3:13 and 2 Chronicles 1:11-12.)
The Psalmist is clear that honor is a gift from an honorable God: "Whoever serves me must follow me, and where I am, there will my servant be also. Whoever serves me, the Father will honor" (John 12:26); "Bless the Lord, O my soul. / O Lord my God, you are very great. / You are clothed with honor and majesty" (Psalm 104:1); "Full of honor and majesty is his work / and his righteousness endures forever" (Psalm 111:3); "[W]hat are human beings that you are mindful of them, / mortals that you care for them? / Yet you have made them a little lower than God, / and crowned them with glory and honor" (Psalm 8:4-5); and "On God rests my deliverance and my honor; / my mighty rock, my refuge is in God" (Psalm 62:7).
Honor is the result of living the right way: "For the Lord God is a sun and shield; / he bestows favor and honor. / No good thing does the Lord withhold / from those who walk uprightly" (Psalm 84:11). "Those who love me, I will deliver; / I will protect those who know my name. / When they call to me, I will answer them; / I will be with them in trouble, / I will rescue them and honor them" (Psalm 91:14-15). See also Psalm 112:9.
According to Proverbs, wisdom merits honor (Proverbs 3:35). "A person's pride will bring humiliation, / but one who is lowly in spirit will obtain honor" (Proverbs 29:23). Humility is a prerequisite (Proverbs 15:33, 18:12, and 22:4) as are righteousness and kindness (Proverbs 21:21). "It is not good to eat much honey, / or to seek honor on top of honor" (Proverbs 25:27).
On the other hand, the insincerity of honoring God with the lips "while their hearts are far from [God] and their worship of [God] is a human commandment learned by rote" yields unfavorable results. (See Isaiah 29:13ff, Matthew 15:8, and Mark 7:6.) Honor is to be given, not demanded: "Woe to you Pharisees! For you love to have the seat of honor in the synagogues and to be greeted with respect in the marketplaces" (Luke 11:43). Recognition that honor is due to an individual may be discerned only from the perspective of distance. (See Matthew 13:57 and Mark 6:4.)
(To Be) Honored
The invited guest in the present parable, who sits at the lowest place, "will be honored" by the host who then invites the guest to "move up higher." Among the other twenty occasions of "honored" are the following: Ahimelech spoke of the faithful servant David, the king's son-in-law, as honored in the king's house. (See 1 Samuel 22:14.) The honored "heed reproof" (Proverbs 13:18). "[A]nyone who takes care of a master will be honored" (Proverbs 27:18).
Host (s)
One meaning of host is a very large or indefinite number, a multitude. The relevant definition here, however, is one who hosts or provides hospitality in an official or social capacity. It also is of interest that while there are biblical instances of gracious hospitality, such as Abraham's when God appeared as three men by the oaks of Mamre (Genesis 18:1ff) or the father's hospitality when the prodigal son returned home (Luke 15ff), words such as "hosting" and "hospitality" are minimal in the biblical lexicon.
Direct hospitality talk appears only in the Epistles: "Contribute to the needs of the saints; extend hospitality to strangers" (Romans 12:13); "Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by doing that some have entertained angels without knowing it" (Hebrews 13:2); and "Be hospitable to one another without complaining" (1 Peter 4:9). See also 1 Timothy 3:2 and 5:10 and Titus 1:8. The 229 occurrences of "hosts" appear as a descriptive of God with the exception of Luke 14:8 and one reference to "a host of peoples" (Ezekiel 23:24).
Humility
See Two Men At Prayer, Parable 18, Cycle C.
Place Of Honor
In addition to the present phrase, similar words appear in six additional instances: "[God] raises up the poor from the dust; he lifts the needy from the ash heap, to make them sit with princes and inherit a seat of honor. For the pillars of the earth are the Lord's, and on them he has set the world" (1 Samuel 2:8).
Christ scorns the religious leaders of his day for taking "the best seats in the synagogues and places of honor at banquets!" (Mark 12:39). See also Luke 11:43 and 20:46.
Resurrection
All 34 references to "resurrection" appear in the New Testament. Note the generosity of spirit in the Acts reference to "the resurrection of the righteous": "I have a hope in God -- a hope that they themselves also accept -- that there will be a resurrection of both the righteous and the unrighteous. Therefore I do my best always to have a clear conscience toward God and all people" (Acts 24:15-16).
Resurrection appears as part of a phrase: One finds "resurrection of the dead" in Matthew 22:31; Acts 4:2, 23:6, and 24:21; 1 Corinthians 15:21 and 15:42; and Hebrews 6:2. "In the resurrection from the dead" occurs in Luke 20:35 and Romans 1:4. "In the resurrection" appears in Matthew 22:28 and 22:30; and Luke 20:33. Luke 20:36 reads, "at the resurrection." "Christ's resurrection" occurs in Acts 1:22, 2:31, and 4:33; and in 1 Peter 1:3 and 3:21. John speaks of "the resurrection of life" and "the resurrection of condemnation." "Do not be astonished at this; for the hour is coming when all who are in their graves will hear his voice and will come out -- those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation" (John 5:28-29). Several New Testament writers mention the argument of belief in resurrection. See Matthew 22:23, Mark 12:18, Luke 20:27, Acts 17:32 and 23:8, and 1 Corinthians 15:12.
(The) Righteous
Of the 140 "the righteous" references, 37 appear in the Psalms. God "watches over the way of the righteous ..." (Psalm 1:6). God blesses the righteous and covers "them with favor as with a shield" (Psalm 5:12). "The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and his ears are open to their cry" (Psalm 34:15). God hears when the righteous cry for help "and rescues them from all their troubles" (Psalm 34:17).
Still, the way of the righteous is not automatic bliss: "[God] makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the righteous and on the unrighteous" (Matthew 5:45). See also Psalm 11:5.
Both the Psalmist and the writer of Proverbs are given to couplets comparing the righteous to the wicked: "The wicked borrow, and do not pay back, but the righteous are generous and keep giving" (Psalm 37:21). See also Psalm 37:16-17.
Proverbs 10 through 15, 21, 28, and 29 present a series of comparisons between the righteous and the wicked: "Blessings are on the head of the righteous, but the mouth of the wicked conceals violence. The memory of the righteous is a blessing, but the name of the wicked will rot" (Proverbs 10:6-7). "When justice is done, it is a joy to the righteous, but dismay to evildoers" (Proverbs 21:15). "Then once more you shall see the difference between the righteous and the wicked, between one who serves God and one who does not serve him" (Malachi 3:18).
Are the righteous always the underdogs? "[T]he Lord opens the eyes of the blind. / The Lord lifts up those who are bowed down; / the Lord loves the righteous" (Psalm 146:8). "People will say, / 'Surely there is a reward for the righteous; / surely there is a God who judges on earth' " (Psalm 58:11).
The righteous are an aware, faithful, and persevering lot: "Yet the righteous hold to their way, and they that have clean hands grow stronger and stronger" (Job 17:9). See also Proverbs 9:9 and Psalm 37:30. "Look at the proud! Their spirit is not right in them, but the righteous live by their faith" (Habakkuk 2:4). See also Luke 1:17 and 5:32.
4. Parallel Scripture
Banquets
"[D]o not invite your friends or your brothers or your relatives or rich neighbors ... invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, and the blind" (Luke 14:12, 13). Compare with guest lists of other biblical banquets:
At the other wedding banquet, the invited guests could not be bothered to come, so the host "said to his slaves, 'The wedding is ready, but those invited were not worthy. Go therefore into the main streets, and invite everyone you find to the wedding banquet.' Those slaves went out into the streets and gathered all whom they found, both good and bad; so the wedding hall was filled with guests" (Matthew 22:8-10).
In Esther three banquets were given: the king's "for all the people present in the citadel of Susa, both great and small" (Esther 1:5); the queen's for the women (see Esther 1:9); and the king's "for all his officials and ministers" (Esther 2:18). Herod gave a banquet "for his courtiers and officers and for the leaders of Galilee" (Mark 6:21). "Then Levi gave a great banquet for him in his house; and there was a large crowd of tax collectors and others sitting at the table with them" (Luke 5:29).
Exalted Humility
In the present parable, Jesus says, "For all who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted" (Luke 14:11). In the parable of Two Men At Prayer (Cycle C, Parable 18), Jesus says, "... for all who exalt themselves will be humbled, but all who humble themselves will be exalted" (see Luke 18:9-14). In Matthew, Jesus says, "The greatest among you will be your servant. All who exalt themselves will be humbled, and all who humble themselves will be exalted" (Matthew 23:11-12).
Also in Matthew, Jesus says, "Whoever becomes humble like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven" (Matthew 18:4). Capernaum will not be exalted but will be brought down. (See Matthew 11:23 and Luke 10:15.)
5. Chat Room
Michelle: We had a clergy couple in our rural church who were both awarded honorary doctorate degrees after serving for a number of years. Unlike academic degrees earned after book study, this degree was a blessing, a gift for life work. It was earned, literally at times, in the field. Completely surprised, each minister quietly credited the other, saying their seminary must have felt it could not award one without the other. It took a bit before their reserve gave way to full-blown delight. Still, they continued to use the "Reverend" title, lest "Doctor" seem ostentatious to farm folk.
Francisco: This is the surprise of blessing. God notices. This is being taken unawares with the invitation to sit in the honored seat.
Gary: To our surprise, we do have a positive effect upon others without design. To our surprise, others observe and reflect upon our efforts. To our surprise, our enjoyable and demanding work is acknowledged when our minds are turned away from recompense or reward and least expect it.
Francisco: Blessing is good. It occurs to me that perhaps blessing strikes when God observes that a part of our soul needs tending. Our tender and tending God says, "Now is the time."
Gary: The soul also needs tending when self-aggrandizement happens. We should not have to seek recognition. It will come when it is appropriate.
Michelle: The part of the soul that needs the ego trip suffers its own hunger. I can always tell when the domineering, spiritually abusive partner of a woman I know is on the rampage again. She also becomes obnoxious by playing the one-upmanship game. She demands to be right. She must have the last word. She --
Francisco: She needs a blessing. She is fighting for emotional survival. She is starving for worth. Her opinion needs to count. Nobody recognizes her validity, so she attempts to claim one for herself. She needs a blessing.
Gary: Our conversation has awakened two phrases in my mind: The distinguished disgrace of taking the humble seat if by nature you are a proud person. Exalted humility and what you do with it if you are a naturally humble person.
Francisco: Distinguished disgrace and exalted humility, those are ironic contradictions for you. It invites me to think about the inner continuum that ranges within each of us from the need for affirmation to the need to affirm others.
Michelle: I suppose somewhere on that continuum is the variable line where inner discontent and inner ease meet. My thoughts go to how the world around us perceives us, and how that differs from how we view ourselves.
Francisco: I would add another phrase to ponder -- graciousness in perceiving what is blessing. What are the voices from whom we need to hear blessing? Those around us who mean something to us? That valid affirmation from our own generosity of spirit? The voice of our Creator that sees beyond all sorts of artificial position to show itself in any number of ways as blessing?
Michelle: Thanks to a gracious and faithful God, modern day invitations to the place of honor come when you least expect them.
On one occasion when Jesus was going to the house of a leader of the Pharisees to eat a meal on the sabbath, they were watching him closely.
[7] When he noticed how the guests chose the places of honor, he told them a parable. [8] "When you are invited by someone to a wedding banquet, do not sit down at the place of honor, in case someone more distinguished than you has been invited by your host; [9] and the host who invited both of you may come and say to you, 'Give this person your place,' and then in disgrace you would start to take the lowest place. [10] But when you are invited, go and sit down at the lowest place, so that when your host comes, he may say to you, 'Friend, move up higher'; then you will be honored in the presence of all who sit at the table with you. [11] For all who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted."
[12] He said also to the one who had invited him, "When you give a luncheon or a dinner, do not invite your friends or your brothers or your relatives or rich neighbors, in case they may invite you in return, and you would be repaid. [13] But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, and the blind. [14] And you will be blessed, because they cannot repay you, for you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous."
2. What's Happening?
First Point Of Action
When Jesus was going to eat on the sabbath at the house of a Pharisee, he was watched closely.
Second Point Of Action
Jesus notices that the guests chose the places of honor. He tells them a parable. He said if you are invited to a wedding banquet, avoid the disgrace of sitting in the place of honor only to find that someone more distinguished than you arrives and your host must ask you to move.
Third Point Of Action
Rather, take the lowest place so your host tells you to move to the highest so your friends can enjoy your company.
Fourth Point Of Action
Jesus concludes with the wisdom saying, "For all who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted."
Fifth Point Of Action
Jesus turns to his host and tells him when he gives a luncheon or a dinner, not to invite those who can repay the invitations -- friends, relatives, or rich neighbors, but rather to invite those who cannot repay him -- the poor, the crippled, the lame, and the blind.
Sixth Point Of Action
Jesus tells the host he will be blessed. The host will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.
3. Spadework
Blessed
Of the 221 "blessed" references, 38 occur in Genesis, 22 in Psalms, and 34 in the Gospels. Of those, nine are in Matthew, four in Mark, eighteen in Luke, and three in John.
The Hebrew beatitudes for everyday life read:
[I]f you obey your God,
Blessed shall you be in the city, and blessed shall you be in the field.
Blessed shall be the fruit of your womb, the fruit of your ground, and the fruit of your livestock, both the increase of your cattle and the issue of your flock.
Blessed shall be your basket and your kneading bowl.
Blessed shall you be when you come in, and blessed shall you be when you go out.
-- Deuteronomy 28:3-6
However, for the disobedient the "cursed's" begin. (See Genesis 3:14-19.) The New Testament Beatitudes read:
Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.
Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy.
Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.
Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account.
-- Matthew 5:3-11 and Luke 6:20-22
Next follow the "woe's." (See only Luke 6:24-26.)
One "blessed the Lord" (Genesis 24:48), was "blessed by the Lord" (Genesis 9:26), said, "Blessed be the [Lord] [God]" (Genesis 14:20 and 24:27), and is "the blessed of the Lord" (Genesis 26:28-29).
Sometimes the blessing is with an action: From the seed Isaac planted he "reaped a hundredfold. The Lord blessed him" (Genesis 26:12) and "Be fruitful and multiply" (Genesis 1:22, 1:28, and 9:1). See also Isaiah 51:2.
Sometimes the blessing is with words: "[Israel] blessed Joseph, and said, 'The God before whom my ancestors Abraham and Isaac walked, the God who has been my shepherd all my life to this day, the angel who has redeemed me from all harm, bless the boys; and in them let my name be perpetuated, and the name of my ancestors Abraham and Isaac; and let them grow into a multitude on the earth' " (Genesis 48:15-16).
Blessing is multi-directional. God blesses, people bless, and people are blessed: " 'Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, from everlasting to everlasting.' Then all the people said 'Amen!' and praised the Lord" (1 Chronicles 16:36 as quoted from Psalm 106:48). Isaac blessed Esau, thinking he was Jacob, while acknowledging " 'the smell of a field that the Lord has blessed' " (Genesis 27:27). "Saul said, 'May you be blessed by the Lord for showing me compassion!' " (1 Samuel 23:21).
The blessing is a hope for well-being, like offering one the shalom of God. "Surely the Lord your God has blessed you in all your undertakings; he knows your going through this great wilderness. These forty years the Lord your God has been with you; you have lacked nothing" (Deuteronomy 2:7).
Blessing is a way of saying thanks: "Then the women said to Naomi, 'Blessed be the Lord, who has not left you this day without next-of-kin; and may his name be renowned in Israel!' " (Ruth 4:14). God blesses the generous who share their bread with the poor (Proverbs 22:9) as does God bless "those who trust in the Lord, whose trust is the Lord" (Jeremiah 17:7).
Overflowing with "blessed," the Psalmist sings that "blessed" is a good state of being: "[B]lessed be [the Lord] [God]" (18:46, 28:6, 31:21, 41:13, 66:20, 72:18, 72:19, 78:19, 89:52, 113:2, 118:26, 124:6, 135:21, and 144:1).
How better to pay tribute to God than to bless God? "Awesome is God in his sanctuary, / the God of Israel; / he gives power and strength to his people. / Blessed be God!" (Psalm 68:35) and "Blessed are you, O Lord; / teach me your statutes" (Psalm 119:12).
The circle of blessings continues in the New Testament. When Elizabeth learned about Mary's pregnancy, she said, "Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb." (See Luke 1:42 and 1:45.) Simeon took the child Jesus in his arms at the temple and blessed him. (See Luke 2:34.)
We hear a frustrated Jesus sigh to his disciples, "And blessed is anyone who takes no offense at me" (Matthew 11:6 and Luke 7:23). Jesus blesses Simon Peter for acknowledging that Jesus is "the Messiah, the Son of the living God" because "flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father in heaven" (Matthew 16:16, 17). He tells Thomas, "Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe" (John 20:29). He blesses the loaves and fish (Matthew 14:19 and Mark 6:41), the children (Mark 10:16), and before his ascension, the disciples (Luke 24:50).
On Palm Sunday, crowds wending ahead of Jesus shouted, "Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest heaven!" (Matthew 21:9). See also Mark 11:9.
"For I tell you, you will not see me again until you say, 'Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord' " (Matthew 23:39). Those who are blessed by God will " 'inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world' " (Matthew 25:34). In John, Jesus says we are blessed if we act upon knowing that "servants are not greater than their master, nor are messengers greater than the one who sent them" (John 13:17). He says, "Blessed is that slave whom his master will find at work when he arrives" (Matthew 24:46).
Exalted
To exalt is to elevate in rank, character, or status. Further, to exalt is to praise, glorify, or honor, to sing the praises of. Self-inflated exaltation is false. Scripture generally reads the passive "exalted (by)" unless God exalts God. Twenty-two of the seventy instances of "exalted" are from Psalms.
We cannot exalt ourselves; but God can: " 'Now I will arise,' says the Lord, 'now I will lift myself up; now I will be exalted' " (Isaiah 33:10). See also Psalm 46:10. We can, however, exalt God: "Yours, O Lord, are the greatness, the power, the glory, the victory, and the majesty; for all that is in the heavens and on the earth is yours; yours is the kingdom, O Lord, and you are exalted as head above all" (1 Chronicles 29:11). See also 2 Samuel 22:47, 1 Chronicles 29:11, Job 36:22, and Psalm 21:13.
We or ours are exalted by God: "See, my servant shall prosper; he shall be exalted and lifted up, and shall be very high" (Isaiah 52:13). A kingdom is exalted (Numbers 24:7, 2 Samuel 5:12, and 1 Chronicles 14:2). A house is exalted (1 Kings 8:13 and 2 Chronicles 6:2 and 7:21). A person is exalted (Leviticus 21:10, Joshua 4:14, 2 Samuel 22:49 and 23:1, 1 Kings 14:7 and 16:2, 1 Chronicles 29:11 and 29:25, and 2 Chronicles 32:23). "Your name" is exalted (Nehemiah 9:5). "[The mighty] are exalted a little while" (Job 24:24a). Some exalt themselves" (1 Kings 1:5).
Honor(s)
Half of the sixteen occurrences of "honor" in the Gospels refer to honoring one's father and mother. "Honor" appears 126 times in the Bible. God gave to Solomon riches, possessions, and honor because he had not asked for them but asked rather for wisdom and knowledge for himself. (See 1 Kings 3:13 and 2 Chronicles 1:11-12.)
The Psalmist is clear that honor is a gift from an honorable God: "Whoever serves me must follow me, and where I am, there will my servant be also. Whoever serves me, the Father will honor" (John 12:26); "Bless the Lord, O my soul. / O Lord my God, you are very great. / You are clothed with honor and majesty" (Psalm 104:1); "Full of honor and majesty is his work / and his righteousness endures forever" (Psalm 111:3); "[W]hat are human beings that you are mindful of them, / mortals that you care for them? / Yet you have made them a little lower than God, / and crowned them with glory and honor" (Psalm 8:4-5); and "On God rests my deliverance and my honor; / my mighty rock, my refuge is in God" (Psalm 62:7).
Honor is the result of living the right way: "For the Lord God is a sun and shield; / he bestows favor and honor. / No good thing does the Lord withhold / from those who walk uprightly" (Psalm 84:11). "Those who love me, I will deliver; / I will protect those who know my name. / When they call to me, I will answer them; / I will be with them in trouble, / I will rescue them and honor them" (Psalm 91:14-15). See also Psalm 112:9.
According to Proverbs, wisdom merits honor (Proverbs 3:35). "A person's pride will bring humiliation, / but one who is lowly in spirit will obtain honor" (Proverbs 29:23). Humility is a prerequisite (Proverbs 15:33, 18:12, and 22:4) as are righteousness and kindness (Proverbs 21:21). "It is not good to eat much honey, / or to seek honor on top of honor" (Proverbs 25:27).
On the other hand, the insincerity of honoring God with the lips "while their hearts are far from [God] and their worship of [God] is a human commandment learned by rote" yields unfavorable results. (See Isaiah 29:13ff, Matthew 15:8, and Mark 7:6.) Honor is to be given, not demanded: "Woe to you Pharisees! For you love to have the seat of honor in the synagogues and to be greeted with respect in the marketplaces" (Luke 11:43). Recognition that honor is due to an individual may be discerned only from the perspective of distance. (See Matthew 13:57 and Mark 6:4.)
(To Be) Honored
The invited guest in the present parable, who sits at the lowest place, "will be honored" by the host who then invites the guest to "move up higher." Among the other twenty occasions of "honored" are the following: Ahimelech spoke of the faithful servant David, the king's son-in-law, as honored in the king's house. (See 1 Samuel 22:14.) The honored "heed reproof" (Proverbs 13:18). "[A]nyone who takes care of a master will be honored" (Proverbs 27:18).
Host (s)
One meaning of host is a very large or indefinite number, a multitude. The relevant definition here, however, is one who hosts or provides hospitality in an official or social capacity. It also is of interest that while there are biblical instances of gracious hospitality, such as Abraham's when God appeared as three men by the oaks of Mamre (Genesis 18:1ff) or the father's hospitality when the prodigal son returned home (Luke 15ff), words such as "hosting" and "hospitality" are minimal in the biblical lexicon.
Direct hospitality talk appears only in the Epistles: "Contribute to the needs of the saints; extend hospitality to strangers" (Romans 12:13); "Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by doing that some have entertained angels without knowing it" (Hebrews 13:2); and "Be hospitable to one another without complaining" (1 Peter 4:9). See also 1 Timothy 3:2 and 5:10 and Titus 1:8. The 229 occurrences of "hosts" appear as a descriptive of God with the exception of Luke 14:8 and one reference to "a host of peoples" (Ezekiel 23:24).
Humility
See Two Men At Prayer, Parable 18, Cycle C.
Place Of Honor
In addition to the present phrase, similar words appear in six additional instances: "[God] raises up the poor from the dust; he lifts the needy from the ash heap, to make them sit with princes and inherit a seat of honor. For the pillars of the earth are the Lord's, and on them he has set the world" (1 Samuel 2:8).
Christ scorns the religious leaders of his day for taking "the best seats in the synagogues and places of honor at banquets!" (Mark 12:39). See also Luke 11:43 and 20:46.
Resurrection
All 34 references to "resurrection" appear in the New Testament. Note the generosity of spirit in the Acts reference to "the resurrection of the righteous": "I have a hope in God -- a hope that they themselves also accept -- that there will be a resurrection of both the righteous and the unrighteous. Therefore I do my best always to have a clear conscience toward God and all people" (Acts 24:15-16).
Resurrection appears as part of a phrase: One finds "resurrection of the dead" in Matthew 22:31; Acts 4:2, 23:6, and 24:21; 1 Corinthians 15:21 and 15:42; and Hebrews 6:2. "In the resurrection from the dead" occurs in Luke 20:35 and Romans 1:4. "In the resurrection" appears in Matthew 22:28 and 22:30; and Luke 20:33. Luke 20:36 reads, "at the resurrection." "Christ's resurrection" occurs in Acts 1:22, 2:31, and 4:33; and in 1 Peter 1:3 and 3:21. John speaks of "the resurrection of life" and "the resurrection of condemnation." "Do not be astonished at this; for the hour is coming when all who are in their graves will hear his voice and will come out -- those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation" (John 5:28-29). Several New Testament writers mention the argument of belief in resurrection. See Matthew 22:23, Mark 12:18, Luke 20:27, Acts 17:32 and 23:8, and 1 Corinthians 15:12.
(The) Righteous
Of the 140 "the righteous" references, 37 appear in the Psalms. God "watches over the way of the righteous ..." (Psalm 1:6). God blesses the righteous and covers "them with favor as with a shield" (Psalm 5:12). "The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and his ears are open to their cry" (Psalm 34:15). God hears when the righteous cry for help "and rescues them from all their troubles" (Psalm 34:17).
Still, the way of the righteous is not automatic bliss: "[God] makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the righteous and on the unrighteous" (Matthew 5:45). See also Psalm 11:5.
Both the Psalmist and the writer of Proverbs are given to couplets comparing the righteous to the wicked: "The wicked borrow, and do not pay back, but the righteous are generous and keep giving" (Psalm 37:21). See also Psalm 37:16-17.
Proverbs 10 through 15, 21, 28, and 29 present a series of comparisons between the righteous and the wicked: "Blessings are on the head of the righteous, but the mouth of the wicked conceals violence. The memory of the righteous is a blessing, but the name of the wicked will rot" (Proverbs 10:6-7). "When justice is done, it is a joy to the righteous, but dismay to evildoers" (Proverbs 21:15). "Then once more you shall see the difference between the righteous and the wicked, between one who serves God and one who does not serve him" (Malachi 3:18).
Are the righteous always the underdogs? "[T]he Lord opens the eyes of the blind. / The Lord lifts up those who are bowed down; / the Lord loves the righteous" (Psalm 146:8). "People will say, / 'Surely there is a reward for the righteous; / surely there is a God who judges on earth' " (Psalm 58:11).
The righteous are an aware, faithful, and persevering lot: "Yet the righteous hold to their way, and they that have clean hands grow stronger and stronger" (Job 17:9). See also Proverbs 9:9 and Psalm 37:30. "Look at the proud! Their spirit is not right in them, but the righteous live by their faith" (Habakkuk 2:4). See also Luke 1:17 and 5:32.
4. Parallel Scripture
Banquets
"[D]o not invite your friends or your brothers or your relatives or rich neighbors ... invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, and the blind" (Luke 14:12, 13). Compare with guest lists of other biblical banquets:
At the other wedding banquet, the invited guests could not be bothered to come, so the host "said to his slaves, 'The wedding is ready, but those invited were not worthy. Go therefore into the main streets, and invite everyone you find to the wedding banquet.' Those slaves went out into the streets and gathered all whom they found, both good and bad; so the wedding hall was filled with guests" (Matthew 22:8-10).
In Esther three banquets were given: the king's "for all the people present in the citadel of Susa, both great and small" (Esther 1:5); the queen's for the women (see Esther 1:9); and the king's "for all his officials and ministers" (Esther 2:18). Herod gave a banquet "for his courtiers and officers and for the leaders of Galilee" (Mark 6:21). "Then Levi gave a great banquet for him in his house; and there was a large crowd of tax collectors and others sitting at the table with them" (Luke 5:29).
Exalted Humility
In the present parable, Jesus says, "For all who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted" (Luke 14:11). In the parable of Two Men At Prayer (Cycle C, Parable 18), Jesus says, "... for all who exalt themselves will be humbled, but all who humble themselves will be exalted" (see Luke 18:9-14). In Matthew, Jesus says, "The greatest among you will be your servant. All who exalt themselves will be humbled, and all who humble themselves will be exalted" (Matthew 23:11-12).
Also in Matthew, Jesus says, "Whoever becomes humble like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven" (Matthew 18:4). Capernaum will not be exalted but will be brought down. (See Matthew 11:23 and Luke 10:15.)
5. Chat Room
Michelle: We had a clergy couple in our rural church who were both awarded honorary doctorate degrees after serving for a number of years. Unlike academic degrees earned after book study, this degree was a blessing, a gift for life work. It was earned, literally at times, in the field. Completely surprised, each minister quietly credited the other, saying their seminary must have felt it could not award one without the other. It took a bit before their reserve gave way to full-blown delight. Still, they continued to use the "Reverend" title, lest "Doctor" seem ostentatious to farm folk.
Francisco: This is the surprise of blessing. God notices. This is being taken unawares with the invitation to sit in the honored seat.
Gary: To our surprise, we do have a positive effect upon others without design. To our surprise, others observe and reflect upon our efforts. To our surprise, our enjoyable and demanding work is acknowledged when our minds are turned away from recompense or reward and least expect it.
Francisco: Blessing is good. It occurs to me that perhaps blessing strikes when God observes that a part of our soul needs tending. Our tender and tending God says, "Now is the time."
Gary: The soul also needs tending when self-aggrandizement happens. We should not have to seek recognition. It will come when it is appropriate.
Michelle: The part of the soul that needs the ego trip suffers its own hunger. I can always tell when the domineering, spiritually abusive partner of a woman I know is on the rampage again. She also becomes obnoxious by playing the one-upmanship game. She demands to be right. She must have the last word. She --
Francisco: She needs a blessing. She is fighting for emotional survival. She is starving for worth. Her opinion needs to count. Nobody recognizes her validity, so she attempts to claim one for herself. She needs a blessing.
Gary: Our conversation has awakened two phrases in my mind: The distinguished disgrace of taking the humble seat if by nature you are a proud person. Exalted humility and what you do with it if you are a naturally humble person.
Francisco: Distinguished disgrace and exalted humility, those are ironic contradictions for you. It invites me to think about the inner continuum that ranges within each of us from the need for affirmation to the need to affirm others.
Michelle: I suppose somewhere on that continuum is the variable line where inner discontent and inner ease meet. My thoughts go to how the world around us perceives us, and how that differs from how we view ourselves.
Francisco: I would add another phrase to ponder -- graciousness in perceiving what is blessing. What are the voices from whom we need to hear blessing? Those around us who mean something to us? That valid affirmation from our own generosity of spirit? The voice of our Creator that sees beyond all sorts of artificial position to show itself in any number of ways as blessing?
Michelle: Thanks to a gracious and faithful God, modern day invitations to the place of honor come when you least expect them.