The Best Seat in the House

 

April 18, 2021              NOTES NOT EDITED
The Best Seat in the House
Luke 14:7-14, 23 

SIS:  The seat of service one chooses in life represents one’s level of devotion to the Lord Jesus Christ, and the blessings that follow.

It probably won’t surprise you to learn that the most expensive seat in in the world is literally, “out of this world.”   This $19M toilet was created by the Russians for the Space Station in 2008.  the most expensive seat ever made in the history of bathroom thrones. According to one website, “it features the most extras for that special kind of bathroom activity. This toilet has leg braces to keep astronauts in the proper position while using the toilet. Most notably, this is the only toilet ever created that has an advanced filter capable of extracting water from waste and purifying it for drinking. It’s the ultimate recycling machine.”

That’s probably more information than you need, or even want to know, about “bathroom seating.”  Jesus had something to say about “proper seating.”  Let’s read about this together:  Luke 14:7-14, 23.

In our text, and in the parable of the Great Feast that follows, we have a discussion of “seating at parties” as it refers to our attitudes and responsibilities as followers of Christ in this world.  Seat choices are compared to various aspects of our Christian character and blessings.  We can examine at least six aspects of “seating issues” as it relates to the “Best Seat in the House.”  The Best Seat in the House, that is the best attitude for a believer is described as being, the LOWEST Seat, NOT the LAZY Seat, the LARGE Seat, the LEANING seat, and most importantly the Best Seat in the House of devotion to Jesus is the LIFTING Seat.  Let’s consider each seat in the House of our Devotion to Christ.

1.  The Best Seat in the House is the LAST Seat (7-10)

 

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(CSB) ⁷ He told a parable to those who were invited, when he noticed how they would choose the best places for themselves: ⁸ “When you are invited by someone to a wedding banquet, don’t sit in the place of honor, because a more distinguished person than you may have been invited by your host. ⁹ The one who invited both of you may come and say to you, ‘Give your place to this man,’ and then in humiliation, you will proceed to take the lowest place. ¹⁰ “But when you are invited, go and sit in the lowest place, so that when the one who invited you comes, he will say to you, ‘Friend, move up higher.’ You will then be honored in the presence of all the other guests.

Now in some translations, you notice the words “lowest place,” are translated “last place,” as in the NAS Bible.  Both are absolutely correct. The original word, “eschaton,” has four basic uses.  ^① It can have a sequential, or ordinal meaning as in, “last item in a series.” ^② It can have a spatial meaning as, “to the uttermost point, or a lower place, such as lower room in a house.” ^③ It can also refer to a later period of time as in, “last days.” ^④ It can refer to the rank or grade of an item as in a “humble, or lowly state.”  Except for the idea of number three (③), the full range of the meaning of “eschaton” is present to highlight a spirit of “humility, or lowliness of heart.”

The major point of this passage is to contrast the “pride of the Pharisees” with the humble, servant spirit of a true believer.  The Pharisees desired the prōtoklisia, or “first places,” because of their pride, instead of the eschaton topon, or “last places” which indicates a humble, Christ-like spirit. 

All throughout the Bible, and especially the N.T., and even more especially the Red-letter portions of the Lord’s teaching is the doctrine of the “Upside-downness of the Kingdom of God.” Everything about the Kingdom of God and Its subjects is the opposite of the kingdoms of men.  I will say more about this in a moment.  For now, we must hear the Lord calling us to “become humble servants” by taking the Lowest Seat in the House. 

Pride is the archenemy of faith.  Humility is not an easy garment to wear. It is against human nature to be humiliated, or humbled—especially to do it willingly. 

The Founder of the phenomenally successful burger chain, Wendy’s, wrote a book titled, “Well Done: The Common Guy’s Guide To Everyday Success.”  Wendy’s founder, Dave Thomas has an MBA, even though he never graduated from high school. His MBA does not stand for, “Master of Business Administration.  His MBA stands for, Mop Bucket Attitude! Dave Thomas writes, “I even have a photograph of me in my MBA graduation outfit—a snazzy knee-length work apron.  I guarantee you that I’m the only founder among America’s big companies whose picture in the corporate annual report shows [the CEO] wielding a mop and a plastic bucket.”

Dave Thomas was a Christian by the way.  He is the example of someone choosing the Lowest Seat in the House by having a humble Mop Bucket Attitude of humility where we are think we are “above the most lowly service.” A humble attitude of service which is the attitude every follower of Christ should have.

2. The Best Seat in the House is NOT the LAZY Seat (13, 23)

 

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(CSB) ¹² He also said to the one who had invited him, “When you give a lunch or a dinner, don’t invite your friends, your brothers or sisters, your relatives, or your rich neighbors, because they might invite you back, and you would be repaid. ¹³ On the contrary, when you host a banquet, invite those who are poor, maimed, lame, or blind.

Recall from verse 1 that the occasion of this “banquet” was an invitation to Jesus by a Pharisee, a leading Pharisee.  Now it says in verse one that the Pharisees,

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“were watching Him [Jesus] closely.”

So, in addressing this to the disciples, and the Pharisees, Jesus is being somewhat sarcastic. The words, “when you do such and such,” do not suggest Jesus believes the Pharisees actually have any intention of ever bowing in humble service to others to provide a “gospel banquet,” if you will.  In fact, it is a roundabout way of condemning the prideful, “serve us,” mentality of the Pharisees.

But, the words “when you give a lunch or host a banquet” do suggest that the life of a disciple is a life of DOING, not just a life of DOCTRINE.  This goes back to the foundational statement of James that says,  (James 2:18, CSB)

 

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¹⁸ But someone will say, “You have faith, and I have works.” Show me your faith without works, [DOCTRINE] and I will show you faith by my works [DOING].

“A” faith (not “the” faith), that does nothing saves nobody! 

Look at verse 23, “Then the master told the servant, ‘Go out into the highways and hedges and make them come in, so that my house may be filled.

Listen to the Great Commission, (Mat. 28:19, CSB)

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Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,

The word, “Go,” stands out in both commands of the Lord.  You can’t spell “gospel” without “g o.” Christianity is an action launched by a belief.  The two are inseparable in the teaching of the Bible.

The ministry plan for many, many churches isn’t working because disciples are “working the plan.”  Jesus planned the work, and we must work the plan. John 9:4 is important in this regard:

 

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(CSB) We must do the works of him who sent me while it is day. Night is coming when no one can work. The NASB gives a better, clearer, more emphatic translation of this text:  “We must work the works of Him who sent Me.”

The Best Seat in the House of Devotion is NOT a LAZY Seat.  Being a fully-functioning follower of Jesus is the hardest work in the world. 

3.  The Best Seat in the House is a LARGE Seat (v23b).

Let’s go back to the parable of the Large Banquet, following the parable about “Seating” in the Pharisees house. verse 21 says,

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²¹ “So the servant came back and reported these things to his master. Then in anger, the master of the house told his servant, ‘Go out quickly into the streets and alleys of the city, and bring in here the poor, maimed, blind, and lame.’  And then verse 23, “Then the master told the servant, ‘Go out into the highways and hedges and make them come in, so that my house may be filled. (CSB)

This refers to a great gathering around God’s table in Heaven.  God has a large dining hall with plenty of rooms and wants it to be filled with His children.

There is room for all God’s children at the Great Banquet in Heaven—“red and yellow, black and white, they are precious in His sight Jesus loves the little children of the world.”  I learned that little song in Sunday School when I was very little.  There’s a lot of talk of “Which Lives Matter.”  Black Lives Matter.  White Lives Matter.  Red Lives Matter.  Female Lives Matter.  Male Lives Matter.  All Lives Matter to God and His House has a Large Seat big enough for everyone.  Galatians 3:28–29 (CSB)
 

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²⁸ There is no Jew or Greek, slave or free, male and female; since you are all one in Christ Jesus. ²⁹ And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, heirs according to the promise.

Listen to Rev. 7:9 from the Contemporary English Version. Listen especially for a “key word” describing Heaven.

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After this, I saw a large crowd with more people than could be counted. They were from every race, tribe, nation, and language, and they stood before the throne and before the Lamb (CEV)

 A beloved Scottish preacher of the 19^th Century, Alexander Maclaren, explained why the first century Roman society was bewildered by and even threatened by the explosively growing Christian community.  Maclaren said this:  “Barbarian, Scythian, bond and free, male and female, Jew and Greek, learned and ignorant … sat down at one table, and felt themselves all one in Christ Jesus. They were ready to break all other bonds, and to yield to the uniting forces that streamed out from his Cross. There never had been anything like it. No wonder that the world began to babble about sorcery, and conspiracies, and complicity in unnamable vices. It was only that the disciples were obeying the new commandment, and a new thing had come into the world—a community held together by love and not by geographical accidents or linguistic affinities, or the iron fetters of the conqueror .… The new commandment made a new thing, and the world wondered” (Alexander Maclaren, Expositions of Holy Scripture, Vol. 10 (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker, 1974), pp. 227–228.)

 

We live in a seemingly hopelessly divided country where cities are burning and citizens are fighting, all because of the color of our skin.  The only place large enough for ALL PEOPLE TO MATTER, is in the LARGE Seat of God’s Kingdom.  May we continually pray as Our Lord taught, (Mat. 6:10, KJV):
 

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“Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done, on earth as it is in Heaven.” We can’t wait to get to heaven to get started on inviting people to the LARGE seat of God’s Grace.  

4.  The Best Seat in the House is the LEANING Seat (v10).

As is often the case, the NASB gives a more literal translation, and in this case, a more historically descriptive one.  Verse 10 uses a word which appears several times in this passage in regard to “seating practices” around a First Century table:
 

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¹⁰ “But when you are invited, go and recline . . . (NASB)

The word translated, “recline or sit” means literally “to lean.” There is an obvious difference between “sitting at a table to eat” and “reclining at a table to eat.” In fact, in our modern culture “reclining to eat” sounds odd, even ill-advised medically. We’ve all told our children not to lay back and eat, perhaps many times.  Different cultures of the ancient world had different customs, but the Jews and Romans of Jesus’ day “reclined to eat.”  Here is a description from a scholar in this regard: 

“A Roman dining room was called a triclinium because it contained three couches, set around a central table. The table was a low block with couches around it on three sides. There would be a single couch in the middle, where the host would sit, and one couch to his left, and one to his right, opposite each other. The side opposite the host would be left open for people to bring food to the table. The couches would be covered by a cushion, or a cushion would be provided for the guest to lean on. The guests approached the table from behind the couches, then reclined on their left side, supporting their head on their left elbow, leaving their right hand free to take the food. A normal Roman triclinium would seat nine people, with three on each couch.” The crude drawing on the screen gives you an idea of how the disciples “reclined with Jesus” at the Last Supper.  [Show Slide]

John’s gospel makes mention of the Last Supper scene: (Jn. 13:23,NASB) “There was reclining on Jesus’ bosom one of His disciples, whom Jesus loved.”

This verse refers to John, the Apostle. What I want us to observe is the close relationship John had with Jesus, even among the Apostles.  He is in a special place, “reclining on the Lord’s right side.”  I want you to note the two ideas:  “leaning on Jesus” and “the one Jesus loved.” Leaning on Jesus is a special place, and exalted place of honor. John received great comfort leaning on Jesus, which is always the case for any of us.  Leaning on Jesus gives us a special kind of peace and freedom for the journey of our lives.  Leaning on Jesus is exactly the Best Seat in the House for any of us.  There’s just no better place in all the world than “the LEANING Seat.” 

A humble Bible teacher wanted her students to know how important it is to remain in the Presence of God. On one occasion, she taught, "A bird is free in the air. Place a bird in the water and he has lost his liberty. A fish is free in the water, but leave him on the sand and he perishes. He is out of his realm. So, we as Christians are free when we are in the perfect will of God and are obedient to God’s commands. This is as natural a place for God’s child as the water is for the fish, or the air for the bird."

If you want to know perfect peace in life, press in close to Jesus on the LEANING Seat. Without Jesus, we are like fish out of water!

The Best Seat in the House is the LOWEST Seat, Not the LAZY Seat, it is a LARGE Seat, and we just learned it is the LEANING Seat.  When all this is taken into consideration we joyfully conclude that the Best Seat in the House of Devotion to Christ is 

5.  the LIFTING Seat  (10b-11)

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¹⁰ “But when you are invited, go and recline at the last place, so that when the one who has invited you comes, he may say to you, ‘Friend, move up higher’; then you will have honor in the sight of all who are at the table with you.  ¹¹ “For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”  (NASB) 

Remember earlier I mentioned the fundamental doctrine woven throughout the Bible, especially the Red-letter teaching of Jesus, which I call, “the Upside-downness of the Kingdom of God.” The ultimate example of the “Upside-downness of the Kingdom of God” is the Cross.  Jesus secured life by dying.  What appeared to be the Lord’s ultimate defeat was His quintessential victory. Jesus demonstrated His kingship by devoted service to the Father.  Jesus demonstrated the greatest power in history by a moment of absolute weakness in human flesh.  Everything about the life of the Lord Jesus challenges man’s view of power and success.  Man seeks power by striving—Jesus teaches us that power comes from surrendering.  All throughout the Bible and especially the Red-letter portions of the gospel, Jesus teaches about the “Upside-downness of the Kingdom of God.” 

This parable on choosing the Best Seat in the House, is just one of many examples of the “Upside-downness of the Kingdom of God.”  You should circle or underline those words in verse 10, “Friend, move up higher.”  The way up is down. The key to getting is by giving. The way to gain honor is to demonstrate humility.  This is really the whole essence of the Lord’s discourse on The Best Seat in the House.  Jesus is teaching once again the principle of the “Upside-downness of the Kingdom of God.” 

This is really what the Best Seat in the House of Devotion is all about:  “God lifting us up out of the miry clay of our sin-marred lives.”  I’ve always loved that old hymn:

I was sinking deep in sin, // far from the peaceful shore, //Very deeply stained within, sinking to rise no more, // But the Master of the sea, heard my despairing cry, // From the waters lifted me, now safe am I.

 Love lifted me // love lifted me // when nothing else could help // love lifted me // Love lifted me // love lifted me // When nothing else could help // love . . . lifted . . . me.

We may never get to sit on a $19M toilet in space, but my question for us all, today is this:  are we sitting in the right seat?  Have we chosen the Best Seat in the House of Devotion to Christ.  Have we chosen the Lowest Seat?  Have we rejected the Lazy Seat? Have we embrace a Large Seat where everybody of every station and kindred is welcome.  Do we have the peace that can only from pressing close to Jesus in the Leaning Seat?  Are we being lifted up and lifting up others as we sit in the Lord’s Lifting Seat? 

We all should absolutely seek the Best Seat in the House which comes when we allow Jesus to sit on the throne of our hearts?  Are we doing that?