Proverbs 25:2–10
Hebrews 13:1–17
Luke 14:1–14
We Are Humbled and Exalted by the Cross of Christ
O Lord of grace and majesty, teach us by Your Holy Spirit to follow the example of Your Son in true humility, that we may withstand the temptations of the devil and with pure hearts and minds avoid ungodly pride;
“Everyone who exalts himself will be humbled,” Jesus proclaims, but “he who humbles himself will be exalted” (Luke 14:11). For your hope is in the name of the Lord, who humbled Himself unto death on the cross and was exalted in His resurrection. So are you humbled by His cross, and “at the resurrection of the just,” He will say to you, “Friend, move up higher” (Luke 14:10; 13–14).
By His grace, the King will honor you “in the presence of a noble,” where your eyes will gaze upon the Prince, His dearly beloved Son.” (Proverbs 25:7).
As He has dealt so graciously with you, “do not neglect to do good and to share what you have” (Heb. 13:16) and “do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers” (Hebrews 13:2). Humble yourself and exalt your neighbor.
Humbled Then Exalted
Rev. Dr. Daniel J. Brege
Consider the following somewhat theoretical discussion. In Sunday’s Gospel Jesus declared, “…he who humbles himself will be exalted.” Reflecting on the entirety of Holy Writ, one can conclude this to be an axiom of God’s kingdom. It is repeated in similar wording in verses such as 1 Peter 5:6: “Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you.” And again from the mouth of our Lord in Luke 18:14b: “…the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”
This axiom is apparently foundational behavior even for God! Strange as it may sound, our God, the Triune God who is the Lord of heaven and earth “naturally” humbles Himself. This condescension, we believe, is axiomatic concerning His relationship to His creation—even outside man’s fall into sin. Psalm 113:5,6 nicely summarizes this reality: “Who is like the LORD our God, Who is enthroned on high, Who humbles Himself to behold The things that are in heaven and in the earth?” (NASB). Yes, to behold the lofty fabric of the heavens, their Creator must stoop and humble himself. Thus also the Lord of the universe humbled himself to behold the things in the earth, personally forming the various animals and uniquely humbling himself to “form,” “breathe into” and “build” the first man and woman. Such humbling is a loving condescension, making Himself approachable, appearing to be something less than infinite. Personally encountering this humbled God, sinless man would have exalted Him by glorifying Him in word and deed. Some conjecture that God would have become a man even if humanity had not sinned! And after the original sin, God—apparently in human form—humbled himself to “walk in the garden in the cool of the day,” which one could recognize as His “normal” humble behavior.
Because God thus humbles Himself, It should come as no surprise that God would actually become a man! Though becoming man is in itself not equal to entering the State of Humiliation, yet, we believe, simply becoming man would have been an act of humbling Himself to behold the things that are in heaven and in the earth. But the Son of God did not just become man. By becoming man the Son of God could and did—for our salvation—enter the State of Humiliation, thus enabling Him as a man to cease fully using His divine powers. In this State of Humiliation Christ could really suffer and die in our place. St. Paul thus wrote to the Philippians (2:6,8): “[Christ,] Who, existing in the form of God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped,…And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death—even death on a cross.” Recall now the axiom: “He who humbles himself will be exalted.” For us the Lord Jesus as a man humbled Himself to the point of death on a cross. For us He would then begin His State of Exaltation by being exalted in His resurrection. Thus to the baptized—those connected to Him—He gives the gifts of salvation accomplished by His being humbled and then exalted.
Relate all of this now to worship. Are not acts of humiliation and exaltation foundational acts of worship—on God’s part and on our part? Does not God in worship still come to us in humility—through the mouth of a sinful pastor and through the humble water, bread and wine— that we may “exalt Him” by glorifying Him in our Pneumatic petitions, offerings and praises? And concerning our own humiliation and exaltation in worship, do we not gather in humility—with contrite hearts—that God the Spirit may exalt us by forgiving and strengthening our faith in Jesus through Word and Sacrament? Indeed, he who humbles himself will be exalted.
Humbled Then Exalted
Rev. Dr. Daniel J. Brege
Consider the following somewhat theoretical discussion. In Sunday’s Gospel Jesus declared, “…he who humbles himself will be exalted.” Reflecting on the entirety of Holy Writ, one can conclude this to be an axiom of God’s kingdom. It is repeated in similar wording in verses such as 1 Peter 5:6: “Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you.” And again from the mouth of our Lord in Luke 18:14b: “…the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”
This axiom is apparently foundational behavior even for God! Strange as it may sound, our God, the Triune God who is the Lord of heaven and earth “naturally” humbles Himself. This condescension, we believe, is axiomatic concerning His relationship to His creation—even outside man’s fall into sin. Psalm 113:5,6 nicely summarizes this reality: “Who is like the LORD our God, Who is enthroned on high, Who humbles Himself to behold The things that are in heaven and in the earth?” (NASB). Yes, to behold the lofty fabric of the heavens, their Creator must stoop and humble himself. Thus also the Lord of the universe humbled himself to behold the things in the earth, personally forming the various animals and uniquely humbling himself to “form,” “breathe into” and “build” the first man and woman. Such humbling is a loving condescension, making Himself approachable, appearing to be something less than infinite. Personally encountering this humbled God, sinless man would have exalted Him by glorifying Him in word and deed. Some conjecture that God would have become a man even if humanity had not sinned! And after the original sin, God—apparently in human form—humbled himself to “walk in the garden in the cool of the day,” which one could recognize as His “normal” humble behavior.
Because God thus humbles Himself, It should come as no surprise that God would actually become a man! Though becoming man is in itself not equal to entering the State of Humiliation, yet, we believe, simply becoming man would have been an act of humbling Himself to behold the things that are in heaven and in the earth. But the Son of God did not just become man. By becoming man the Son of God could and did—for our salvation—enter the State of Humiliation, thus enabling Him as a man to cease fully using His divine powers. In this State of Humiliation Christ could really suffer and die in our place. St. Paul thus wrote to the Philippians (2:6,8): “[Christ,] Who, existing in the form of God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped,…And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death—even death on a cross.” Recall now the axiom: “He who humbles himself will be exalted.” For us the Lord Jesus as a man humbled Himself to the point of death on a cross. For us He would then begin His State of Exaltation by being exalted in His resurrection. Thus to the baptized—those connected to Him—He gives the gifts of salvation accomplished by His being humbled and then exalted.
Relate all of this now to worship. Are not acts of humiliation and exaltation foundational acts of worship—on God’s part and on our part? Does not God in worship still come to us in humility—through the mouth of a sinful pastor and through the humble water, bread and wine— that we may “exalt Him” by glorifying Him in our Pneumatic petitions, offerings and praises? And concerning our own humiliation and exaltation in worship, do we not gather in humility—with contrite hearts—that God the Spirit may exalt us by forgiving and strengthening our faith in Jesus through Word and Sacrament? Indeed, he who humbles himself will be exalted.
Healing of a Man on the Sabbath
Luke 14.1-14
Luke 14.1
Καὶ ἐγένετο ἐν τῷ ἐλθεῖν αὐτὸν εἰς οἶκόν τινος τῶν ἀρχόντων τῶν Φαρισαίων σαββάτῳ φαγεῖν ἄρτον καὶ αὐτοὶ ἦσαν παρατηρούμενοι αὐτόν.
One Sabbath, when he went to dine at the house of a ruler of the Pharisees, they were watching him carefully.
:1 - they are watching because it was the Sabbath. 6:1, 13:10ff
Luke 14.2
καὶ ἰδοὺ ἄνθρωπός τις ἦν ὑδρωπικὸς ἔμπροσθεν αὐτοῦ.
And behold, there was a man before him who had dropsy.
:2 - right then, in time and space, right there, right here, right now. A man with dropsy (edema) was in front of him.
Luke 14.3
καὶ ἀποκριθεὶς ὁ Ἰησοῦς εἶπεν πρὸς τοὺς νομικοὺς καὶ Φαρισαίους λέγων• Ἔξεστιν τῷ σαββάτῳ θεραπεῦσαι ἢ οὔ;
And Jesus responded to the lawyers and Pharisees, saying, “Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath, or not?”
:3 - Jesus addresses the teachers of the Law and the experts, "is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath or not?" Is this a set up? If so, whom?
Luke 14.4
οἱ δὲ ἡσύχασαν. καὶ ἐπιλαβόμενος ἰάσατο αὐτὸν καὶ ἀπέλυσεν.
But they remained silent. Then he took him and healed him and sent him away.
:4 - Silence is their answer. Taking hold of him He healed him and sent him away. The answer is Jesus. He heals on the Sabbath as the Lord of the Sabbath.
Luke 14.5
αὶ πρὸς αὐτοὺς εἶπεν• Τίνος ὑμῶν υἱὸς ἢ βοῦς εἰς φρέαρ πεσεῖται, καὶ οὐκ εὐθέως ἀνασπάσει αὐτὸν ἐν ἡμέρᾳ τοῦ σαββάτου;
And he said to them, “Which of you, having a son[a] or an ox that has fallen into a well on a Sabbath day, will not immediately pull him out?”
:5 - which one of you, having a son or ox into a well falling will not immediately raise him up on the Sabbath. How many of the Pharisees would leave a son? He condemns them. They turned the Sabbath into a work and a law. Jesus was left in the well (grave) on a Sabbath. His father left him there.
Luke 14.6
καὶ οὐκ ἴσχυσαν ἀνταποκριθῆναι πρὸς ταῦτα.
And they could not reply to these things.
:6 - they were not able to speak back to Him concerning these things. They are not strong enough. They are still striving. They have not despaired of themselves.
The Parable of the Wedding Feast
Luke 14.7
Ἔλεγεν δὲ πρὸς τοὺς κεκλημένους παραβολήν, ἐπέχων πῶς τὰς πρωτοκλισίας ἐξελέγοντο, λέγων πρὸς αὐτούς•
Now he told a parable to those who were invited, when he noticed how they chose the places of honor, saying to them,
:7 - noticing how they chose the first places he told them this parable.
Luke 14.8
Ὅταν κληθῇς ὑπό τινος εἰς γάμους, μὴ κατακλιθῇς εἰς τὴν πρωτοκλισίαν, μήποτε ἐντιμότερός σου ᾖ κεκλημένος ὑπ’ αὐτοῦ
“When you are invited by someone to a wedding feast, do not sit down in a place of honor, lest someone more distinguished than you be invited by him,
:8 - when someone invites you to a wedding feast, don't sit in the place of honor in case someone with more honor is invited.
Luke 14.9
καὶ ἐλθὼν ὁ σὲ καὶ αὐτὸν καλέσας ἐρεῖ σοι• Δὸς τούτῳ τόπον, καὶ τότε ἄρξῃ μετὰ αἰσχύνης τὸν ἔσχατον τόπον κατέχειν.
and he who invited you both will come and say to you, ‘Give your place to this person,’ and then you will begin with shame to take the lowest place.
:9 - if so, the host who invited both of you will say to you give this place and you will begin to have shame.
Luke 14.10
ἀλλ’ ὅταν κληθῇς πορευθεὶς ἀνάπεσε εἰς τὸν ἔσχατον τόπον, ἵνα ὅταν ἔλθῃ ὁ κεκληκώς σε ἐρεῖ σοι• Φίλε, προσανάβηθι ἀνώτερον• τότε ἔσται σοι δόξα ἐνώπιον πάντων τῶν συνανακειμένων σοι.
But when you are invited, go and sit in 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 table with you.
:10 - when you are invited, take the lowest place, in order that when the one who invited you will say, 'beloved, come up higher' then you will have honor among all the others. Remember it's about Jesus. Continuation from last Sunday. You are unworthy you are the least. He makes you first and greatest.
Luke 14.11
ὅτι πᾶς ὁ ὑψῶν ἑαυτὸν ταπεινωθήσεται καὶ ὁ ταπεινῶν ἑαυτὸν ὑψωθήσεται. ὅτι πᾶς ὁ ὑψῶν ἑαυτὸν ταπεινωθήσεται καὶ ὁ ταπεινῶν ἑαυτὸν ὑψωθήσεται.
For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”
The Parable of the Great Banquet
Luke 14.12
Ἔλεγεν δὲ καὶ τῷ κεκληκότι αὐτόν• Ὅταν ποιῇς ἄριστον ἢ δεῖπνον, μὴ φώνει τοὺς φίλους σου μηδὲ τοὺς ἀδελφούς σου μηδὲ τοὺς συγγενεῖς σου μηδὲ γείτονας πλουσίους, μήποτε καὶ αὐτοὶ [i]ἀντικαλέσωσίν σε καὶ γένηται ἀνταπόδομά σοι.
He said also to the man who had invited him, “When you give a dinner or a banquet, do not invite your friends or your brothers[b] or your relatives or rich neighbors, lest they also invite you in return and you be repaid.
:12 -14 - this is what righteousness looks like. It must be about Christ. Being called up is all grace. It is Christ who exalts.
Walther, "Faith is a synonym for Christ."
Everyone who exalts himself will be humbled and all who are humbled will be exalted. There is only one who has entered through the narrow door only one who has been humbled - Christ. See Philippians 2, " Let This mind be among you..."
Don't give a checklist... proclaim the humility and exaltation of Christ.
Note: Now Jesus is host. Notice whom He invites. You will be blessed in the resurrection of the righteous.
Luke 14.13
ἀλλ’ ὅταν δοχὴν ποιῇς, κάλει πτωχούς, ἀναπείρους, χωλούς, τυφλούς•
But when you give a feast, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind,
Luke 14.14
καὶ μακάριος ἔσῃ, ὅτι οὐκ ἔχουσιν ἀνταποδοῦναί σοι, ἀνταποδοθήσεται γάρ σοι ἐν τῇ ἀναστάσει τῶν δικαίων.
and you will be blessed, because they cannot repay you. For you will be repaid at the resurrection of the just.”
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What does it take to invite the lowly?
It takes humility and grace.
1. Humility - To invite those who bring us no advantage.
2. Grace - To invite people because they are unworthy and cannot help us.
Make no mistake. This is more than mere manners. Christ humbled Himself To the point of death. He bore your sin and took your misery to Himself. In exchange for your sin you receive the righteousness of God in Christ. If this is how the Savior deliberately choose to treat you how much more should we demonstrate the same hospitality to your neighbor.
The Greek New Testament: SBL Edition. Copyright © 2010 by Society of Biblical Literature and Logos Bible Software
ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
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