First Seats

Shepherdess Edermira Cruz

STUDY #1196 CHURCH IN THE HOUSES Wednesday, June 9, 2021

"First Seats" Luke 14:7-14 In the most common actions of life, the eyes of the Lord observe us and consider everything we do. Watching how they chose the first seats at the table. When we meet at Jesus' table, not only are we to avoid bad jokes and corrupted (contaminated) conversations, but by exceeding the level of importance of superficial conversations, it is better to have God's goodness in food.

I. Jesus observed that the Pharisees and interpreters of the law chose the first seats at the table.

A. It is said that they were the ones on the left side.

1. The pressure (what is exerted, to perform) that they provoked in such a dinner, to be the best and for that reason, they were looking for the best chair, which for them it was, but they did not know Jesus.

2. As the Lord entered the house of the Pharisee, He had seen the guests maneuvering (military - maneuvering the whole movement to arranged for some tactical purpose) in pursuit of the first seats around the table.

3. The one who seeks is because he wants positions of eminence (who excels in activity) and honor.

4. He was also a guest; it did not prevent Him from speaking frankly and righteously.

5. He warned them against this form of self-exaltation.

6. (Luke 14:8) "When they were invited" to a meal, they were to take "the last place" and not the first.

7. When we are seeking a high position for ourselves, there is always the possible shame of being deposed (dismiss, remove).

a. Converted, established, determined.

b. Methods to execute or achieve a certain objective, relative to order.

8. (V. 9) The prudent advice that Jesus gives to them and us not to come forward to sit in the first places; the reason, they will be ashamed, the reason, there can always be someone more distinguished than one.

9. You should not have a spirit of being superior.

10. If we are truly humble "before God," there is only one direction in which we can move and that is upward.

11. While pride often ends in shame, humility often receives praise.

12. A rabbinic parable: Three men were invited to a feast; the first sat in the highest place, "for he said I am a prince; the second sat in second place because he said I am a sage; the third sat in last place because he said I am a person of modest position.

13. Then the king who had invited them had the humble man seated in the highest place and put the prince in the last place.

14. Jesus told us a general application so that we all learn not to be "arrogant" or boastful.

15. Pride, haughtiness, and ambition lead to humiliation even among men, while humility and self-denial always achieve good reputations.

16. (V. 11) For anyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted (to magnify, to praise his qualities).

17. He said to the one who invited Him: When you make lunch or dinner do not call your friends, or your brothers, or your relatives or rich neighbors.

18. This chief of the Pharisees had undoubtedly invited local celebrities for this meal.

19. Jesus, who observes everything, realized this on the spot.

20. He could understand that those who needed food, healing, and freedom were not there, but those who needed nothing from Jesus.

21. Those invitations are for the inviter to be invited later.

22. The good you can do on a plate of food, because you know who might need it.

23. I think the issue of eating on the island is not the problem, but I do believe that loving the first place for the great pride that exists in the human being is the great waste of vanity and turning away from the church.

24. Someone once told me that I was with people who weren't the ones I should be with.

25. He demanded to be the big one and one day he walked away without looking at me.

26. Thus, the long list of people seeks what Jesus did not give to that Pharisee and his own.