Table Of ContentNeil R. Lightfoot
The
Parables
of
Jesus
Volume 2
Revised Edition
SCO
THE WAY OF LIFE
SERIES
179
THE WAY OF LIFE
SERIES
101 Schubert: Marriage, Divorce and Purity
102 Black: The Holy Spirit, Expanded Edition
856 Davis: Science and hristian Faith
106 Ferguson: Church ri.s*orv Early and Medieval
107 Ferguson: Church Histr 'y^formation and Modern
108 Ferguson: The NewTea' *ntC1 irch
111 Thomas: The Biblical Dod . • ice
113 Lewis: Archaeology and the Bib
i
114 Davis: Philosophy ofReligion
116 Willis: My Servants the Prophets, Volume 1
117 Willis: My Servants the Prophets, Volume 2
118 Willis: My Servants the Prophets, Volume 3
119 Willis: My Servants the Prophets, Volume 4
864 Thomas: Evolution and Antiquity
121 Thomas: The Spiritand Spirituality
122 Thomas: Galatians-Romans SelfStudy Guide
123 Thomas: Corinthians SelfStudy Guide
125 Ferguson: A Capella Music in the Public Worship
127 Pack: Tongues and the Holy Spirit
128 Hoover: Fallacies ofUnbelief
129 Hoover: Ideas and Their Consequences
131 Willis: Insights from the Psalms, Volume 1
132 Willis: Insights from the Psalms, Volume 2
133 Willis: Insights from the Psalms, Volume 3
134 Smith: Glorifying God
141 Willis: The Message ofthe OldTestament, Volume 1
142 Willis: The Message ofthe OldTestament, Volume 2
143 Willis: TheMessage of the OldTestament, Volume 3
144 Willis: The Message ofthe OldTestament, Volume 4
145 Willis: The Wisdom Literature
159 Thomas: Divorce and Remarriage
164 Ferguson: Message ofthe New Testament, Acts, Volume 1
165 Ferguson: Message ofthe NewTestament, Acts, Volume 2
166 Thomas: Message ofthe NewTestament, Romans
167 Thomas: Message ofthe NewTestament, I Corinthians
168 Thomas: Message ofthe New Testament, II Corinthians
170 Olbricht: Message ofthe NewTestament, Ephesians & Colossians
173 Thomas: Message ofthe NewTestament, Hebrews &James
175 Ferguson: The Letters ofJohn
176 Pact: Revelation, Volume 1
177 Pack: Revelation, Volume 2
.
178 Lightfoot: Parables ofJesus, Volume 1
179 Lightfoot: Parables ofJesus, Volume 2
180 Lightfoot: How We Got the Bible
181 Ferguson: The Everlasting Kingdom
73/5V7
Neil R. Lightfoot
The
Parables
of
Jesus
Volume 2
Revised Edition
THE WAY OF LIFE
SERIES
A-C-TJ
PRESS
Abilene, Texas
Copyright, 1986,
by Neil R. Lightfoot
All rightsreserved. Nopart ofthisbook maybe
reproducedbyphotocopyorbyanyothermeans,
without permission in writing from the pub-
lishers.
45
Table of Contents
Lesson 1
"He Who Humbles Himself 1
'
Lesson 2
The Banquet ofthe Kingdom 9
Lesson 3
Counting the Cost 17
Lesson 4
"This Man Receives Sinners" 25
Lesson 5
Christian Prudence 35
Lesson 6
A Glimpse Into Eternity 43
Lesson 7
"God Be Merciful" 50
Lesson 8
Undeserved Favor 57
Lesson 9
The Test ofTwo Sons 64
Lesson 10
The Goodness and Severity of God 71
Lesson 11
"Those Who Were Ready" 78
Lesson 12
Faithful Service 85
Lesson 13
If Only We Had Known 93
THE PARABLE OF THE CHIEF SEATS
"Now he told a parable to those who were invited, when he
marked how they chose the places of honor, saying to them.
'Whenyou are invitedby anyone to a marriage feast, donot sit
down in a place ofhonor, lest a more eminent man thanyou be
invited by him; and he who invitedyou both will come and say
to you, "Give place to this man." andthen you will begin with
shame to take the lowest place. But when you are invited, go
and sit in the lowest place, so that when your host comes he
may say to you, "Friend, go up higher"; then you will be hon-
ored in the presence ofall who sit at table with you. For every
one who exalts himselfwill be humbled, and he who humbles
himselfwill be exalted.' "
(Luke 14:7-11)
Lesson
1
WHO
"HE HUMBLES HIMSELF"
This parable is a bit of Jesus' table-talk as he ate in the
house ofa distinguished Pharisee. It was a sabbath meal, and
from the beginning the Pharisees had been watching to see
what he would do. So he astounded them by healing a man on
the sabbath. "Is it not lawful to do good on the sabbath?", he
had reasoned.
Long ago, customs observed at dinners were quite different
fromourstoday. Itiswell-knownthattheancientsofGreekand
Roman times ate their meals in reclining positions on low
couches drawn up against low tables. Ordinarily the tables
were U-shaped, which allowed the servants to serve food about
the table with ease. At the head of the table was placed the
honored guest, in Jewish circles this honor always being
reserved for the rabbis. On his right and left were placed the
nextmosthonoredguests, andtheotherswere seatedonaround
the table in descending order of importance. Quite often the
exact hour ofthe meal was not announced. Some guests would
arrive early, otherswouldcome late. InJesus' day, many ofthe
Pharisees, especially those ofthe more prominent sort, would
time their arrival so they could make an auspicious entrance
and in the presence ofall receive the chiefseats.
At this particular feast which Jesus attended on the sab-
bath, the Pharisees were scrutinizing his every move. They
were watching him, and He was watching them. He noticed
how they came in, slyly maneuvering around the table for the
placesofhonor. Sohespoketothemaparablethatwasarebuke
oftheir table manners and a warning on their unsafe spiritual
condition. "Whenyouareinvitedtoafeast," he said, "don'tpick
out the best seats. If you do, suppose someone who is a real
dignitary comes in. The host will have to ask you to relinquish
your seat, andyou will be embarrassed tohave to go to the foot
ofthe table. If, onthe other hand, you atfirsttake a lower seat,
the host will urge you to come up higher, and you will be ele-
vated in the sight ofall."
This piece ofadvice that Jesus gave the Pharisees is called a
"parable." It is not a parable that tells a story, but it is still a
parablebecausethe lessonistobeinterpretedfiguratively. Itis
a parable in the true sense of the word, a comparison that
teaches on right relationships in the kingdom ofGod.
Principle of Humility
The concluding statement of the parable is, "For every one
who exalts himselfwill be humbled, and he who humbles him-
self will be exalted" (Luke 14:11). It was a favorite saying of
Jesus, a point he often emphasized (see Matthew 23:12; Luke
18:14). It was a truth often remembered in the early church. It
was taught by Paul and James and Peter. "Do nothing from
selfishness or conceit, but in humility count others better than
yourselves. Let each ofyou look not only to his own interests,
but alsotothe interests ofothers" (Philippians 2:3,4). "Humble
yourselvesbefore the Lord andhe will exaltyou" (James4: 10).
"Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one
another, for 'Godopposestheproud,butgivesgracetothe hum-
ble.' Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of
God, that in due time he may exalt you" (1 Peter 5:5, 6). It
stands as a basic law in the Messiah's kingdom that the only
way for men to go up is for them to go down.
Pathway to Humility
The principle ofhumility is obvious and clear. But it is not
always easy to find the path that leads to humility. How do we
begin? Where is the starting-point oftrue humility? The place
to begin is with oneself. Away from the whirl and rush of
things, in quiet, uninterrupted solitude each person needs to
submit to the rigor ofself-evaluation. And in the lives ofall of
us there is much that should keep us humble.
1. Our physical and bodily weaknesses should keep us hum-
ble. Physically speaking, man is dust.
