THE BEST PLACE AT THE BANQUET?

•    privileges and drawbacks at the head table
•    caution in aspiring to exalted places

WHO’S WATCHING WHOM?

•    Pharisees watching closely to trap Jesus
•    Jesus noticed how guests picked places of honour
•    no hiding where God can’t see us

MOVING UP IN THE WORLD

•    worldliness loves having / looking the best
•    jumping to best place may be embarrassing if told to move lower
•    VMA awards designed to honour, but degraded by shocking shamefulness
•    Jesus took the lower place in making Himself nothing to serve sinners
•    we appreciate it when others humbly serve us to help out

STRETCHING YOUR CIRCLE

•    discretion required in choosing list to invite to banquet
•    blessing in inviting those unable to repay
•    Holy God stretched His circle to make it possible for sinners to enter His Kingdom
•    David’s kindness to a cripple rooted in relationship to another
•    God has the power and freedom to determine appropriate rewards for His ‘family’