Luke 14:11

For every one that exalteth himself shall be humbled; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.

In these words, Jesus concluded this remarkable teaching; and it is one which all men should heed. A little later, Jesus would return to this same subject by relating the story of the Pharisee and the publican (Luke 18:9ff); but here he announced the eternal ethic of humility. How may men cultivate humility? They can do this in two ways: (1) They can consider the facts. No man is wise in any ultimate sense, good in any heavenly sense, or powerful in any eternal sense. Man's life is ephemeral; his days are few and full of trouble; at his best, man is above only a few of his contemporaries, and that only for a brief moment in time. "O why should the spirit of mortal be proud?" (2) They can look at the lives and achievements of others which exceed their own in excellence and glory. As Barclay suggested, "Many a man has decided to burn his clubs after watching the Golf Open Championship."[15] For further comment on the grace of humility, see under Matthew 23:12 in my Commentary on Matthew, Matthew 23:11-12.

JESUS' SPECIAL WORD TO THE HOST

The Lord had naturally included his host in the remarks addressed to the guests; but he reserved a very special word for the host himself.