Christ Forbids Self-Aggrandizement

Jesus warned the disciples against taking the highest and best seats at feasts, because it is likely that the master of the feast will summarily demote such an one to the lowliest seat.

In our own community, we have seen in the past week an example of such demotion. The former county attorney presumed upon his re-election by the Board of Supervisors, and was humiliated when another was selected and he was forced to gather his papers and vacate the seat he had presumptuously taken.

The root error is assuming authority which we do not possess - the right to decide our position and honor, when it rightfully belongs to another. Humility is not popular these days.

This text has a gospel application, for mankind has seized the seat of honor from Almighty God in his rebellion against the divine order. To come to Christ is to relinquish that seat and crown Him Lord over all. We must take the lowest seat of humility before our Prince and Savior.

Our Savior requires that, in His church, there be no "lording" it over the members, but that we treat each other with humility and respect and love.

The papacy exalts itself into the seat of the persons of the Trinity. How often, even in the true church, we see the rise of arrogant and puffed up men who seize the highest seats and treat their brethren with contempt.

Our Lord Jesus' behavior is the ultimate rebuke for such misconduct. He stepped out of the highest seat which was His by right and took the lowest place for sinners at Calvary.

His obedience unto death is the cause for which the Father hath highly exalted Him!

Our Lord asks us to remember, not His exaltation, but His humiliation at the cross.