In Luke chapter fourteen, Jesus, after seeing how some who came to a wedding feast chose the chief seats, or places of honor, for themselves, taught what is commonly known as the parable of the wedding guests, or parable of the chief seats. There is virtually unanimous agreement that this parable serves as a warning against pride and an encouragement to humility.

Pride defiles the soul (Mark 7:18-23), causes a person to fail to see his own faults (Luke 18:9-14), causes a person to fail to repent of his sin and causes him to fail to see his need for God. Humility involves understanding our own weaknesses (Numbers 12:3), a refusal to elevate self (John 3:28-30), having a proper sense of one’s worth (Luke 15:19), a willingness to submit (James 4:6-7) and a willingness to obey (Philippians 2:5-11).