He spoke a parable to those who were invited, when he noticed how they chose the best seats, and said to them, “When you are invited by anyone to a marriage feast, don’t sit in the best seat, since perhaps someone more honorable than you might be invited by him, and he who invited both of you would come and tell you, ‘Make room for this person’. Then you would begin, with shame, to take the lowest place. But when you are invited, go and sit in the lowest place, so that when he who invited you comes, he may tell you, ‘Friend, move up higher.’ Then you will be honored in the presence of all who sit at the table with you. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.”
He also said to the one who had invited him, “When you make a dinner or a supper, don’t call your friends, nor your brothers, nor your kinsmen, nor rich neighbors, or perhaps they might also return the favor, and pay you back. But when you make a feast, ask the poor, the maimed, the lame, or the blind; and you will be blessed, because they don’t have the resources to repay you. For you will be repaid in the resurrection of the righteous.” - Jesus Christ
— Luke 14:7–14

Discussion:
How often do we run for the best seat in the auditorium or try to get close to the front so we can get the  best views? The Lord says we should always humble ourselves so that we may be welcomed to the front, rather than be looked down upon for taking seats we are not entitled to. This has much more to do than just seats in an auditorium, but all to do with life in general. Set yourself back and build others up. What you aren't paid on earth will be paid to you in Heaven and through the honor one attains by being humble. The name of the game is putting all others ahead of yourself and you will be rewarded.

This parable is two-fold as it also talks about when we invite those to dinner, we should not invite those whom can pay us back, rather those who cannot pay us back. This lesson reaches beyond the dinner table as well and teaches us that when we give to others, make it count and do it without expectation. It is through these acts we gain favor in Heaven and Earth.

​"But when the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then he will sit on the throne of his glory. Before him all the nations will be gathered, and he will separate them one from another, as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left. Then the King will tell those on his right hand, ‘Come, blessed of my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world; for I was hungry, and you gave me food to eat. I was thirsty, and you gave me drink. I was a stranger, and you took me in. I was naked, and you clothed me. I was sick, and you visited me. I was in prison, and you came to me.’
“Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry, and feed you; or thirsty, and give you a drink? When did we see you as a stranger, and take you in; or naked, and clothe you? When did we see you sick, or in prison, and come to you?’
“The King will answer them, ‘Most certainly I tell you, because you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’ Then he will say also to those on the left hand, ‘Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire which is prepared for the devil and his angels; for I was hungry, and you didn’t give me food to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave me no drink; I was a stranger, and you didn’t take me in; naked, and you didn’t clothe me; sick, and in prison, and you didn’t visit me.’
“Then they will also answer, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry, or thirsty, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and didn’t help you?’
“Then he will answer them, saying, ‘Most certainly I tell you, because you didn’t do it to one of the least of these, you didn’t do it to me.’ These will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.” - Jesus Christ
-Matthew 25:31-46

Discussion:
To Jesus, few things matter more than loving our neighbors or even enemies. We must be representatives of Christ wherever we go. If we have the means to feed, clothe, or help people, we must be ready to help at any given time. If you think there is little to gain from giving up everything you have to help others, be sure that blessings will come back to you. The most important message, though, to take from this is that when one provides for someone in need, it is LITERALLY treated as if you were doing it for Christ, Himself. Do not underestimate your efforts, because it is the MOST important thing you can do for the Kingdom of God.

Luke 6:38Give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you.”

14 “Again, it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted his wealth to them. 15 To one he gave five bags of gold, to another two bags, and to another one bag,[a] each according to his ability. Then he went on his journey. 16 The man who had received five bags of gold went at once and put his money to work and gained five bags more. 17 So also, the one with two bags of gold gained two more. 18 But the man who had received one bag went off, dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money.
19 “After a long time the master of those servants returned and settled accounts with them. 20 The man who had received five bags of gold brought the other five. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘you entrusted me with five bags of gold. See, I have gained five more.’
21 “His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things.Come and share your master’s happiness!’
22 “The man with two bags of gold also came. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘you entrusted me with two bags of gold; see, I have gained two more.’
23 “His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’
24 “Then the man who had received one bag of gold came. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘I knew that you are a hard man, harvesting where you have not sown and gathering where you have not scattered seed. 25 So I was afraid and went out and hid your gold in the ground. See, here is what belongs to you.’
26 “His master replied, ‘You wicked, lazy servant! So you knew that I harvest where I have not sown and gather where I have not scattered seed? 27 Well then, you should have put my money on deposit with the bankers, so that when I returned I would have received it back with interest.
28 “‘So take the bag of gold from him and give it to the one who has ten bags. 29 For whoever has will be given more, and they will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from them. 30 And throw that worthless servant outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’ - Jesus Christ

-Matthew 25:14-28

Discussion:
Reading through this parable tells us that we gain favor with the Lord just by doing our best. It is not possible to be faithful every moment of everyday, unfortunately, but we are capable of just doing the best we can, the best way we know how. The Lord is saying that the blessings you have, spiritually or physically, should be used in the best way. Don't receive them and bury them into the ground by only using them for personal gain. Use your blessings to help grow the Kingdom and find people at every turn. Should you not help in saving others. when someone chose to help save you by bringing you to Christ?

Then the Kingdom of Heaven will be like ten virgins, who took their lamps, and went out to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. Those who were foolish, when they took their lamps, took no oil with them, but the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. Now while the bridegroom delayed, they all slumbered and slept. But at midnight there was a cry, "Behold! The bridegroom is coming! Come out to meet him!" Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps. The foolish said to the wise, "Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out." But the wise answered, saying, "What if there isn't enough for us and you? You go rather to those who sell, and buy for yourselves." While they went away to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the marriage feast, and the door was shut. Afterward the other virgins also came, saying, "Lord, Lord, open to us." But he answered, "Most certainly I tell you, I don't know you." Watch therefore, for you don't know the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming. - Jesus Christ
— Matthew 25:1-13

Discussion:
The message here is clear. Be prepared. Do not forget to bring the oil for your lamp while keeping watch for the Lord. But what does this mean? It simply means to prepare spiritually at all times as if the Lord could come at any moment. It means you should be blameless by asking forgiveness and doing all the things required of you by God. This is putting on the robe of righteousness. I posted the following things yesterday to help you get started so you know where to begin preparing:

Here are some guidelines to get started:
-Follow the 10 commandments and other ones God has told us to obey.
-Love your neighbor and enemies consistently, everyday, and forgive everyone.
-Read the Word and keep it a priority
-Pray continuously
-Feed the poor, care for the orphans, widows, the homeless, and the elderly.
-Build each other up every moment, every day.
-Be the answer to the prayers of those crying out when you see someone struggling.
-I forgot to say yesterday that one must continuously ask for forgiveness as well.

"Let your waist be dressed and your lamps burning. Be like men watching for their lord, when he returns from the marriage feast; that, when he comes and knocks, they may immediately open to him. Blessed are those servants, whom the lord will find watching when he comes. Most certainly I tell you, that he will dress himself, and make them recline, and will come and serve them. They will be blessed if he comes in the second or third watch, and finds them so. But know this, that if the master of the house had known in what hour the thief was coming, he would have watched, and not allowed his house to be broken into. Therefore be ready also, for the Son of Man is coming in an hour that you don't expect him."
Peter said to him, "Lord, are you telling this parable to us, or to everybody?"
The Lord said, "Who then is the faithful and wise steward, whom his lord will set over his household, to give them their portion of food at the right times? Blessed is that servant whom his lord will find doing so when he comes. Truly I tell you, that he will set him over all that he has. But if that servant says in his heart, 'My lord delays his coming,' and begins to beat the menservants and the maidservants, and to eat and drink, and to be drunken, then the lord of that servant will come in a day when he isn't expecting him, and in an hour that he doesn't know, and will cut him in two, and place his portion with the unfaithful. That servant, who knew his lord's will, and didn't prepare, nor do what he wanted, will be beaten with many stripes, but he who didn't know, and did things worthy of stripes, will be beaten with few stripes. To whomever much is given, of him will much be required; and to whom much was entrusted, of him more will be asked. - Jesus Christ
— Luke 12:35-48

Discussion:
As followers of Christ, the answer to what we must be doing is simple. We must be keeping watch and though we will not know the hour or the day when the Lord will be coming back, we must continue to work regardless. To watch is to serve and be the answer to someone's prayer anytime you hear of someone crying out. You will be rewarded by the Lord for your faithfulness. To watch is to also obey God's commandments as well as following the advice that Jesus has been giving  us in all of these parables we have been reading.

Here are some guidelines to get started:
-Follow the 10 commandments and other ones God has told us to obey.
-Love your neighbor and enemies consistently, everyday, and forgive everyone.
-Read the Word and keep it a priority
-Pray continuously
-Feed the poor, care for the orphans, widows, the homeless, and the elderly.
-Build each other up every moment, every day.
-Be the answer to the prayers of those crying out when you see someone struggling.

Also know this. If you have been blessed, you MUST share your blessings. They were given to you so that you may pass them on to others in need, for you would be nothing if it weren't for the sacrifices others have made to create the person you are today.

He told them a parable. "See the fig tree, and all the trees. When they are already budding, you see it and know by your own selves that the summer is already near. Even so you also, when you see these things happening, know that the Kingdom of God is near. Most certainly I tell you, this generation will not pass away until all things are accomplished. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will by no means pass away."
— Luke 21:29-33

Below are the signs that Jesus speaks of in this parable:

The Destruction of the Temple and Signs of the End Times
5 Some of his disciples were remarking about how the temple was adorned with beautiful stones and with gifts dedicated to God. But Jesus said, 6 “As for what you see here, the time will come when not one stone will be left on another; every one of them will be thrown down.”
7 “Teacher,” they asked, “when will these things happen? And what will be the sign that they are about to take place?”
8 He replied: “Watch out that you are not deceived. For many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am he,’ and, ‘The time is near.’ Do not follow them. 9 When you hear of wars and uprisings, do not be frightened. These things must happen first, but the end will not come right away.”
10 Then he said to them: “Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. 11 There will be great earthquakes, famines and pestilences in various places, and fearful events and great signs from heaven.
12 “But before all this, they will seize you and persecute you. They will hand you over to synagogues and put you in prison, and you will be brought before kings and governors, and all on account of my name.13 And so you will bear testimony to me. 14 But make up your mind not to worry beforehand how you will defend yourselves. 15 For I will give youwords and wisdom that none of your adversaries will be able to resist or contradict. 16 You will be betrayed even by parents, brothers and sisters, relatives and friends, and they will put some of you to death. 17 Everyone will hate you because of me. 18 But not a hair of your head will perish.19 Stand firm, and you will win life.
20 “When you see Jerusalem being surrounded by armies, you will know that its desolation is near. 21 Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains, let those in the city get out, and let those in the country not enter the city. 22 For this is the time of punishment in fulfillment of all that has been written. 23 How dreadful it will be in those days for pregnant women and nursing mothers! There will be great distress in the land and wrath against this people. 24 They will fall by the sword and will be taken as prisoners to all the nations. Jerusalem will be trampledon by the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.
25 “There will be signs in the sun, moon and stars. On the earth, nations will be in anguish and perplexity at the roaring and tossing of the sea.26 People will faint from terror, apprehensive of what is coming on the world, for the heavenly bodies will be shaken. 27 At that time they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.28 When these things begin to take place, stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.” - Luke 21:5-28

Jesus answered and spoke again in parables to them, saying, "The Kingdom of Heaven is like a certain king, who made a marriage feast for his son, and sent out his servants to call those who were invited to the marriage feast, but they would not come. Again he sent out other servants, saying, 'Tell those who are invited, "Behold, I have prepared my dinner. My cattle and my fatlings are killed, and all things are ready. Come to the marriage feast!"' But they made light of it, and went their ways, one to his own farm, another to his merchandise, and the rest grabbed his servants, and treated them shamefully, and killed them. When the king heard that, he was angry, and sent his armies, destroyed those murderers, and burned their city. "Then he said to his servants, 'The wedding is ready, but those who were invited weren't worthy. Go therefore to the intersections of the highways, and as many as you may find, invite to the marriage feast.' Those servants went out into the highways, and gathered together as many as they found, both bad and good. The wedding was filled with guests. But when the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a man who didn't have on wedding clothing, and he said to him, 'Friend, how did you come in here not wearing wedding clothing?' He was speechless. Then the king said to the servants, 'Bind him hand and foot, take him away, and throw him into the outer darkness; there is where the weeping and grinding of teeth will be.' For many are called, but few chosen." -Jesus Christ — Matthew 22:1-14

Discussion:
This parable is about the king who sent out for people to come to his wedding feast, but nobody saw importance and came. In a last ditch effort, he gathered people from all over to come, whether he knew them or not. "Many were called" is the key phrase here. One man decided not to where the wedding clothing. He was called, but did not do what the king requested. He was thrown to the outer darkness, because he was not worthy of this feast. This gives us insight into what happens after we leave this world in death.

In death, we report to Jesus. He has called us many times to follow Him. On judgment day, will we be wearing our wedding clothing to celebrate Jesus' marriage to His people? The wedding clothing is our robe of righteousness, as created by the Word and wrapped around us by the Holy Spirit.

Parable
33 Hear another parable: There was a certain householder (land owner/farmer), which planted a vineyard, and hedged it round about, and digged a winepress in it, and built a tower, and let it out to husbandmen (farmers), and went into a far country:
34 And when the time of the fruit drew near, he sent his servants to the husbandmen, that they might receive the fruits of it.
35 And the husbandmen took his servants, and beat one, and killed another, and stoned another.
36 Again, he sent other servants more than the first: and they did unto them likewise.
37 But last of all he sent unto them his son, saying, They will reverence my son.
38 But when the husbandmen saw the son, they said among themselves, This is the heir; come, let us kill him, and let us seize on his inheritance.
39 And they caught him, and cast him out of the vineyard, and slew him.
40 When the lord therefore of the vineyard cometh, what will he do unto those husbandmen?
41 They say unto him, He will miserably destroy those wicked men, and will let out his vineyard unto other husbandmen, which shall render him the fruits in their seasons.
42 Jesus saith unto them, Did ye never read in the scriptures, The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner: this is the Lord's doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes?
43 Therefore say I unto you, The kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof.
44 And whosoever shall fall on this stone shall be broken: but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder.
45 And when the chief priests and Pharisees had heard his parables, they perceived that he spake of them.
46 But when they sought to lay hands on him, they feared the multitude - Jesus Christ – Matthew 21:33–46

Discussion:
This parable has a very deep meaning, but I will fish it out the best I can. I believe this is a prophesy that Jesus is telling about his future crucifixion. God gave man the Word (Bible) and man wasn't listening so he sent his own Son, Jesus. This parable is saying that the Kingdom of God will be taken away from mankind, who will reject it (Jesus), and be given to the select few (as indicated in other parables). Regarding the scriptures about the stone that the builders rejected, it can be found in 1 Peter 2:6-8:
"6 For in Scripture it says: See, I lay a stone in Zion, a chosen and precious cornerstone, and the one who trusts in him will never be put to shame.
: 7 Now to you who believe, this stone is *precious. But to those who do not believe, 'The stone the builders rejected has become the capstone'."

Here is how cornerstone and capstone can be interpreted. A cornerstone is the foundation stone and the first stone set, becoming the most important stone of a building. A capstone is the highest stone on a wall or building. To believers, Jesus is the cornerstone, but he is saying to the unbelievers that, to them, the stone is the capstone, which means, the highest level that one can achieve.

At first glance, this parable can be hard to understand, however, the gist of the meaning is that God will give the Kingdom of God to those who believe in Him and take it away from the wicked. To those who don't believe, they must know that the Kingdom of God is the highest and most revered level. God has said that he is the alpha (first) and omega (last), just like the cornerstone (first), and capstone (last).

​"But what do you think? A man had two sons, and he came to the first, and said, 'Son, go work in my vineyard.' He answered, 'I will not,' but afterward he changed his mind, and went. He came to the second, and said the same thing. He answered, 'I go, sir,' but he didn't go. Which of the two did the will of his father?"
They said to him, "The first."
Jesus said to them, "Most certainly I tell you that the tax collectors and the prostitutes are entering into the Kingdom of God before you. For John came to you in the way of righteousness, and you didn't believe him, but the tax collectors and the prostitutes believed him. When you saw it, you didn't even repent afterward, that you might believe him." - Jesus Christ
— Matthew 21:28–32

For the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is a householder (farmer), which went out early in the morning to hire laborers into his vineyard. And when he had agreed with the laborers for a penny a day (average day's wage), he sent them into his vineyard.

(The farmer went out to hire some folks to work in his vineyard and they agreed to make an average day's wage for working a long day)

And he went out about the third hour, and saw others standing idle in the marketplace, And said unto them; Go ye also into the vineyard, and whatsoever is right I will give you. And they went their way.

(The farmer went out and hired even more people to work his vineyard)

Again he went out about the sixth and ninth hour, and did likewise. And about the eleventh hour he went out, and found others standing idle, and saith unto them, Why stand ye here all the day idle? They say unto him, Because no man hath hired us. He saith unto them, Go ye also into the vineyard; and whatsoever is right, that shall ye receive.

(and the farmer hired more workers at the 6th hour, 9th hour, and 11th hour, which was about noon, 3 PM, and 5 PM)

So when evening was come, the lord of the vineyard saith unto his steward, Call the laborers, and give them their hire, beginning from the last unto the first. And when they came that were hired about the eleventh hour, they received every man a penny.

(The farmer paid everybody the same no matter what time they started their work)

But when the first came, they supposed that they should have received more; and they likewise received every man a penny. And when they had received it, they murmured against the goodman of the house, Saying, These last have wrought but one hour, and thou hast made them equal unto us, which have borne the burden and heat of the day.

(The laborers who started early in the day grumbled, because they felt like they should have made more than the folks who started late in the day)

But he answered one of them, and said, Friend, I do thee no wrong: didst not thou agree with me for a penny (an average days wage)? Take that thine is, and go thy way: I will give unto this last, even as unto thee.

(The farmer says that no matter if you worked early or late, you agreed to the pay that we negotiated on)

Is it not lawful for me to do what I will with mine own? Is thine eye evil, because I am good? So the last shall be first, and the first last: for many be called, but few chosen...
— Matthew 20:1–16

Discussion
I have put, in parenthesis, the meaning of the phrases throughout this parable in an effort to make it easier to understand. Jesus says the kingdom of God is like this farmer who paid everyone the same no matter when they started for the day. If they showed up at any point they got paid the same wage, even if it was the last hour of the day.

The interesting part of this parable is that it uses an example that is unrealistic in nature. That is what makes this parable hit home. God is not a human and has ultimate grace and compassion for us. The meaning of this parable is that no matter when we come to the Lord, whether it was as a child, today, or the last hour of our lives, the Lord will accept us. Even with such amazing grace, still few will actually be chosen, because so many will reject the Lord during their life. God is like an unrealistic farmer who gives us fair riches no matter when we show up. How wonderful our God is! If you have never asked Jesus to come into your life, all you have to do is ask him to take over your life and request forgiveness of your sins (repent) and you will be entered into his flock and saved from eternal death. So beautiful.

He [Jesus] spoke also this parable to certain people who were convinced of their own righteousness, and who despised all others. "Two men went up into the temple to pray; one was a Pharisee, and the other was a tax collector. The Pharisee stood and prayed to himself like this: 'God, I thank you, that I am not like the rest of men, extortioners, unrighteous, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week. I give tithes of all that I get.' But the tax collector, standing far away, wouldn't even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, 'God, be merciful to me, a sinner!' I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but he who humbles himself will be exalted." - Jesus Christ — Luke 18:9-14

Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray for just causes and not give up. He said: "In a certain town there was a judge who neither feared God nor cared about men. And there was a widow in that town who kept coming to him with the plea, 'Grant me justice against my adversary.'

"For some time he refused. But finally he said to himself, 'Even though I do not fear God or care about men, yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will see that she gets justice, so that she will not eventually wear me out with her coming!'"

And the Lord said, "Listen to what the unjust judge says. And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off? I tell you, he will see that they get justice, and quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?" - Jesus Christ — Luke 18:1-8

Discussion:
This prayer gives us insight about our prayer life. It says here that God will answer the prayers of those who come to him day and night until their prayers are answered. This also harks back to a previous parable we covered titled, "The Friend At Night" discussed in Luke 11:5-8 which reads: 

"Which of you, if you go to a friend at midnight, and tell him, 'Friend, lend me three loaves of bread, for a friend of mine has come to me from a journey, and I have nothing to set before him,' and he from within will answer and say, 'Don't bother me. The door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed. I can't get up and give it to you'? I tell you, although he will not rise and give it to him because he is his friend, yet because of his persistence, he will get up and give him as many as he needs."

Just as in this parable, when we have a need, we must be persistent so that need may be met, whether in addressing another person or God for our needs. This gives us hope that the Lord will provide our needs, especially when we call out and the need is great. What are you in need for today? Take a moment and ask for it so the Lord can show his grace and faithfulness to you.