But Jesus is saying, you want to be a part of the resurrection of the righteous, entering

into the kingdom of God eternally, then you're going to need to humble yourself and the

kind of humiliation and self-effacing that is going to allow you to open your arms

and embrace all the people you hate, all the people you separate from.

One to grace to you with John MacArthur, I'm your host, Phil Johnson.

The story is told of a couple planning their wedding and the groom wanted to leave several

close friends off the invitation list.

When the bride asked why, the groom explained, I want guests to give us the best gifts.

Evidently, he knew what to expect or what not to expect from those friends, and he wanted

to invite people to the celebration who in return would be more likely to give them

great presents.

Well, Jesus told a story, a parable, that speaks to a scenario like that, and it makes an important

point about the attitude of humility that God blesses.

John MacArthur is going to dig deep into that parable today on grace to you, so follow

along now as he returns to his study called Stories with Purpose.

Luke 14, 7 through 14, and he began speaking of parable to the invited guests when he noticed

how they had been picking out the places of honor at the table, saying to them, when

you are invited to someone by someone to a wedding feast, do not take the place of honor,

less someone more distinguished than you may have been invited by him, and he who invited

you both shall come and say to you, give place to this man, and then it is grace you proceed

to occupy the last place.

But when you are invited, go and recline at the last place so that when the one who has

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