Luke 14:7-11 7And he told a parable to those who had been invited, when he noticed how they chose the places of honor, saying to them, 8“When you are invited by someone to a wedding feast, do not sit down in a place of honor, lest someone more distinguished than you might be invited by him, 9and when the one who invited both you and him comes, he will say to you, ‘Give this place,’ and then you will begin with shame to take the last place. 10But when you are invited, going sit in the last place, so that when the one who invited you comes, he will say to you, ‘Friend, move up higher.’ Then you will be honored in the presence of all who sit at table with you. 11For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”
The scene is still the dinner at the home of the leading Pharisee, with other Pharisees and experts on the law present. Jesus takes up another topic that was important to them: honor. Honor was one of the most significant social commodities of that time, as it is still in some parts of the world. The word for places of honor (prōtoklisias) literally is “first seats” and has the sense of wanting to be first in order to be noticed and given respect. Many banquets today have a special table for the speakers or people of honor. In the first century, such places might be reserved for those who had power, position, or priority due to age or reputation.
Jesus responds with a parable, but it is not a fictitious story like other typical parables but more of a scenario of a potential situation the audience might experience. Jesus may have been watching how the guests at this meal jockeyed for positions closer to the head of the table. He was studying the people and noticed what they were doing. He used the meal he was at as the launching point for the short story he tells.
Weddings centered around banquets and the celebration of the wedding. Jesus may have chosen a wedding banquet in purpose since he frequently used weddings for his illustrations (12:36). Weddings were one of the few big celebrations when people of the village would gather together for a celebration. They were typically big deals back then as they are in some cultures today. The seats of honor at a wedding were very special: special seats at a very special event. It could be quite embarrassing and shameful to jockey for one of these seats and then have someone more socially important push you out. Shame was a powerful motivator for action in the ancient world. Shame was more than disrespect, as might be interpreted from an individualistic culture, but it meant being cut off from influence, resources, and community and experiencing isolation and rejection.
Jesus recommended a different strategy. One should come to a banquet and take the lowest seat. As far as honor and shame, the only thing that could happen would be positive. Such a strategy could result in the host of the meal honoring you in front of everyone else by asking you to move up higher. Jesus ends the parable with a timeless proverb. The passive verbs have two applications. In the context of the story itself, it is the host of the meal who does the humbling and exalting. It would be a terrible thing to be shamed by being asked to move down the table so someone of more importance could be put there. In the context of the kingdom, the one who humbles and exalts is God. Jesus repeats the proverb later in 18:14. Acting in meekness and humility now will lead to God honoring us at judgment. The places of honor in God’s kingdom are reserved for those who humbly serve in this lifetime.
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