So whether at the early meal (ariston) or the main evening meal (deipnon), hospitality should be shown not to the rich and famous nor to family members, but to those who cannot repay the favor. Jesus expands the picture of humility by exhorting his audience to invite to their dinner table the needy and those who cannot repay such kindness.
Those who are truly humble persons recognize their desperate need for God, not any right to blessing. God honors the humble, and the highway of humility leads to the gate of heaven. Jesus is not against giving honor to one who deserves it, but he is against the use of power and prestige for self-aggrandizement. Rather, he is saying that honor is not to be seized it is awarded. Jesus' point is not that we should connive to receive greater honor. This theme of eschatological reversal has Old Testament and Jewish roots (Ezek 17:24 Sirach 3:19-23). In fact, a principle is in view here: For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted. Jesus uses the term "glory" (doxa) to characterize the honor that results. Then the host will tell that humble one to move up to a higher seat, honoring him before everyone. How much different it is if the guest takes the last seat at the beginning. to head for the last seat NIV you will have to take the least important place). The description of the move down the social ladder is drawn out in Greek to underline the person's shame (you begin. So humiliated, the presumptuous one must head to the last seat. But then a person more distinguished walks in, and the host asks the one holding the seat of honor to move. He tells the story of a wedding where someone quickly grabs the high seat of honor. Jesus notes that there is danger in pursuing seats of honor. Power and prestige resided closest to "the chair." Seating would have followed the washing of hands for cleansing (Mk 7:3 m. The host would sit at the base of the U, with the most honored guests on his left and right.
Couches for a meal were usually set in a U, with two to four guests reclining on each couch. At a big ancient meal, these seats would probably have been those closest to the host. Luke notes that Jesus speaks because he has noted how the guests picked the places of honor. Jesus' teaching, though it addresses a discipleship issue, is really a rebuke to many at the dinner table.
7) shows that he regards this attitude as fundamental to discipleship. The lesson is a hard one, as some of the New Testament epistles show (1 Cor 11:17-22 Phil 2:1-11 Jas 2:1-5 4:6 5:1-6). Both how we operate socially and whom we invite to dinner indicate the type of person we are. Jesus regards this equation as destructive to spiritual health. Status brings power, and power often begets pride. Pride and status are social issues in any culture, and the ancient Jewish culture was no exception. Yet here too the Pharisees provide a negative, contrasting example. The rising note of opposition does not prevent Jesus from instructing regarding discipleship.