On a sabbath he went to dine at the home of one of the leading Pharisees, and the people there were observing him carefully.
He told a parable to those who had been invited, noticing how they were choosing the places of honor at the table. "When you are invited by someone to a wedding banquet, do not recline at table in the place of honor. A more distinguished guest than you may have been invited by him, and the host who invited both of you may approach you and say, 'Give your place to this man,' and then you would proceed with embarrassment to take the lowest place. Rather, when you are invited, go and take the lowest place so that when the host comes to you he may say, 'My friend, move up to a higher position.' Then you will enjoy the esteem of your companions at the table. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted." (Lk 14:1,7-11 )
Jesus was not opposed by Pharisees in general as we would often think. He had few friends among the Pharisees as well. (There was Nicodemus, Simon etc) Here it is said as a leading Pharisee. Jesus dined with them would only add to say that he had fellowship and relationship with them. There Pharisees who agreed to Jesus’ teachings and preaching but could not follow him because of the society or posts or positions.
In the parable he brings out the same idea. People were giving importance o places of honor. Only the host knows the people whom he has invited for the feast and he only knows the people of importance. It is he, at the end of it all, arranges people according to the order of preferences. He has the list of honor that he wants to give to his invitees.
Invited guests may have their own idea about themselves and their relationship with the host. They might think that they are the people of importance. Jesus tells his listeners not to under estimate others. Under estimation or over estimation of the self is wrong in the place where one is invited. One should always think that the other is better than oneself.
