On a sabbath Jesus 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 every one who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one
who humbles himself will be exalted.” Then he said to the
host who invited him, “When you hold a lunch or a dinner,
do not invite your friends or your brothers or your relatives
or your wealthy neighbors, in case they may invite you back and
you have repayment. Rather, when you hold a banquet, invite the
poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind; blessed indeed will you
be because of their inability to repay you. For you will be repaid
at the resurrection of the righteous.”
