In this passage, Jesus gives advice on humility and proper motivations in how we conduct ourselves in the world while attending a Sabbath meal. Between verse 1 and 7, Jesus heals a man with what we would now call edema, first asking the religious leaders if it is permitted on the Sabbath. They do not answer, probably because they are embarrassed to say “no” when the ailing man is right there. Jesus takes their silence as approval and heals the man. Then we head into our verses at the Sabbath meal. What Jesus says to them tells us that, just as they are said to be carefully watching Jesus in verse 1, he has been carefully watching them.

Jesus’ parable to the dinner guests is actually old advice that goes all the way back to the Old Testament book of Proverbs 25:6-7. While Proverbs does provide spiritual advice, much of the time it is giving practical tips for living. It is better to be asked to move up to a position of honor than to be asked to move down off of one. Jesus, though, typically doesn’t “do” practical advice. His concerns are spiritual and for basic life necessities like health and food rather than things like “honor”. So what is Jesus doing here?

Verse 11 shows us that Jesus is talking about something more than just worldly honor. Jesus is talking about how God will honor the lowly and humble the (supposedly) exalted. Ultimately, all of us are called to humility. We aren’t perfect and we all make mistakes. We should not act like we are better than others (nor particularly worse). Jesus might be saying to start small on the road to humility. Take that lower seat, not so you’ll be asked up, but because you know you aren’t better than anyone else, and you’ve been called to humility. 

Jesus then turns to his host and tells him who he should invite to his parties. Jesus says that the host invites people so that he might be invited to their parties in return. Instead, he says, you should invite people who can’t repay you and who are down on their luck in terms of health, finances, or social status. If you do, it is God who will repay you.

Does this mean God will reward you in some way like allowing you to go to heaven? As someone opposed to “works righteousness”, I wouldn’t say that. Instead, I’d say that you get to experience a bit of the resurrection right now. You get an early view of what it will be like when Jesus returns and heals all afflictions and comforts all sorrows. Now THAT is something worth focusing on, rather than any worldly honor. 

Jesus calls us to consider why we do what we do in this passage. Do we have our minds on worldly things like honor, or on heavenly things like righteousness? Maybe asking ourselves that question is the first step toward the humility we’re called to live.