Discovery BoxLuke 14:8-10 
Context14:8 “When you are invited by someone to a wedding feast, 1 do not take 2 the place of honor, because a person more distinguished than you may have been invited by your host. 3 14:9 So 4 the host who invited both of you will come and say to you, ‘Give this man your place.’ Then, ashamed, 5 you will begin to move to the least important 6 place. 14:10 But when you are invited, go and take the least important place, so that when your host 7 approaches he will say to you, ‘Friend, move up here to a better place.’ 8 Then you will be honored in the presence of all who share the meal with you.
1 tn Or “banquet.” This may not refer only to a wedding feast, because this term can have broader sense (note the usage in Esth 2:18; 9:22 LXX). However, this difference does not affect the point of the parable.
2 tn Grk “do not recline in the place of honor.” 1st century middle eastern meals were not eaten while sitting at a table, but while reclining on one’s side on the floor with the head closest to the low table and the feet farthest away.
3 tn Grk “by him”; the referent (the host) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
4 tn Grk “host, and.” Here καί (kai) has been translated as “so” to indicate this action is a result of the situation described in the previous verse. Because of the length and complexity of the Greek sentence, a new sentence was started here in the translation.
5 tn Or “then in disgrace”; Grk “with shame.” In this culture avoiding shame was important.
6 tn Grk “lowest place” (also in the repetition of the phrase in the next verse).
7 tn Grk “the one who invited you.”
8 tn Grk “Go up higher.” This means to move to a more important place.
