What does Luke 14:11 mean?
Jesus comes to the moral of His parable. He has watched guests file in for a formal banquet and try to figure out how closely they can sit to the host based on their social rank. Jesus is telling them they're going about it wrong. If they assume an honorable seat and a more respected guest arrives, they will be told to make a shameful walk to the foot of the table. If they sit at the foot of the table, however, the host may honor them by insisting they move up (Luke 14:7–10).In the next lesson, Jesus tells the host to stop inviting people of renown who can repay the favor. Instead, he should throw feasts for the poor, blind, and injured and let God repay him for his generosity (Luke 14:12–14).
The two parables have basically the same meaning: do not try to work the system to win honor or reward. Serve humbly and let others—including God—choose to give you honor or reward as they see fit. "Honor" that comes only by manipulating others isn't really honor.
Jesus revisits this theme later with the parable of the Pharisee and the tax collector (Luke 18:9–14). A Pharisee proudly prays before God about how righteous he is. A tax collector laments his sin. When they leave, it is the tax collector who is redeemed because of his humble repentance.
This verse also echoes a prior quote: "And behold, some are last who will be first, and some are first who will be last" (Luke 13:30). In that context, Jesus was saying that there will be Gentiles who follow the Jewish Messiah when many Jews will not.
