What does Luke 14:7 mean?
On the Sabbath, Jesus arrives for a meal at the home of a "ruler of the Pharisees." The guests were still finding their seats when Jesus saw a man with dropsy—edema—and healed him. In the process, Jesus called on the other guests to judge whether healing on the Sabbath was "work" that should be avoided. They declined to answer (Luke 14:1–6).This entire section (Luke 14:1—15:32) is talking about who can enter the kingdom of God. In this context, that means to experience the blessings of God's authority, power, and character. In the previous story, it was a man with an incurable disease. In this parable, Jesus infers it is the person who is humble enough to assume he doesn't deserve it but willing to come when God calls (Luke 14:7–11).
Literally, "parable" refers to something that "stands alongside" and points to something else. In the case of a story, it reveals a truth that isn't explicitly spelled out in the story's events. In Jesus' story in the next few verses, the literal occasion is a formal banquet at a wedding, attended by several men who are trying to determine how close to the head table and the place of honor they can sit. Metaphorically, Jesus is talking about the humble attitude we should take when entering the kingdom of God.
"Those who were invited" means the guests whom the "ruler of the Pharisees" (Luke 14:1) invited and who are reclining around the table (Luke 14:15), as opposed to those who are standing quietly against the wall, waiting to hear the conversation. The host is a Pharisee and holds a position of authority somewhere—perhaps the synagogue or the local government.
The King James Version translates the verse: "And he put forth a parable to those which were bidden, when he marked how they chose out the chief rooms; saying unto them." "Bidden" means called to attend. The Greek word translated "chief rooms" is protoklisa and means "place of honor." The KJV uses "room" to mean "space" or area.
