“When you are invited
By someone
To a wedding banquet,
Do not sit down
At the place of honor!
Otherwise,
Someone more distinguished
Than you may
Had been invited
By your host.”
Ὅταν κληθῇς ὑπό τινος εἰς γάμους, μὴ κατακλιθῇς εἰς τὴν πρωτοκλισίαν, μή ποτε ἐντιμότερός σου ᾖ κεκλημένος ὑπ’ αὐτοῦ,
Luke uniquely had Jesus tell this parable about being invited by someone to a wedding banquet (Ὅταν κληθῇς ὑπό τινος εἰς γάμους). He told them not to sit down or recline (μὴ κατακλιθῇς) in the place of honor (εἰς τὴν πρωτοκλισίαν). Luke was the only gospel writer who used this word κατακλιθῇς, that means to recline a table. He used it more than 5 times. Otherwise, someone more distinguished than them (μή ποτε ἐντιμότερός σου) may have been invited by their host (ᾖ κεκλημένος ὑπ’ αὐτοῦ). This is similar or based on Proverbs 6:7, where they were told not to put themselves forward in a great place before the king. It was much better to be told to come up than to be put lower in the presence of a noble person. In other words, let the host realize and show that you are important, rather than pretend that you are more important than you are. Have you ever sat at the wrong place at some banquet?
Eugene Finnegan Bible Project 