This parable of Jesus is often treated as a call for humility. When invited out for dinner, stand aside and let others be seated first. If that is its purpose it seems to be much ado about very little. But to interpret his words as a teaching on self effacement is to miss the point of the parable. Jesus told parables to describe the kingdom of God not to give lessons in social etiquette. Here, Jesus apparently used the occasion of his sabbath's dinner invitation to tell yet another parable about the kingdom of God which he frequently likened to a feast. What moved him to speak this time was his observation of how the invited guests ungraciously sought the seats of honor, and then were asked to move to make room for those for whom the seats had been reserved. The point of the parable is tha…