But when you are invited, go and recline at the last place, so that when the one who has invited you comes, he may say to you, "Friend, move up higher'; then you will have honor in the sight of all who are at the table with you.I think many have read this passage, and missed a key word. They think that this is basically a sure-fire formula, that if you publicly display humility, you will be elevated by those around you. However, this not only shows a flawed motivation, but missed the key word of the passage.
That word is "may." None of this is a guarantee. It could be that you truly are the lowest of those there, or the host is oblivious due to other distractions, or that he doesn't want to embarrass those who seated themselves higher. Whatever might happen, you are not entitled to be elevated, and must accept your situation if it doesn't happen.
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