16:40 minutes (3.82 MB)
Jesus is invited to dinner by a Pharisee, and takes the opportunity to offer some advice to those gathered around. First, he offers some advice on how to be a good guest. Dinner was often an event in Jesus day, and guests would gather, reclining around a cushion in groups of 3 or so. The closer to the center of the room you were, the more important you were. Don’t risk disgrace, Jesus advises, begin by reclining at some far away place, and let your host elevate you to a better position. Don’t start in the center, only to be moved further out. The advise wasn’t unique to Jesus, it was pretty common advice for his day. The kind of thing you’d see in a column from Miss Manners or an answer from Dear Abby on how best to handle a dinner engagement.
