“Worship” or “Honour” in Luke 14:10?

But when thou art bidden, go and sit down in the lowest room; that when he that bade thee cometh, he may say unto thee, Friend, go up higher: then shalt thou have worship in the presence of them that sit at meat with thee. (Luke 14:10, KJV)

Critics say the KJV wrongly makes Jesus encourage men to be worshipped. In the original Greek, there are no quotation marks in the sentence. In many translations, quotation marks are only around the statement, "Friend, go up higher" and the following clause, "then shalt thou have worship in the presence of them that sit at meat with thee" is without quotation marks, and is hence presented as if it is an encouragement by Jesus to receive worship from men. The ESV is one such example. It says (notice the quotation marks):

But when you are invited, go and sit in the lowest place, so that when your host comes he may say to you, 'Friend, move up higher.' Then you will be honored in the presence of all who sit at table with you. (Luke 14:10, ESV)

[ ] words of Jesus

[ ] hypothetical words of the Pharisee

However, since there are no quotation marks in the Greek, the KJV does not either, so all of the following can be attributed to what a Pharisee would have said to his fellow man in the situation: "Friend, go up higher: then shalt thou have worship in the presence of them that sit at meat with thee.":

But when thou art bidden, go and sit down in the lowest room; that when he that bade thee cometh, he may say unto thee, Friend, go up higher: then shalt thou have worship in the presence of them that sit at meat with thee. (Luke 14:10, KJV)

[ ] words of Jesus

[ ] hypothetical words of the host

Thus, Jesus is not saying that a person should receive worship from men. Jesus is simply making a case presuming a Pharisee custom (neither approving or disapproving it in this instance, as with the ethics of the unjust judge in Luke 18:1-8) and making a point concerning being last and first. Matthew Henry Complete Commentary on the Whole Bible (Luke 14:10) says: "Note, The way to rise high is to begin low, and this recommends a man to those about him: "Thou shalt have honour and respect before those that sit with thee."" Matthew Henry interpreted the statement in question as one spoken by the Pharisee man and not by Jesus.

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