PrevLuke 14:7Next

Luke 14

And it came to pass, as he went into the house of one of the chief Pharisees to eat bread on the sabbath day, that they watched him.

And, behold, there was a certain man before him which had the dropsy.

And Jesus answering spake unto the lawyers and Pharisees, saying, Is it lawful to heal on the sabbath day?

And they held their peace. And he took him, and healed him, and let him go;

And answered them, saying, Which of you shall have an ass or an ox fallen into a pit, and will not straightway pull him out on the sabbath day?

And they could not answer him again to these things.

And he put forth a parable to those which were bidden, when he marked how they chose out the chief rooms; saying unto them,

When thou art bidden of any man to a wedding, sit not down in the highest room; lest a more honourable man than thou be bidden of him;

And he that bade thee and him come and say to thee, Give this man place; and thou begin with shame to take the lowest room.

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.

For whosoever exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.

Then said he also to him that bade him, When thou makest a dinner or a supper, call not thy friends, nor thy brethren, neither thy kinsmen, nor thy rich neighbours; lest they also bid thee again, and a recompence be made thee.

But when thou makest a feast, call the poor, the maimed, the lame, the blind:

And thou shalt be blessed; for they cannot recompense thee: for thou shalt be recompensed at the resurrection of the just.

And when one of them that sat at meat with him heard these things, he said unto him, Blessed is he that shall eat bread in the kingdom of God.

Then said he unto him, A certain man made a great supper, and bade many:

And sent his servant at supper time to say to them that were bidden, Come; for all things are now ready.

And they all with one consent began to make excuse. The first said unto him, I have bought a piece of ground, and I must needs go and see it: I pray thee have me excused.

And another said, I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I go to prove them: I pray thee have me excused.

And another said, I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come.

So that servant came, and shewed his lord these things. Then the master of the house being angry said to his servant, Go out quickly into the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in hither the poor, and the maimed, and the halt, and the blind.

And the servant said, Lord, it is done as thou hast commanded, and yet there is room.

And the lord said unto the servant, Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled.

For I say unto you, That none of those men which were bidden shall taste of my supper.

And there went great multitudes with him: and he turned, and said unto them,

If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple.

And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple.

For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it?

Lest haply, after he hath laid the foundation, and is not able to finish it, all that behold it begin to mock him,

Saying, This man began to build, and was not able to finish.

Or what king, going to make war against another king, sitteth not down first, and consulteth whether he be able with ten thousand to meet him that cometh against him with twenty thousand?

Or else, while the other is yet a great way off, he sendeth an ambassage, and desireth conditions of peace.

So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple.

Salt is good: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be seasoned?

It is neither fit for the land, nor yet for the dunghill; but men cast it out. He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.

What does Luke 14:7 mean?

Explanation

In Luke 14:7, Jesus observes the behavior of guests invited to a meal and takes the opportunity to impart a lesson on humility and social etiquette.

The guests are choosing the places of honor for themselves, which in the context of a Jewish banquet, were the seats closest to the host.

By noting their behavior, Jesus is addressing issues of pride, self-importance, and the jostling for social prestige that was common in His time.

The deeper meaning of the parable extends beyond social conduct to spiritual truths; it suggests that one should not seek to exalt oneself, but rather to adopt a posture of humility, allowing God or others to bestow honor in due time.

Top Rated Luke Books

Historical Context

The verse is part of a larger narrative in the Gospel of Luke, set within a first-century Jewish context where banquets and meals played a significant role in social interaction.

Seating arrangements were an indication of a person's social status.

Being invited to a meal, particularly by a person of high status, was an honor, and where one sat at such a meal was significant.

Jesus often used such familiar settings to teach about the Kingdom of God and to challenge prevailing social norms.

Theological Insights

From a theological standpoint, this verse illustrates principles such as:

Humility: Jesus teaches that true honor comes not from self-promotion but from God.

This reflects the biblical principle that "God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble" (James 4:6).

The reversal of social order: The Kingdom of God often subverts worldly expectations and societal structures.

Jesus' teachings frequently indicate that in God's economy, the last will be first, and the first last (Matthew 20:16).

Ethical behavior: The passage advises followers of Christ to live in a way that reflects their values, which includes a humble approach to social status and recognition.

Practical Applications

In practical terms, this verse can serve as a guide for behavior in social settings, urging individuals to seek a humble approach rather than striving for recognition.

It also encourages believers to evaluate their motivations and to act out of genuine concern for others, rather than for self-aggrandizement.

In interpersonal relations, this passage suggests prioritizing others' needs and showing consideration for everyone, regardless of their perceived social standing.

Cross-References

Proverbs 25:6-7: "Put not forth thyself in the presence of the king, and stand not in the place of great men: For better it is that it be said unto thee, Come up hither; than that thou shouldest be put lower in the presence of the prince whom thine eyes have seen."
James 4:10: "Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up."
Matthew 23:12: "And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted."

Language Study

"Chosen out" (Greek: "εξελεγοντο", exelegonto): This term is the imperfect middle or passive indicative form of "εκλεγομαι" (eklegomai), which means to pick out, choose, or select for oneself.
"Chief rooms" (Greek: "πρωτοκλισια", protoklisia): The phrase literally means "first seats" or "places of honor." In the context of a banquet, these would be the seats nearest to the host, signifying prominence or high status.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

In many traditional cultures, both ancient and contemporary, seating arrangements at social gatherings are symbols of power dynamics and hierarchy.

For example, in ancient Roman banquets, seating was strictly ordered, with the most distinguished guests receiving the best positions.

Similar practices are evident in other cultures, where honorific seating communicates social rank or respect.

Comparing these practices with Jesus' teaching highlights the countercultural nature of His message about humility.

Scientific Perspectives

Discussing the passage from a scientific perspective may involve looking at social psychology, which studies how individuals think, influence, and relate to one another.

Concepts such as social comparison, status anxiety, and prosocial behavior are relevant to this discussion.

For example, studies have shown that displaying humility can lead to better social outcomes and that striving for status can have negative psychological effects.

This aligns with the biblical exhortation to choose humility over self-promotion.

Commentaries

Commentators on this verse highlight various aspects:

William Barclay notes that Jesus is teaching about manners, which "are based on consideration for others." He emphasizes that Jesus' teaching is not so much about banquets but about every aspect of life, where the principle of humility should reign.
Matthew Henry comments on the practicality of not seeking the highest place, as it is better "to be invited up than to be put down."
The Expositor's Bible Commentary discusses the social aspect of Jesus' parable, highlighting the issue of pride and the social maneuvering that was common in the ancient world at banquets.

It is pointed out that Jesus uses this typical situation to teach a lesson about the values of the Kingdom of God, contrasting them with the worldly pursuit of honor.

Luke 14

Luke 14

What does Luke 14:7 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Luke Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

Commentaries

Want more context?

What does Luke 14:7 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Luke Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

Commentaries

Want more context?