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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 14:9 mean?

Explanation

Luke 14:9 is a verse from a parable spoken by Jesus, which addresses the issue of humility and social etiquette in the context of a banquet.

In this parable, Jesus advises when attending a feast to not assume the highest place of honor, lest a more distinguished guest arrives and the host asks the person to move to a lower seat.

This would result in embarrassment for the one who had chosen the higher place.

The verse under consideration therefore conveys the message that it is better to assume a lower position from the outset, to avoid the humiliation that could come with being asked to give up one's seat.

The deeper meaning points to the virtues of humility and self-awareness, suggesting that by not seeking to elevate oneself above others, one might actually be honored by being invited to a higher place.

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Historical Context

The parable of which Luke 14:9 is a part is set within a meal that Jesus is attending at the house of a ruler of the Pharisees on the Sabbath.

The cultural context of 1st-century Judea, and particularly among the Pharisees, emphasized strict adherence to social hierarchies and the Law of Moses.

Banquets and feasts were common social events where one's position at the table was indicative of their social status.

Jesus used this occasion to teach a lesson that broke with the cultural norms of seeking personal honor.

Theological Insights

From a theological point of view, this verse can be viewed through various lenses:

Christian humility: The verse illustrates the Christian principle that true honor comes from God and not from self-promotion. It aligns with the teachings of Jesus about the last being first and the first being last.
Divine judgement: The parable can be seen as an analogy for Judgment Day, where God is the host and individuals are the guests. One's final place in the Kingdom of God depends on God's judgment, not human presumption.
Rejection of worldly values: This teaching contrasts with the worldly pursuit of status and encourages followers to live in a way that often contradicts social norms and aspirations.

Practical Applications

Applying the teachings of this verse in daily life involves:

Exercising humility: In social situations, one should not assume the place of honor but rather wait to be invited, embodying a humble attitude.
Self-awareness: Understanding one's own position and not overestimating oneself in social or professional settings.
Encouraging others: Recognizing and elevating others before oneself, which can lead to more harmonious and equitable relationships.

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."
Matthew 23:12: "And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted."

Language Study

In the original Greek text, the key words are:

κληθῇς (klēthēs): translated as "bade" or "invited," which is a passive verb form, indicating the person has been called by someone else.
τόπον (topon): meaning "place" or "seat," indicating one's position at the table.
ἔντιμος (entimos): translated as "man of honor" or "distinguished," suggesting someone of higher social standing.
ἀρχομένου (archomenou): means "to begin," indicating the start of an action, in this case, the act of moving to a lower seat.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

In many ancient cultures, social hierarchy was of immense importance, and banqueting etiquette often reflected one's status.

The teachings of Jesus in this parable challenge the prevailing value systems of honor and shame pervasive in the ancient world, including in Jewish, Greek, and Roman societies.

Scientific Perspectives

From a psychological standpoint, the dynamics of social interactions and status are well-researched topics.

Modern science supports the idea that humility and recognition of one's own limitations are associated with better social relationships and mental health outcomes.

This mirrors the teachings of this verse in promoting humility over self-aggrandizement.

Commentaries

Various Bible scholars and theologians have offered interpretations of this verse:

John Calvin: He saw this teaching as an assault against the ambition which is naturally ingrained in human beings, calling for a sincere modesty in behavior.
Matthew Henry: Henry explained this parable as an instruction not only about literal feasts, but about exaltation in the public square and within the church, promoting humility as the path to true honor.
William Barclay: Barclay highlighted that in the context of the time, the seating arrangements at banquets were a reflection of rigid social structures. Jesus' advice was thus radically countercultural, punishing pride and rewarding humility.

Luke 14

Luke 14

What does Luke 14:9 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 14:9 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?