Luke 14:7 kjv
And he put forth a parable to those which were bidden, when he marked how they chose out the chief rooms; saying unto them.
Luke 14:7 nkjv
So He told a parable to those who were invited, when He noted how they chose the best places, saying to them:
Luke 14:7 niv
When he noticed how the guests picked the places of honor at the table, he told them this parable:
Luke 14:7 esv
Now he told a parable to those who were invited, when he noticed how they chose the places of honor, saying to them,
Luke 14:7 nlt
When Jesus noticed that all who had come to the dinner were trying to sit in the seats of honor near the head of the table, he gave them this advice:
Luke 14 7 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Lk 14:8-10 | "When you are invited by anyone to a wedding feast, do not sit down in the best place..." | Immediate parable teaching proper conduct and humility. |
| Lk 14:11 | "For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted." | Core principle of divine reversal. |
| Mt 23:6-7 | "They love the best places at feasts... greetings in the marketplaces." | Jesus' rebuke of religious leaders' desire for prominence. |
| Mk 9:35 | "If anyone desires to be first, he shall be last of all and servant of all." | Jesus' redefinition of true greatness. |
| Mk 10:43-44 | "Whoever desires to become great among you shall be your servant." | Servanthood as the path to leadership. |
| Jn 13:12-14 | Jesus washes disciples' feet, demonstrating humble service. | Christ's example of humility and self-abasement. |
| Rom 12:3 | "Do not think more highly of himself than he ought to think." | Instruction against self-conceit. |
| Phil 2:3-4 | "Let nothing be done through selfish ambition... but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself." | Call to humility and prioritizing others. |
| Phil 2:5-8 | Christ's ultimate example of humble self-emptying (kenosis). | Humility personified in Christ's incarnation. |
| 1 Pet 5:5-6 | "God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble... Humble yourselves therefore." | God's opposition to pride; favor for the humble. |
| Prov 16:18 | "Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall." | Warning about the consequences of pride. |
| Prov 18:12 | "Before destruction the heart of a man is haughty, and before honor is humility." | Humility as a precursor to honor. |
| Prov 25:6-7 | "Do not exalt yourself... better that it be said to you, 'Come up higher.'" | Old Testament wisdom about seeking position. |
| Jas 4:6 | "God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble." | Echoes the divine principle of humility and grace. |
| Isa 2:11-12 | "The lofty looks of man shall be humbled... for the day of the Lord of hosts shall come upon everything proud and lofty." | God's judgment against human pride. |
| Psa 18:27 | "For You will save the humble people, but will bring down haughty looks." | God's justice in exalting the humble and abasing the proud. |
| Psa 113:5-7 | God "humbles Himself to behold the things that are in the heavens... Raises the poor out of the dust." | God's condescension and elevation of the lowly. |
| Lk 1:52 | Mary's Magnificat: "He has put down the mighty from their thrones, and exalted the lowly." | Divine reversal in Mary's prophecy. |
| 2 Chr 7:14 | "If My people... will humble themselves... then I will hear from heaven." | Humility as a condition for divine favor and intervention. |
| Mt 18:4 | "Whoever humbles himself as this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven." | Childlike humility as essential for true greatness. |
Luke 14 verses
Luke 14 7 Meaning
Luke 14:7 presents Jesus' astute observation of dinner guests eagerly choosing the most prestigious seats at a feast. This initial notice serves as the precise context and direct inspiration for a pivotal teaching. It highlights Jesus' ability to perceive and interpret human behavior, specifically the inclination towards self-exaltation and status-seeking, using this common social practice as a foundation for a parable. The verse thereby sets the scene for a profound spiritual lesson about humility and true honor within God's Kingdom, challenging conventional worldly priorities.
Luke 14 7 Context
Luke chapter 14 begins with Jesus attending a Sabbath meal at the home of a prominent Pharisee. The immediate context, verses 1-6, portrays Jesus' deliberate challenge to Pharisaic legalism concerning Sabbath observance through the healing of a man afflicted with dropsy. Following this healing, Jesus shifts His focus to the dinner guests. The setting of a formal banquet provided a highly visible opportunity for social ranking and the display of honor. In 1st-century Jewish society, the positioning of guests at table directly correlated with their perceived status and importance. By observing the guests scrambling for "the best places," Jesus addresses a pervasive cultural mindset that prioritized external appearances, human commendation, and social hierarchy. His subsequent teaching (Lk 14:8-11), introduced by this verse, forms a direct challenge, a polemic, against the self-serving attitudes and the system of honor that was deeply ingrained, particularly among the religious elite. It sets up a contrast between earthly ambition and divine perspective, redirecting attention from human approval to the values of God's Kingdom.
Luke 14 7 Word analysis
- noticed (παρετήρησατο, paretērēsato): This Greek verb denotes a careful, precise, and intentional observation. It implies that Jesus did not merely see in passing but actively scrutinized the actions and, by extension, the underlying motivations of the guests. It signifies a keen and discerning perception on His part.
- how (πω̃ς, pōs): An interrogative or relative adverb of manner, emphasizing not just the fact that they chose certain places, but the way in which they did so—implying eagerness, deliberation, and perhaps a competitive spirit in their selection.
- guests: While not a single, distinct word here in Greek, the sense is derived from "those who had been invited" (οἱ κεκλημένοι, hoi keklēmenoi), referenced earlier in the broader context of Luke 14. These are the attendees of the feast.
- picked / chose (ἐξελέγοντο, exelegonto): This is from the verb ἐκλέγω (eklegō), meaning "to select," "to choose out for oneself." The imperfect tense suggests a continuous action, perhaps multiple individuals doing this simultaneously or successively. It highlights their active and self-serving agency in claiming the desired spots, indicating a deliberate effort to secure a prominent position.
- places of honor / best places (τὰς πρωτοκλισίας, tas prōtoklisias): Literally "the first reclining places" or "chief couches." In ancient banquets held in a triclinium (U-shaped dining couches), these were the most distinguished seats, often closest to the host or in a position of maximum visibility and prestige. Securing these spots symbolized high social status and recognition, reflecting the desire for public acclaim and hierarchical superiority.
Words-group analysis
- "When He noticed how the guests picked the places of honor": This phrase functions as the inciting incident for Jesus' subsequent teaching. It encapsulates Jesus' divine discernment, portraying Him as One who sees beyond outward appearances into the hearts and intentions of individuals. His observation of this seemingly trivial social interaction—guests jostling for the best seats—becomes the perfect springboard to deliver a counter-cultural truth about the Kingdom of God, challenging the deeply ingrained human inclination towards self-exaltation.
Luke 14 7 Bonus section
This seemingly simple observation by Jesus connects profoundly to His larger teachings on the Kingdom of God, where traditional hierarchies are overturned. It serves as an early indication of the "divine reversal" theme prevalent in Luke's Gospel, where God consistently elevates the lowly and humbles the proud. The setting at a Pharisee's house is also significant, as the Pharisees were known for valuing outward show and seeking honor from people, contrasting sharply with Jesus' emphasis on inward purity and humility before God. This scene provides a living parable that Jesus uses to expose spiritual blindness hidden beneath social customs, ultimately teaching that true greatness and honor come from God alone, not from human striving or positions claimed by oneself.
Luke 14 7 Commentary
Luke 14:7 succinctly establishes the crucial observational backdrop for Jesus’ transformative teaching on humility. Amidst a cultural setting where social status was visually broadcast by one's seat at a banquet, Jesus acutely perceived the guests' inclination to "pick the places of honor." This was not a casual glance but a profound discernment of a common human trait—the innate desire for recognition, prominence, and the social advantage associated with being "first." His noticing directly exposes the vanity inherent in seeking worldly esteem. By choosing this everyday scenario, Jesus provides a relatable illustration for His immediate parable about ascending by being humbled and being humbled by self-exaltation. The verse thus sets up the divine challenge to human pride, ushering in a principle that reverses earthly wisdom and points towards God's method of honoring the humble, not the self-promoters.