Matthew 23:6 kjv
And love the uppermost rooms at feasts, and the chief seats in the synagogues,
Matthew 23:6 nkjv
They love the best places at feasts, the best seats in the synagogues,
Matthew 23:6 niv
they love the place of honor at banquets and the most important seats in the synagogues;
Matthew 23:6 esv
and they love the place of honor at feasts and the best seats in the synagogues
Matthew 23:6 nlt
And they love to sit at the head table at banquets and in the seats of honor in the synagogues.
Matthew 23 6 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Matt 6:1 | "Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them..." | Condemns actions for human praise. |
| Matt 20:26-28 | "whoever would be great among you must be your servant... Son of Man came not to be served but to serve..." | True greatness is humble service, not status. |
| Mk 12:38-39 | "Beware of the scribes, who like to walk around in long robes and love greetings in the marketplaces... and best seats in the synagogues." | Direct parallel describing similar conduct. |
| Lk 11:43 | "Woe to you Pharisees! For you love the best seat in the synagogues and greetings in the marketplaces." | Parallel condemnation of seeking prominence. |
| Lk 14:7-11 | "When he noticed how the guests chose the places of honor, he told them a parable... Everyone who exalts himself will be humbled..." | Parable warning against seeking high places at feasts. |
| Lk 20:46 | "Beware of the scribes, who desire to walk in long robes, and love greetings in the marketplaces and the best seats in the synagogues..." | Another parallel exposing their desire for honor. |
| Prov 16:18 | "Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall." | Warns against the danger of pride. |
| Prov 25:6-7 | "Do not put yourself forward in the king's presence or stand in the place of great men... for it is better to be told, 'Come up here,' than to be put down... " | Advises humility and waiting for elevation. |
| 1 Sam 15:17 | "And Samuel said, 'Though you are little in your own eyes, are you not the head of the tribes of Israel? The Lord anointed you king...'" | Saul's fall linked to pride, a warning against self-importance. |
| Jn 5:44 | "How can you believe, when you receive glory from one another and do not seek the glory that comes from the only God?" | Challenges belief rooted in seeking human approval over divine glory. |
| Rom 12:3 | "For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think..." | Admonition against inflated self-estimation. |
| Rom 12:10 | "Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor." | Commands a reciprocal, not self-seeking, form of honor among believers. |
| Phil 2:3 | "Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves." | Calls for selfless humility over personal advancement. |
| Jas 4:6 | "But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, 'God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.'" | States God's active opposition to the proud. |
| 1 Pet 5:5-6 | "Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for 'God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.' Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God..." | Commands humility, connecting it to God's opposing the proud. |
| 3 Jn 1:9 | "I wrote to the church, but Diotrephes, who loves to be first, does not acknowledge our authority." | Illustrates a desire for preeminence within the early church. |
| Isa 2:12 | "For the Lord of hosts has a day against all that is proud and lofty, against all that is lifted up..." | Prophecy of God's judgment against pride. |
| Jer 9:23-24 | "Thus says the Lord: 'Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom... but let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows me...'" | Condemns boasting in self-attributes, commends boasting in God. |
| 1 Cor 1:29-31 | "...so that no human being might boast in the presence of God. And because of him you are in Christ Jesus... that, as it is written, 'Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.'" | Affirms that boasting belongs to God alone, not self. |
| 1 Cor 4:6-7 | "...that you may learn by us not to go beyond what is written, that none of you may be puffed up... What do you have that you did not receive?..." | Questions human boasting and acknowledges divine source of gifts. |
| Gal 5:26 | "Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another." | Admonishes against conceit and the pursuit of honor. |
| 1 Tim 3:6 | "[An overseer must not be] a recent convert, or he may become puffed up with conceit and fall into the condemnation of the devil." | Warning about the dangers of pride for those in leadership roles. |
Matthew 23 verses
Matthew 23 6 Meaning
Matthew 23:6 describes a characteristic behavior of the scribes and Pharisees, highlighting their desire for outward recognition and status. It reveals their preference for the most prominent positions at social gatherings (feasts) and within religious assemblies (synagogues). This eagerness for public honor exposes their focus on human praise and social standing, rather than on humble service or genuine devotion to God.
Matthew 23 6 Context
Matthew 23 records Jesus' final public discourse in Jerusalem before His passion, a stern denunciation directed at the scribes and Pharisees. This chapter contrasts their external religious practices and authoritative teachings with their internal hypocrisy and lack of genuine spiritual fruit. Verse 6, along with surrounding verses, describes the specific behaviors that exemplify their pursuit of outward display: dressing for show (v. 5), seeking prominent greetings, and accepting honorific titles (v. 7). This behavior reveals their desire for status among men, rather than cultivating a true relationship with God based on humility and service. The broader historical context includes the strong societal value placed on honor and shame in the ancient Near East. Religious leaders like the scribes and Pharisees held significant social standing, and Jesus' critique directly challenged the basis of their authority and public image by exposing their underlying motivation.
Matthew 23 6 Word analysis
- They love (Greek: phileō): This verb suggests a fondness, affection, or a strong preference for something, rather than unconditional, selfless love (agapaō). Here, it implies that the scribes and Pharisees actively desire and cherish these outward displays of honor, indicating a deep-seated inclination within their character. Their pursuit is driven by personal inclination rather than obligation.
- the places of honor (Greek: prōtoklisias): Literally meaning "first reclining places" or "first couches." In the context of banquets and feasts (deipna), guests would recline on couches around a low table. The host's couch, or the couches to the right and left of the host, were considered the most prestigious positions, typically reserved for honored guests. Their eagerness for these specific spots revealed their public craving for recognition and perceived importance.
- at feasts (Greek: deipna): These were significant social gatherings, often evening meals, which provided opportunities for public interaction and display. Seeking the places of honor at these events underscored their ambition for social standing and recognition within the broader community, not just religious circles.
- and the best seats (Greek: protokathedrias): Meaning "first sitting places." This term specifically refers to the most prominent chairs in the synagogue. Synagogues had benches arranged in a semi-circle, with the seats facing the ark containing the Torah scrolls considered the most prestigious. These positions were often reserved for respected elders, scholars, or benefactors. For the scribes and Pharisees, occupying these seats signified their perceived religious authority and moral superiority within the community.
- in the synagogues: The synagogue was the central place of Jewish communal worship, teaching, and social interaction. Seeking the highest seats here signified their desire for religious and scholarly prominence, portraying themselves as exemplary teachers and spiritual leaders to be admired and deferred to. This context adds a layer of spiritual pretense to their ambition.
Words-group by words-group analysis:
- "They love the places of honor at feasts and the best seats in the synagogues": This phrase encompasses two distinct but related contexts—social banquets and religious assemblies. The conjunction "and" signifies a pervasive pattern of behavior: their desire for preeminence was not limited to one area of life but permeated both their social interactions and their religious practice. It illustrates a fundamental spiritual defect—a consistent and ingrained desire for personal glory, attention, and perceived status among others. This behavior starkly contrasts with Jesus' teaching of humble service (Matt 20:26-28) and points to a form of piety that prioritizes outward display over inner righteousness, making it a stark example of hypocrisy.
Matthew 23 6 Bonus section
The behaviors condemned in Matthew 23:6 highlight the "performative" nature of their spirituality. Their piety was, to a large extent, a public spectacle designed to elicit admiration and respect from others, rather than a genuine overflow of devotion from the heart. This aligns with Jesus' broader denunciation of actions done "to be seen by others" (Matt 6:1-18), underscoring that the motivation behind religious deeds matters supremely to God. The danger Jesus exposed in the scribes and Pharisees remains relevant: positions of leadership or perceived spiritual authority can easily become platforms for self-aggrandizement if not approached with genuine humility and a singular focus on glorifying God. The passage implicitly teaches that true honor comes not from seizing the most prominent seat, but from humble service, which God ultimately exalts (1 Pet 5:6).
Matthew 23 6 Commentary
Matthew 23:6 offers a piercing insight into the superficiality of the scribes and Pharisees' religiosity. Jesus points to their fundamental spiritual defect: a deep-seated love for self-exaltation. They sought honor not as a natural byproduct of genuine wisdom or piety, but as an object in itself, something to be actively pursued and cherished. Their chosen venues—social feasts and sacred synagogues—reveal that this ambition for recognition pervaded both their everyday lives and their religious roles. At banquets, reclining in the chief places signaled their perceived social superiority, while in synagogues, the most prominent seats proclaimed their religious authority and influence. This pursuit of outward honor was diametrically opposed to the kingdom values Jesus taught: humility, service, and seeking God's approval rather than human praise. This verse stands as a timeless warning that religious activities and positions, when fueled by pride and the craving for human acclaim, become corrupted and devoid of true spiritual worth in God's eyes. It underscores that authentic faith prioritizes humility, selfless service, and an inner righteousness known only to God.