Adam Clarke's Bible Commentary Verse 7. They chose out the chief rooms] When custom and law have regulated and settled places in public assemblies, a man who is obliged to attend may take the place which belongs to him, without injury to himself or to others: when nothing of this nature is settled, the law of humility, and the love of order, are the only judges of what is proper. To take the highest place when it is not our due is public vanity: obstinately to refuse it when offered is another instance of the same vice; though private and concealed. Humility takes as much care to avoid the ostentation of an affected refusal, as the open seeking of a superior place. See Quesnel. In this parable our Lord only repeats advices which the rabbins had given to their pupils, but were too proud to conform to themselves. Rabbi Akiba said, Go two or three seats lower than the place that belongs to thee, and sit there till they say unto thee, Go up higher; but do not take the uppermost seat, lest they say unto thee, Come down: for it is better that they should say unto thee, Go up, go up; than that they should say, Come down, come down. See Schoettgen.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 7-14 - Even in the common actions of life, Christ marks what we do, not onl in our religious assemblies, but at our tables. We see in many cases that a man's pride will bring him low, and before honour is humility Our Saviour here teaches, that works of charity are better than work of show. But our Lord did not mean that a proud and unbelievin liberality should be rewarded, but that his precept of doing good to the poor and afflicted should be observed from love to him.
Greek Textus Receptus
ελεγεν 3004 5707 V-IAI-3S δε 1161 CONJ προς 4314 PREP τους 3588 T-APM κεκλημενους 2564 5772 V-RPP-APM παραβολην 3850 N-ASF επεχων 1907 5723 V-PAP-NSM πως 4459 ADV τας 3588 T-APF πρωτοκλισιας 4411 N-APF εξελεγοντο 1586 5710 V-IMI-3P λεγων 3004 5723 V-PAP-NSM προς 4314 PREP αυτους 846 P-APM
Vincent's NT Word Studies
7. They chose. Imperfect: were choosing. Something going on before his eyes.The chief seats. Or couches. The Greek writers refer to the absurd contentions which sometimes arose for the chief seats at table.
Theophrastus designates one who thrusts himself into the place next the host as mikrofilotimov, one who seeks petty distinctions.
Robertson's NT Word Studies
14:7 {A parable for those which were bidden} (pros tous keklemenous parabolen). Perfect passive participle of kalew, to call, to invite. this parable is for the guests who were there and who had been watching Jesus. {When he marked} (epecwn). Present active participle of epecw with ton noun understood, holding the mind upon them, old verb and common. {They chose out} (exelegonto). Imperfect middle, were picking out for themselves. {The chief seats} (tas prwtoklisias). The first reclining places at the table. Jesus condemned the Pharisees later for this very thing (#Mt 23:6; Mr 12:39; Lu 20:46). On a couch holding three the middle place was the chief one. At banquets today the name of the guests are usually placed at the plates. The place next to the host on the right was qen, as now, the post of honor.
