Bible Strands
Luke 14:7
When Jesus noticed how the guests chose the places of honor, He told them a parable:
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — Jesus addresses banquet guests who are competing for seats of honor, speaking immediately after they failed to answer His prior questions. He directs this instruction to those who have just demonstrated a preference for social prominence.
The words — Ἔλεγεν (Elegen) translates literally as "He was speaking," and παραβολὴν (parabolēn) means "a parable." These terms mark the shift from observing their behavior to delivering a structured teaching.
The thread — The condemnation of seeking chief seats appears in Luke 11:43 and Matthew 23:6, which target religious leaders for loving honored positions. Philippians 2:3 later commands believers to reject selfish ambition and consider others more important.
Why it lands — The text states that guests chose places of honor and requires readers to identify their own competitive motives. It demands a deliberate refusal to secure social status and a practical choice to yield prominence to others.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Greek words
King James Version
And he put forth a parable to those which were bidden, when he marked how they chose out the chief rooms; saying unto them,
Cross-references
- Philippians 2:3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or empty pride, but in humility consider others more important than yourselves.
- Luke 11:43 Woe to you Pharisees! For you love the chief seats in the synagogues and the greetings in the marketplaces.
- Matthew 23:6 They love the places of honor at banquets, the chief seats in the synagogues,
- Mark 12:38 In His teaching Jesus also said, “Watch out for the scribes. They like to walk around in long robes, to receive greetings in the marketplaces,
- Luke 20:46 “Beware of the scribes. They like to walk around in long robes, and they love the greetings in the marketplaces, the chief seats in the synagogues, and the places of honor at banquets.
- 3 John 1:9 I have written to the church about this, but Diotrephes, who loves to be first, will not accept our instruction.
- Acts 8:18 When Simon saw that the Spirit was given through the laying on of the apostles’ hands, he offered them money.
- Ezekiel 17:2 “Son of man, pose a riddle; speak a parable to the house of Israel
- Proverbs 8:1 Does not wisdom call out, and understanding raise her voice?
- Judges 14:12 “Let me tell you a riddle,” Samson said to them. “If you can solve it for me within the seven days of the feast, I will give you thirty linen garments and thirty sets of clothes.