Luke 14:10

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.

EXPOSITORY (ENGLISH BIBLE)

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(10) Sit down in the lowest room.—Better, as before, recline for the verb, and place, or couch, for the noun.

Friend.—The Greek word is not the same as in Matthew 20:13 (where see Note), Matthew 22:12; Matthew 26:50, but is the same as in John 11:11; John 15:14. The difference is suggestive. The first word addressed to the humble and lowly guest speaks of confidence and affection. He is welcomed as, in the highest sense, the “friend” of the giver of the feast.

Worship . . .—Better, honour, or glory, the same word as in John 5:44; John 12:43.

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

14:7-14 Even in the common actions of life, Christ marks what we do, not only 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 works of show. But our Lord did not mean that a proud and unbelieving liberality should be rewarded, but that his precept of doing good to the poor and afflicted should be observed from love to him.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

The lowest room - The lowest seat at the table; showing that you are not desirous of distinctions, or greedy of that honor which may properly belong to you.

Shalt have worship - The word "worship" here means "honor." They who are sitting with you shall treat you with respect. They will learn your rank by your being invited nearer to the head of the table, and it will be better to learn it thus than by putting yourself forward. They will do you honor because you have shown a humble spirit.

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

10. Friend—said to the modest guest only, not the proud one (Lu 14:9) [Bengel].

worship—honor. The whole of this is but a reproduction of Pr 25:6, 7. But it was reserved for the matchless Teacher to utter articulately, and apply to the regulation of the minutest features of social life, such great laws of the Kingdom of God, as that of Lu 14:11.

Matthew Poole's Commentary

See Poole on "Luke 14:9"

Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

But when thou art bidden,.... To an entertainment, and the time is come,

go and sit down in the lowest room: place thyself at the lower end of the table, or in the most inferior seat; which will show humility and lowliness of mind, and prevent shame and mortification; since there can be no putting into a lower place, and there may be an advance to an higher:

that when he that bade thee cometh; into the dining room, and observe in what place thou art:

he may say unto thee, friend, go up higher; to a more honourable seat at table, pointing to it, and saying, there is such a seat empty, go up and take it, it best becomes thee:

then shalt thou have worship; or glory, as the word signifies; honour and esteem, instead of shame and blushing; not only from the master of the feast,

but in the presence of them that sit at meat with thee; and from them, who will take notice of the honour done thee, and will entertain an high opinion of thee, and commend thee for thine humility and modesty. Advice, like to this, is given by Solomon in Proverbs 25:6 and which is explained by the Jews in like manner as here (k):

"Ben Azzai used to say, descend, from thy place two or three degrees, and sit; it is better that it should be said to thee, "go up", than that it should be said to thee, descend, as it is said in Proverbs 25:7.''

Which is elsewhere (l) thus expressed:

"R. Akiba taught it (or expounded, Proverbs 25:7) in the name of R. Simeon ben Azzai, remove from thy place two or three seats, and sit until it is said to thee, "go up"; but do not go up (i.e. first,) for it will be said to thee descend; it is better that it should be said to thee go up, go up, than that it should be said to thee go down, go down: and Ben Hillell used to say, my humiliation is my exaltation, and my exaltation is my humiliation.''

(k) Abot R. Nathan, c. 25. fol. 6. 4. (l) Vajikra Rabba, sect. 1. fol. 146. 4. Vid. Shemot Rabba, sect. 45. fol. 142. 1.

Geneva Study Bible

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.

EXEGETICAL (ORIGINAL LANGUAGES)

Expositor's Greek Testament

Luke 14:10. προσανάβηθι ἀνώτερον: “go up higher,” A.V[117] and R.V[118]; better “come up higher,” which gives effect to the πρός. The master invites the host to come towards himself. So Field (Ot. Nor.).

[117] Authorised Version.

[118] Revised Version.

Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

10. then shalt thou have worship] Rather, glory. It need, however, hardly be said that nothing is farther from our Lord’s intentions than to teach mere calculating worldly politeness. From the simple facts of life that an intrusive person renders himself liable to just rebuffs, he draws the great spiritual lesson so much needed by the haughty religious professors by whom He was surrounded, that

“Humble we must be if to heaven we go;

High is the roof there, but the door is low.”

Bengel's Gnomen

Luke 14:10. Πορευθεὶς, having gone [Go and]) i.e. in taking the lowest place, do so with alacrity and from the heart [this is the force of πορευθεὶς].—[τὸν ἔσχατον, the lowest) He who sets himself before even one, may possibly be forced to give place to that one. Therefore it is good to take the lowest place of all. No wrong that you can do to yourself, can inflict less of real loss upon you than this, if indeed it should happen that without thinking of it you should thereby do to yourself a wrong.—V. g.]—προσαναβῆθι) go up higher to others, who are [like thyself] ‘honourable’ guests. Proverbs 25:7, LXX., κρεῖσσον γάρ σοι τὸ ῥηθῆναι ἀναβῆναι, ἢ ταπεινῶσαί σε ἐν προσώπῳ δυνάστου.

Luke 14:10

Vincent's Word Studies

Sit down (ἀνάπεσε)

Lit., lay yourself back.