Luke 14:8

8 "When you are invited by someone to a wedding feast, do not recline at the table in the place of honor, lest [someone] more distinguished than you has been invited by him,

Luke 14:8 Meaning and Commentary

Luke 14:8

When thou art bidden of any man to a wedding
To a wedding dinner, or to any other; such an one as the present entertainment was, which was not a marriage feast, for they might not marry on the sabbath day; (See Gill on John 2:1) but a common sabbath meal:

sit not down in the highest room:
in the chief place at table, as soon as come in:

lest a more honourable man;
for age, office, dignity, wisdom, learning, or riches:

than thou be bidden of him:
the master of the feast; and who may not yet be come, and for whom the chief place may be designed, and will better suit him.

Luke 14:8 In-Context

6 And they were not able to make a reply to these [things].

7 Now he told a parable to those who had been invited [when he] noticed how they were choosing for themselves the places of honor, saying to them,

8 "When you are invited by someone to a wedding feast, do not recline at the table in the place of honor, lest [someone] more distinguished than you has been invited by him,

9 and the one who invited you {both} will come [and] say to you, 'Give the place to this person,' and then with shame you will begin to take the last place.

10 But when you are invited, go [and] recline at the table in the last place, so that when the one who invited you comes, he will say to you, 'Friend, move up higher.' Then it will be an honor to you in the presence of all those who are reclining at the table with you.

Footnotes

• [a]. Or perhaps simply "a feast"