Luke 14:8

“When thou art bidden of any man to a wedding, etc.] 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 “<430201>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.”

“wedding--and seating thyself at the wedding feast. Our Lord avoids the appearance of personality by this delicate allusion to a different kind of entertainment than this of his host [BENGEL].”

“Art bidden - Are invited. To a wedding - A wedding was commonly attended with a feast or banquet. The highest room - The seat at the table nearest the head. A more honourable man - A more aged man, or a man of higher rank. It is to be remarked that our Saviour did not consider the courtesies of life to be beneath his notice. His chief design here was, no doubt, to reprove the pride and ambition of the Pharisees; but, in doing it, he teaches us that religion does not violate the courtesies of life. It does not teach us to be rude, forward, pert, assuming, and despising the proprieties of refined social contact. It teaches humility and kindness, and a desire to make all happy, and a…”

“14:8 Jesus’ response was a commentary on Prov 25:6-7.”

“When: That there were among the Jews of these times many disputes about seats at banquets, we learn both from Josephus and the Rabbis; nor were these matters unattended to by the Greeks and Romans. Similar admonitions to this of our Lord, also occur in the Rabbinical writers. Rabbi Akiba said, Go two or three seats lower than the place that belongs to thee, and sit there till they say unto to thee, Go up higher; but do not take the uppermost seat, lest they say unto thee, Come down: for it is better they should say unto thee, Go up, go up than they should say, Go down, go down. Pro 25:6, Pro 25:7 Luke 14:9”