14:8 14:8

Luke 14:9

14:10 14:10

Bible Versions

And he that bade thee and him come and say to thee, Give this man place; and thou begin with shame to take the lowest room.
And {G2532} he that bade {G2564} thee {G4571} and {G2532} him {G846} come {G2064} and say {G2046} to thee {G4671}, Give {G1325} this man {G5129} place {G5117}; and {G2532}{G5119} thou begin {G756} with {G3326} shame {G152} to take {G2722} the lowest {G2078} room {G5117}.
the person who invited both of you might come and say to you, ‘Give this man your place.’ Then you will be humiliated as you go to take the least important place.
Then the host who invited both of you will come and tell you, ‘Give this man your seat.’ And in humiliation, you will have to take the last place.
and he that bade thee and him shall come and say to thee, Give this man place; and then thou shalt begin with shame to take the lowest place.

Luke 14:9 is part of a significant parable taught by Jesus Christ during a Sabbath meal at the house of a prominent Pharisee. Observing how guests chose the most honorable seats, Jesus offered a profound lesson on humility and the dangers of self-exaltation. This specific verse describes the embarrassing consequence of someone who presumes to take a higher place than they are offered, only to be publicly demoted.

Context

This verse follows directly from Jesus' advice to choose the lowest seat at a feast. In ancient Middle Eastern banquets, seating arrangements were highly symbolic, reflecting social status and honor. Guests would naturally gravitate towards the "chief rooms" or places of prominence. Jesus uses this common social scenario to illustrate a deeper spiritual truth. The host, or "he that bade thee," would have the authority to reassign seats, leading to potential public shame for those who had overstepped their perceived rank.

Key Themes

  • Humility vs. Pride: The core message is the stark contrast between seeking one's own honor and embracing a humble posture. The individual in this verse is exposed for their pride and presumption.
  • Public Shame: The phrase "begin with shame to take the lowest room" highlights the public humiliation that results from self-exaltation. This is a powerful deterrent against pride.
  • Divine Principle: While presented in a social context, this parable embodies a spiritual principle often repeated by Jesus: "For whosoever exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted" (Luke 14:11).
  • True Honor: Real honor comes not from self-promotion but from being recognized and elevated by another, particularly by God.

Linguistic Insights

The KJV phrase "lowest room" might sound peculiar to modern ears. In Greek, the term is eschatos topos (ἔσχατος τόπος), meaning the "last place" or "lowest place." It refers to the least prestigious seat at the table, not a literal room. The contrast is with the protoklisia (πρωτοκλισία), the "chief seat" or "place of honor" mentioned in Luke 14:7. This distinction emphasizes the significant downgrade in status and the resulting public embarrassment.

Practical Application

Luke 14:9 offers timeless wisdom for how believers should conduct themselves. It encourages us to:

This lesson extends beyond social etiquette to all areas of life, including church leadership, professional aspirations, and personal relationships, reminding us that genuine honor is bestowed, not seized.

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • Proverbs 11:2

    ¶ [When] pride cometh, then cometh shame: but with the lowly [is] wisdom.

  • Proverbs 16:18

    ¶ Pride [goeth] before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.

  • Proverbs 3:35

    The wise shall inherit glory: but shame shall be the promotion of fools.

  • Ezekiel 28:2

    Son of man, say unto the prince of Tyrus, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Because thine heart [is] lifted up, and thou hast said, I [am] a God, I sit [in] the seat of God, in the midst of the seas; yet thou [art] a man, and not God, though thou set thine heart as the heart of God:

  • Ezekiel 28:10

    Thou shalt die the deaths of the uncircumcised by the hand of strangers: for I have spoken [it], saith the Lord GOD.

  • Daniel 4:30

    The king spake, and said, Is not this great Babylon, that I have built for the house of the kingdom by the might of my power, and for the honour of my majesty?

  • Daniel 4:34

    ¶ And at the end of the days I Nebuchadnezzar lifted up mine eyes unto heaven, and mine understanding returned unto me, and I blessed the most High, and I praised and honoured him that liveth for ever, whose dominion [is] an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom [is] from generation to generation:
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