Luke 11:43

Woe unto you, Pharisees! for ye love the uppermost seats in the synagogues, and greetings in the markets.

Woe {G3759} unto you {G5213}, Pharisees {G5330}! for {G3754} ye love {G25} the uppermost seats {G4410} in {G1722} the synagogues {G4864}, and {G2532} greetings {G783} in {G1722} the markets {G58}.

“Woe to you P’rushim, because you love the best seat in the synagogues and being greeted deferentially in the marketplaces!

Woe to you Pharisees! You love the chief seats in the synagogues and the greetings in the marketplaces.

Woe unto you Pharisees! for ye love the chief seats in the synagogues, and the salutations in the marketplaces.

Commentary

In Luke 11:43, Jesus delivers a sharp rebuke to the Pharisees, condemning their love for public recognition and elevated status. This verse is part of a series of "woes" (condemnations) that Jesus pronounces against the religious leaders of His day, exposing their hypocrisy and misguidance.

Context

This verse falls within a larger section of Luke's Gospel (Luke 11:37-54) where Jesus dines with a Pharisee and then confronts the Pharisees and lawyers directly. He challenges their outward displays of piety that mask inward corruption and a lack of true justice and love for God. The specific accusation in verse 43 highlights their desire for honor, which is a recurring theme in Jesus' critiques of the religious elite, also seen in Matthew 23:6-7, where similar woes are pronounced.

Key Themes

  • Hypocrisy and Vainglory: The core accusation is that the Pharisees prioritize external validation over genuine spiritual devotion. Their actions are driven by a desire for human applause rather than God's approval.
  • Love of Status: Their longing for the "uppermost seats in the synagogues" (protokathedria – places of honor at the front) and "greetings in the markets" (public salutations that acknowledged their authority) reveals a deep-seated pride and craving for social prestige within their community.
  • Misplaced Priorities: Jesus points out that their focus is on outward show and self-exaltation rather than on the true principles of God's law, such as justice, mercy, and faithfulness (Luke 11:42).

Linguistic Insights

  • The word "Woe" (Greek: ouai) is a strong exclamation of sorrow, condemnation, or judgment. It’s not merely an expression of pity but a prophetic pronouncement of impending spiritual or temporal consequences for their actions.
  • "Uppermost seats" translates the Greek word protokathedria, literally meaning "first seats." These were the most prominent and honored positions in the synagogue, typically reserved for elders or esteemed teachers, signifying social and religious hierarchy.
  • "Greetings in the markets" refers to the public recognition and deferential salutations (Greek: aspasmoi en tais agorais) they sought in public gathering places, reinforcing their perceived importance and authority among the people.

Practical Application

While directed at the Pharisees, Jesus' words in Luke 11:43 serve as a timeless warning against spiritual pride and the pursuit of human recognition in religious service. Believers today are called to:

  • Examine Motives: To ensure that acts of service, prayer, or giving are done to honor God, not to gain praise from others (Matthew 6:1-6).
  • Cultivate Humility: To embrace a spirit of humility, remembering that true greatness in God's kingdom comes through service and lowliness, as Jesus taught in Luke 14:10-11 and Philippians 2:3-4.
  • Seek God's Approval: To prioritize the commendation of God over the applause of people, understanding that ultimately, it is God who sees the heart and rewards accordingly (1 Thessalonians 2:4).
Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Luke 20:46 (7 votes)

    Beware of the scribes, which desire to walk in long robes, and love greetings in the markets, and the highest seats in the synagogues, and the chief rooms at feasts;

  • Mark 12:38 (6 votes)

    And he said unto them in his doctrine, Beware of the scribes, which love to go in long clothing, and [love] salutations in the marketplaces,

  • Mark 12:39 (6 votes)

    And the chief seats in the synagogues, and the uppermost rooms at feasts:

  • Luke 14:7 (3 votes)

    ¶ And he put forth a parable to those which were bidden, when he marked how they chose out the chief rooms; saying unto them,

  • Luke 14:11 (3 votes)

    For whosoever exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.

  • Matthew 23:6 (3 votes)

    And love the uppermost rooms at feasts, and the chief seats in the synagogues,

  • Matthew 23:7 (3 votes)

    And greetings in the markets, and to be called of men, Rabbi, Rabbi.