These words were addressed to the disciples and the crowds that had gathered around. The Jewish religious leaders divorced morality and religion, and insisted that men should respect their office, whatever might be their personal character. The craving for this has been the temptation and bane of Christ's ministers in every age.
But how evidently our Lord condemns clerical and priestly assumption! With the two-edged sword, which pierces to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, He cuts between the professions and performances of these men. No more awful words were ever spoken! How true is Matthew 23:4! The hypocrite always spares himself, but is merciless in his demands on others. The true servant of God never exacts these titles as a rightful homage, or as indicating either superiority or special sanctity. We all have one Master and one Father; and, though our talents greatly differ, we stand on an absolute equality so far as saving grace is concerned. [source]
Chapter Summary: Matthew 23
1Jesus admonishes the people to follow good doctrine, not bad examples 5His disciples must beware of their ambition 13He denounces eight woes against their hypocrisy and blindness, 34and prophesies of the destruction of Jerusalem
Greek Commentary for Matthew 23:6
The chief place at feasts [την πρωτοκλισιαν εν τοις δειπνοις] Literally, the first reclining place on the divan at the meal. The Persians, Greeks, Romans, Jews differed in their customs, but all cared for the post of honour at formal functions as is true of us today. Hostesses often solve the point by putting the name of each guest at the table. At the last passover meal the apostles had an ugly snarl over this very point of precedence (Luke 22:24; John 13:2-11), just two days after this exposure of the Pharisees in the presence of the apostles. [source]
The chief seats in the synagogues [τας πρωτοκατεδριας εν ταις συναγωγαις] “An insatiable hunger for prominence” (Bruce). These chief seats (Zuchermandel) were on the platform looking to the audience and with the back to the chest in which were kept the rolls of scripture. The Essenes had a different arrangement. People today pay high prices for front seats at the theatre, but at church prefer the rear seats out of a curious mock-humility. In the time of Jesus the hypocrites boldly sat up in front. Now, if they come to church at all, they take the rear seats. [source]
Reverse Greek Commentary Search for Matthew 23:6
Luke 13:27Shall sit down [ἀνακλιθήσονται] Sit down at table. Jesus casts his thought into a familiar Jewish image. According to the Jewish idea, one of the main elements of the happiness of the Messianic kingdom was the privilege of participating in splendid festive entertainments along with the patriarchs of the nation. With this accords Luke 13:30, in allusion to places at the banquet. Compare Luke 14:7-9; Matthew 23:6. [source]
Luke 11:43The chief seats in the synagogues [την πρωτοκατεδριαν εν ταις συναγωγαις] Singular here, plural in Matthew 23:6. This semi-circular bench faced the congregation. Matthew 23:6 has also the chief place at feasts given by Luke also in that discourse (Luke 20:46) as well as in Luke 14:7, a marked characteristic of the Pharisees. [source]
Luke 14:7When he marked [επεχων] Present active participle of επεχω epechō with τον νουν ton noun understood, holding the mind upon them, old verb and common.They chose out (εχελεγοντο exelegonto). Imperfect middle, were picking out for themselves.The chief seats The first reclining places at the table. Jesus condemned the Pharisees later for this very thing (Matthew 23:6; Mark 12:39; Luke 20:46). On a couch holding three the middle place was the chief one. At banquets today the name of the guests are usually placed at the plates. The place next to the host on the right was then, as now, the post of honour. [source]
Luke 14:7The chief seats [τας πρωτοκλισιας] The first reclining places at the table. Jesus condemned the Pharisees later for this very thing (Matthew 23:6; Mark 12:39; Luke 20:46). On a couch holding three the middle place was the chief one. At banquets today the name of the guests are usually placed at the plates. The place next to the host on the right was then, as now, the post of honour. [source]
James 2:3Under [] Not literally underneath, but down on the ground beside. Compare Matthew 23:6, on the fondness of the Jews for the chief places in the synagogue. [source]
James 2:3Weareth [πορουντα] “Wearing,” present active participle of the old frequentative verb πορεω phoreō (from περω pherō), to bear constantly, to wear (Matthew 11:8). Note repeated article την tēn (the) with εστητα esthēta pointing to James 2:2.And say (και ειπητε kai eipēte). Continuing the third-class condition with εαν ean and second aorist active subjunctive of ειπον eipon thou here in a good place (συ κατου ωδε καλως su kathou hōde kalōs). Emphatic position of συ su “Do thou sit here in a good place.” Present middle imperative of κατημαι kathēmai to sit for the literary κατησο kathēso See Matthew 23:6 for the first seats in the synagogue (places of honour).And ye say to the poor man Third class condition with εαν ean continued as before Note article τωι tōi pointing to James 2:2.Stand thou there (συ στητι εκει su stēthi ekei). Second aorist (intransitive) active imperative of ιστημι histēmi to place. Ingressive aorist, Take a stand. Συ Su emphatic again. The MSS. vary in the position of εκει ekei (there).Or sit under my footstool For this use of υπο hupo “down against” or “down beside” see Exodus 19:17 υπο το ορος hupo to oros (“at the foot of the mountain”) and υπο σε hupo se (“at thy feet”) (Deuteronomy 33:3). Conquerors often placed their feet on the necks of the victims (Luke 20:43). [source]
James 2:3And say [και ειπητε] Continuing the third-class condition with εαν ean and second aorist active subjunctive of ειπον eipon thou here in a good place Emphatic position of συ su “Do thou sit here in a good place.” Present middle imperative of κατημαι kathēmai to sit for the literary κατησο kathēso See Matthew 23:6 for the first seats in the synagogue (places of honour). [source]
What do the individual words in Matthew 23:6 mean?
They lovenowthechief placeatthebanquetsandthefirst seatsinthesynagogues
Greek Commentary for Matthew 23:6
Literally, the first reclining place on the divan at the meal. The Persians, Greeks, Romans, Jews differed in their customs, but all cared for the post of honour at formal functions as is true of us today. Hostesses often solve the point by putting the name of each guest at the table. At the last passover meal the apostles had an ugly snarl over this very point of precedence (Luke 22:24; John 13:2-11), just two days after this exposure of the Pharisees in the presence of the apostles. [source]
“An insatiable hunger for prominence” (Bruce). These chief seats (Zuchermandel) were on the platform looking to the audience and with the back to the chest in which were kept the rolls of scripture. The Essenes had a different arrangement. People today pay high prices for front seats at the theatre, but at church prefer the rear seats out of a curious mock-humility. In the time of Jesus the hypocrites boldly sat up in front. Now, if they come to church at all, they take the rear seats. [source]
Reverse Greek Commentary Search for Matthew 23:6
Sit down at table. Jesus casts his thought into a familiar Jewish image. According to the Jewish idea, one of the main elements of the happiness of the Messianic kingdom was the privilege of participating in splendid festive entertainments along with the patriarchs of the nation. With this accords Luke 13:30, in allusion to places at the banquet. Compare Luke 14:7-9; Matthew 23:6. [source]
Singular here, plural in Matthew 23:6. This semi-circular bench faced the congregation. Matthew 23:6 has also the chief place at feasts given by Luke also in that discourse (Luke 20:46) as well as in Luke 14:7, a marked characteristic of the Pharisees. [source]
Present active participle of επεχω epechō with τον νουν ton noun understood, holding the mind upon them, old verb and common.They chose out (εχελεγοντο exelegonto). Imperfect middle, were picking out for themselves.The chief seats The first reclining places at the table. Jesus condemned the Pharisees later for this very thing (Matthew 23:6; Mark 12:39; Luke 20:46). On a couch holding three the middle place was the chief one. At banquets today the name of the guests are usually placed at the plates. The place next to the host on the right was then, as now, the post of honour. [source]
The first reclining places at the table. Jesus condemned the Pharisees later for this very thing (Matthew 23:6; Mark 12:39; Luke 20:46). On a couch holding three the middle place was the chief one. At banquets today the name of the guests are usually placed at the plates. The place next to the host on the right was then, as now, the post of honour. [source]
Not literally underneath, but down on the ground beside. Compare Matthew 23:6, on the fondness of the Jews for the chief places in the synagogue. [source]
“Wearing,” present active participle of the old frequentative verb πορεω phoreō (from περω pherō), to bear constantly, to wear (Matthew 11:8). Note repeated article την tēn (the) with εστητα esthēta pointing to James 2:2.And say (και ειπητε kai eipēte). Continuing the third-class condition with εαν ean and second aorist active subjunctive of ειπον eipon thou here in a good place (συ κατου ωδε καλως su kathou hōde kalōs). Emphatic position of συ su “Do thou sit here in a good place.” Present middle imperative of κατημαι kathēmai to sit for the literary κατησο kathēso See Matthew 23:6 for the first seats in the synagogue (places of honour).And ye say to the poor man Third class condition with εαν ean continued as before Note article τωι tōi pointing to James 2:2.Stand thou there (συ στητι εκει su stēthi ekei). Second aorist (intransitive) active imperative of ιστημι histēmi to place. Ingressive aorist, Take a stand. Συ Su emphatic again. The MSS. vary in the position of εκει ekei (there).Or sit under my footstool For this use of υπο hupo “down against” or “down beside” see Exodus 19:17 υπο το ορος hupo to oros (“at the foot of the mountain”) and υπο σε hupo se (“at thy feet”) (Deuteronomy 33:3). Conquerors often placed their feet on the necks of the victims (Luke 20:43). [source]
Continuing the third-class condition with εαν ean and second aorist active subjunctive of ειπον eipon thou here in a good place Emphatic position of συ su “Do thou sit here in a good place.” Present middle imperative of κατημαι kathēmai to sit for the literary κατησο kathēso See Matthew 23:6 for the first seats in the synagogue (places of honour). [source]