The Lowest Place at the Feast (Luke 14:7–11)

The texts below are quoted verbatim from public-domain English translations; nothing is paraphrased.

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St. Cyril of Alexandria (c. 376–444)

Commentary on the Gospel of Luke, Sermon CII (on Luke 14:7–11) Source: trans. R. Payne Smith, Library of Fathers, 1859. Public domain. Full text: https://www.tertullian.org/fathers/cyril_on_luke_10_sermons_99_109.htm

On the Saviour making even a small occasion at the table into an urgent counsel:

NEVER does the Saviour cease from doing some act or other replete with benefit, guiding by admonitions and counsels all who draw near unto Him into propriety of conduct

On why the warning was spoken to those who seized the uppermost seats:

But inasmuch as He saw certain of those who were invited foolishly seizing the uppermost seats as a thing of importance, and worth the taking, and that they were eager after vainglory, for the benefit both of them and us He utters an urgent warning

On the shame of being made to give place:

O! what great ignominy is there in having so to do! It is like a theft, so to speak, and the restitution of the stolen goods. He must restore what he has seized; for he had no right to take it.

On the modest man who yields his own place and is honoured for it:

But the modest and praiseworthy man, who might without fear of blame have claimed the dignity of sitting among the foremost, seeks it not, but yields to others what might be called his own, that he may not even seem to be overcome by vainglory; and such an one shall receive honour as his due

On humility as the very rule of virtue:

but the rule of virtue is a lowly mind that loves not boasting: yes! it is humility.

On how the man who knows his own nothingness is exalted before God:

But he who is a worm and rottenness; this dust and ashes: this very nothingness becomes great and admirable and honourable before God, by knowing himself; for so he is crowned by God with honour and praise

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St. John Chrysostom (c. 347–407)

On the guest who sought the highest place (on Luke 14:7–11) As preserved in the Catena Aurea on Luke, trans. J. H. Newman, 1841. Public domain. Full text: https://isidore.co/aquinas/english/CALuke.htm

On the seeker of honour who reaps dishonour instead:

And so the seeker of honour obtained not that which he coveted, but suffered a defeat, and busying himself how he might be loaded with honours, is treated with dishonour.

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St. Basil the Great (c. 330–379)

On taking the lowest place (on Luke 14:7–11) As preserved in the Catena Aurea on Luke, trans. J. H. Newman, 1841. Public domain. Full text: https://isidore.co/aquinas/english/CALuke.htm

On how even the lowest place must be taken without contention, lest humility itself become a fresh occasion of pride:

To take then the lowest place at a feast, according to our Lord's command, is becoming to every man, but again to rush contentiously after this is to be condemned as a breach of order and cause of tumult ... For resistance or opposition is a far stronger token of pride than taking the first seat at meat, when we obtain it by authority.

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Theophylact of Ohrid (c. 1055–1107)

Explanation of the Gospel of Luke (on Luke 14:7–11) As preserved in the Catena Aurea on Luke, trans. J. H. Newman, 1841. Public domain. Full text: https://isidore.co/aquinas/english/CALuke.htm

On why these seemingly small precepts are worthy of the Word of God:

Now let no one deem the above precepts of Christ to be trifling, and unworthy of the sublimity and grandeur of the Word of God.

On the Master of humility cutting away every shoot of the bad root:

It became then the Master of humility to cut off every branch of the bad root

On how the honour men grasp at is never secure:

Moreover, he is not to be respected in the end, nor by all men, who thrusts himself into honours; but while by some he is honoured, by others he is disparaged

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St. Ambrose of Milan (c. 339–397)

Exposition of the Gospel of Luke (on Luke 14:7–11) As preserved in the Catena Aurea on Luke, trans. J. H. Newman, 1841. Public domain. Full text: https://isidore.co/aquinas/english/CALuke.htm

On the order of the teaching — first the body healed, then humility taught:

First the dropsical man is cured, in whom the abundant discharges of the flesh crushed down the powers of the soul, quenched the ardour of the Spirit. Next, humility is taught, when at the nuptial feast the desire of the highest place is forbidden.

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St. Bede the Venerable (c. 673–735)

Commentary on the Gospel of Luke (on Luke 14:7–11) As preserved in the Catena Aurea on Luke, trans. J. H. Newman, 1841. Public domain. Full text: https://isidore.co/aquinas/english/CALuke.htm

On the wedding feast as the Church, where none may exalt himself by his merits:

Whosoever being bidden has come to the marriage feast of Christ's Church, being united to the members of the Church by faith, let him not exalt himself as higher than others by boasting of his merits.

On why the reversal must be understood of God's judgment, not the esteem of men:

For not every one who exalts himself before men is abased ; nor is he who humbleth himself in their sight, exalted by them.