Luke 14:7

ἔλεγεν … παραβολήν. See on Luke 4:23.

πρὸς τοὺς κεκλημένους. To the invited guests, as distinguished from the onlookers.

ἐπέχων. Sc. νοῦν, turning his attention to the fact (animadvertens, attendens).

ἐξελέγοντο. ‘They were picking out for themselves.’ The selfish struggle for precedence as they were taking their places—a small ambition so universal that it even affected the Apostles (Mark 9:34)—gave Him the opportunity for a lesson of Humility.

τὰς πρωτοκλισίας. The best couches, i.e. the chief places at table. These at each of the various triclinia would be those numbered 2, 5, and 8. The host usually sat at 9.

6

5

4

7

medius.

3

8

imus.

summus.

2

9

1

See Smith’s Dict. of Antiquities, s.v. Triclinium.