Matthew 23:6 Cross References

Matthew 23:6

6: And how they love to sit at the head table at banquets and in the most prominent seats in the synagogue!

"How terrible it will be for you Pharisees! For how you love the seats of honor in the synagogues and the respectful greetings from everyone as you walk through the markets!
Yes, how terrible it will be for you. For you are like hidden graves in a field. People walk over them without knowing the corruption they are stepping on."
"Teacher," said an expert in religious law, "you have insulted us, too, in what you just said."
"Yes," said Jesus, "how terrible it will be for you experts in religious law! For you crush people beneath impossible religious demands, and you never lift a finger to help ease the burden.
How terrible it will be for you! For you build tombs for the very prophets your ancestors killed long ago.

I sent a brief letter to the church about this, but Diotrephes, who loves to be the leader, does not acknowledge our authority.

Here are some of the other things he taught them at this time: "Beware of these teachers of religious law! For they love to parade in flowing robes and to have everyone bow to them as they walk in the marketplaces.
And how they love the seats of honor in the synagogues and at banquets.

My dear brothers and sisters, how can you claim that you have faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ if you favor some people more than others?
For instance, suppose someone comes into your meeting dressed in fancy clothes and expensive jewelry, and another comes in who is poor and dressed in shabby clothes.
If you give special attention and a good seat to the rich person, but you say to the poor one, "You can stand over there, or else sit on the floor"--well,
doesn't this discrimination show that you are guided by wrong motives?

When Jesus noticed that all who had come to the dinner were trying to sit near the head of the table, he gave them this advice:
"If you are invited to a wedding feast, don't always head for the best seat. What if someone more respected than you has also been invited?
The host will say, 'Let this person sit here instead.' Then you will be embarrassed and will have to take whatever seat is left at the foot of the table!
"Do this instead--sit at the foot of the table. Then when your host sees you, he will come and say, 'Friend, we have a better place than this for you!' Then you will be honored in front of all the other guests.
For the proud will be humbled, but the humble will be honored."

"Beware of these teachers of religious law! For they love to parade in flowing robes and to have everyone bow to them as they walk in the marketplaces. And how they love the seats of honor in the synagogues and at banquets.
But they shamelessly cheat widows out of their property, and then, to cover up the kind of people they really are, they make long prayers in public. Because of this, their punishment will be the greater."

Don't demand an audience with the king or push for a place among the great.
It is better to wait for an invitation than to be sent to the end of the line, publicly disgraced! Just because you see something,

Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other.

"What is your request?" he asked. She replied, "In your Kingdom, will you let my two sons sit in places of honor next to you, one at your right and the other at your left?"

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