It is small wonder that Jesus ridiculed such minute concern for pretentious externalism and literalism. The superstitious would wear them as mere charms to ward off evil . They made a virtue of the size of the fringes also. 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 honor at formal functions as is true of us today.
Hostesses often solve the point by putting the name of each guest at the table .
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. The ordinary courtiers were coveted because in public .