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Luke 14

And it came to pass, as he went into the house of one of the chief Pharisees to eat bread on the sabbath day, that they watched him.

And, behold, there was a certain man before him which had the dropsy.

And Jesus answering spake unto the lawyers and Pharisees, saying, Is it lawful to heal on the sabbath day?

And they held their peace. And he took him, and healed him, and let him go;

And answered them, saying, Which of you shall have an ass or an ox fallen into a pit, and will not straightway pull him out on the sabbath day?

And they could not answer him again to these things.

And he put forth a parable to those which were bidden, when he marked how they chose out the chief rooms; saying unto them,

When thou art bidden of any man to a wedding, sit not down in the highest room; lest a more honourable man than thou be bidden of him;

And he that bade thee and him come and say to thee, Give this man place; and thou begin with shame to take the lowest room.

But when thou art bidden, go and sit down in the lowest room; that when he that bade thee cometh, he may say unto thee, Friend, go up higher: then shalt thou have worship in the presence of them that sit at meat with thee.

For whosoever exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.

Then said he also to him that bade him, When thou makest a dinner or a supper, call not thy friends, nor thy brethren, neither thy kinsmen, nor thy rich neighbours; lest they also bid thee again, and a recompence be made thee.

But when thou makest a feast, call the poor, the maimed, the lame, the blind:

And thou shalt be blessed; for they cannot recompense thee: for thou shalt be recompensed at the resurrection of the just.

And when one of them that sat at meat with him heard these things, he said unto him, Blessed is he that shall eat bread in the kingdom of God.

Then said he unto him, A certain man made a great supper, and bade many:

And sent his servant at supper time to say to them that were bidden, Come; for all things are now ready.

And they all with one consent began to make excuse. The first said unto him, I have bought a piece of ground, and I must needs go and see it: I pray thee have me excused.

And another said, I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I go to prove them: I pray thee have me excused.

And another said, I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come.

So that servant came, and shewed his lord these things. Then the master of the house being angry said to his servant, Go out quickly into the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in hither the poor, and the maimed, and the halt, and the blind.

And the servant said, Lord, it is done as thou hast commanded, and yet there is room.

And the lord said unto the servant, Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled.

For I say unto you, That none of those men which were bidden shall taste of my supper.

And there went great multitudes with him: and he turned, and said unto them,

If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple.

And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple.

For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it?

Lest haply, after he hath laid the foundation, and is not able to finish it, all that behold it begin to mock him,

Saying, This man began to build, and was not able to finish.

Or what king, going to make war against another king, sitteth not down first, and consulteth whether he be able with ten thousand to meet him that cometh against him with twenty thousand?

Or else, while the other is yet a great way off, he sendeth an ambassage, and desireth conditions of peace.

So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple.

Salt is good: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be seasoned?

It is neither fit for the land, nor yet for the dunghill; but men cast it out. He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.

What does Luke 14:12 mean?

Explanation

Luke 14:12 conveys Jesus' advice regarding whom to invite to a meal.

Rather than focusing on inviting friends, relatives, or wealthy neighbors, who may repay the kindness, Jesus emphasizes inviting those who cannot repay, such as the poor, crippled, lame, and blind.

At the literal level, Jesus advises on social practices of the time, questioning the motives behind hospitality.

On a deeper level, the verse addresses the heart's intent, promoting selfless generosity and challenging societal norms that emphasize reciprocal benefits and social status.

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Historical Context

Luke 14:12 is part of Jesus' teaching at the house of a prominent Pharisee, where Jesus was invited to eat on the Sabbath.

During this time, meals were significant social events, often mirroring one's social standing.

The prevailing culture encouraged inviting those of similar status with an expectation of reciprocity.

Jesus' teaching thus challenged the social norms of His day by proposing a new standard of selfless giving without expectation of return.

Theological Insights

From a theological perspective, this verse is seen as emphasizing the Kingdom of God's values, which contrast the values of the world.

Theologically, the verse can signify God's grace, His blessings are given freely and cannot be earned or repaid.

From a Christian viewpoint, the emphasis is on reflecting God's love and mercy to others, particularly to the less fortunate.

Some theologians might also see the verse as a lesson in humility and a call to serve others as if serving Christ Himself (Matthew 25:40).

Practical Applications

Practically, this verse encourages selfless hospitality.

It suggests that one should help and serve those in need, without seeking something in return.

This teaching can be applied in daily life by volunteering to help those less fortunate, offering charity, or being inclusive in social gatherings to ensure no one is excluded because of their social status or economic condition.

Cross-References

Matthew 25:35-40: "For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in..."
Proverbs 19:17: "He that hath pity upon the poor lendeth unto the LORD; and that which he hath given will he pay him again."
Matthew 6:1-4: "Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in heaven."

Language Study

In the original Greek text, key words to examine include:

φίλους (philous): Translated as "friends," implying a close relationship that typically carries mutual obligations.
πλουσίους (plousious): Translated as "rich," indicates those who have wealth and social influence.
ἀνταποδοθῇ (antapodothē): Translated as "a recompense be made," this word has the idea of something being repaid or returned in kind.

Analyzing these words in the original language underscores that Jesus is contrasting the human tendency for reciprocal relationships with the call to unselfish generosity.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Comparing this teaching to other ancient traditions, many cultures valued reciprocal hospitality and mutual benefit in social relationships.

In some religious traditions, such as Hinduism and Buddhism, the concept of karma can be seen as a form of cosmic reciprocity, although distinct in its spiritual implications rather than social expectations.

Scientific Perspectives

From a scientific perspective, studies in sociology and psychology have shown that humans naturally gravitate towards reciprocal relationships as a means of social bonding and building community.

Altruism and selfless giving, as advocated in this verse, challenge these natural tendencies, suggesting a conscious choice to transcend innate reciprocal behaviors.

Commentaries

Various Bible scholars and theologians have commented on this verse:

Matthew Henry’s Commentary emphasizes that the generosity described in the verse is a reflection of divine charity, where God invites all to His salvation feast without expecting repayment.
John Gill’s Exposition of the Bible asserts that true Christian love is displayed when giving is done to the least advantaged, without design for self-profit.
The Pulpit Commentary notes that this teaching of Jesus might have seemed strange or even impractical to His original hearers, but it mirrors the larger principles of the Kingdom of God where earthly rewards are of secondary importance.

Luke 14

Luke 14

What does Luke 14:12 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Luke Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

Commentaries

Want more context?

What does Luke 14:12 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Luke Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

Commentaries

Want more context?