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Parable of the Wedding Feast

And He was telling a parable to the invited guests when He noticed how (A)they were picking out the places of honor at the table, saying to them, “When you are invited by someone to a wedding feast, (B)do not recline at the place of honor, lest someone more highly regarded than you be invited by him, and he who invited you both will come and say to you, ‘Give your place to this man,’ and then (C)in shame you [a]proceed to occupy the last place. 10 But when you are invited, go and recline at the last place, so that when the one who has invited you comes, he may say to you, ‘Friend, (D)move up higher’; then you will have honor in the sight of all who recline at the table with you. 11 (E)For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”

12 And He also went on to say to the one who had invited Him, “When you give a luncheon or a dinner, do not invite your friends or your brothers or your relatives or rich neighbors, lest they also invite you in return and that will be your repayment. 13 But when you give a [b]reception, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, 14 and you will be blessed, since they [c]do not have the means to repay you; for it will be repaid to you at (F)the resurrection of the righteous.”

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Footnotes

  1. Luke 14:9 Lit begin
  2. Luke 14:13 Or banquet
  3. Luke 14:14 Or are unable to

Humility and Hospitality

When he noticed how the guests chose the places of honor, he told them a parable.(A) “When you are invited by someone to a wedding banquet, do not sit down at the place of honor, in case someone more distinguished than you has been invited by your host,(B) and the host who invited both of you may come and say to you, ‘Give this person your place,’ and then in disgrace you would start to take the lowest place. 10 But when you are invited, go and sit down at the lowest place, so that when your host comes, he may say to you, ‘Friend, move up higher’; then you will be honored in the presence of all who sit at the table with you.(C) 11 For all who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”(D)

12 He said also to the one who had invited him, “When you give a luncheon or a dinner, do not invite your friends or your brothers and sisters or your relatives or rich neighbors, in case they may invite you in return, and you would be repaid. 13 But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, and the blind.(E) 14 And you will be blessed because they cannot repay you, for you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.”

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