Now when the Pharisee who had invited Him saw this, he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet He would know who and what sort of person this woman is who is touching Him, that she is a sinner!”

Parable of the Guests

Now He began telling a parable to the invited guests when He noticed how they had been picking out the places of honor at the table, saying to them,

“Whenever you are invited by someone to a wedding feast, do not take the place of honor, for someone more distinguished than you may have been invited by him,

and the one who invited you both will come and say to you, ‘Give your place to this person,’ and then in disgrace you will proceed to occupy the last place.

But whenever you are invited, go and take the last place, so that when the one who has invited you comes, he will say to you, ‘Friend, move up higher’; then you will have honor in the sight of all who are dining at the table with you.

Now He also went on to say to the one who had invited Him, “Whenever you give a luncheon or a dinner, do not invite your friends, your brothers, your relatives, nor wealthy neighbors, otherwise they may also invite you to a meal in return, and that will be your repayment.

But whenever you give a banquet, invite people who are poor, who have disabilities, who are limping, and people who are blind;

Parable of the Dinner

But He said to him, “A man was giving a big dinner, and he invited many;

and at the dinner hour he sent his slave to tell those who had been invited, ‘Come, because everything is ready now.’

For I tell you, none of those men who were invited shall taste my dinner.’”