The Parable of Dinner Banquet Invitations Luke 14:12-14
Jesus described an important parable in Luke 14:12-14 when invited to a prominent Pharisee's house for dinner. As Jesus noticed that the Pharisees had invited wealthy and distinguished guests to the dinner, he explained that in order to receive a blessing it is good to invite the less affluent and those who cannot repay the invitation. Jesus taught that the poor, crippled, lame, and blind should not be ignored but should be invited as guests just as the more affluent guests are invited. If the Pharisees are the spiritual leaders of the day and the teachers of God's way, all should be included in the dinner invitation and not just the wealthy and distinguished guests. Jesus taught that although the less affluent cannot repay the invitation, the invitation will be repaid at "the resurrection of the righteous." God will bless those who care for the less affluent and those who only pay attention to the affluent are not following God's path to righteousness. Those who truly have a heart for the poor and less affluent will be blessed more abundantly by God than those who ignore the poor and less affluent. The parable is a strong lesson about God's teachings in that the poor and less affluent should not be ignored as they often are in the world today. Paying attention to the affluent and those who can benefit a person later may be useful in this world, however this philosophy will not receive a blessing for the Kingdom of Heaven. Jesus taught that the poor and less affluent are no less important that the rich and that the most important quality in a person is that which is on the inside and not what is on the outside.
12 Then Jesus said to his host, “When you give a luncheon or dinner, do not invite your friends, your brothers or sisters, your relatives, or your rich neighbors; if you do, they may invite you back and so you will be repaid. 13 But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, 14 and you will be blessed. Although they cannot repay you, you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.” Luke 14:12-14.
12 Then Jesus said to his host, “When you give a luncheon or dinner, do not invite your friends, your brothers or sisters, your relatives, or your rich neighbors; if you do, they may invite you back and so you will be repaid. 13 But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, 14 and you will be blessed. Although they cannot repay you, you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.” Luke 14:12-14.
