Luke 14:7-24

7When Jesus noticed that all who had come to the dinner were trying to sit in the seats of honor near the head of the table, he gave them this advice:

8“When you are invited to a wedding feast, don’t sit in the seat of honor. What if someone who is more distinguished than you has also been invited?

9The host will come and say, ‘Give this person your seat.’ Then you will be embarrassed, and you will have to take whatever seat is left at the foot of the table!

10“Instead, take the lowest place at the foot of the table. Then when your host sees you, he will come and say, ‘Friend, we have a better place for you!’ Then you will be honored in front of all the other guests.

11For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”

12Then he turned to his host. “When you put on a luncheon or a banquet,” he said, “don’t invite your friends, brothers, relatives, and rich neighbors. For they will invite you back, and that will be your only reward.

13Instead, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, and the blind.

14Then at the resurrection of the righteous, God will reward you for inviting those who could not repay you.”

15Hearing this, a man sitting at the table with Jesus exclaimed, “What a blessing it will be to attend a banquet in the Kingdom of God!”

16Jesus replied with this story: “A man prepared a great feast and sent out many invitations.

17When the banquet was ready, he sent his servant to tell the guests, ‘Come, the banquet is ready.’

18But they all began making excuses. One said, ‘I have just bought a field and must inspect it. Please excuse me.’

19Another said, ‘I have just bought five pairs of oxen, and I want to try them out. Please excuse me.’

20Another said, ‘I just got married, so I can’t come.’

21“The servant returned and told his master what they had said. His master was furious and said, ‘Go quickly into the streets and alleys of the town and invite the poor, the crippled, the blind, and the lame.’

22After the servant had done this, he reported, ‘There is still room for more.’

23So his master said, ‘Go out into the country lanes and behind the hedges and urge anyone you find to come, so that the house will be full.

24For none of those I first invited will get even the smallest taste of my banquet.’”