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. But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, and you will be blessed. Although they cannot repay you, you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.”

Luke 14:12-14

Jesus teaches us in our text, three important characteristics; mercy, humility, and pure heart to serve. With the pre-dinner entertainment over, the guests are called through to dine. Watching the guests jockey for position, Jesus recommends humility: better to sit too far down and be called up than too high and get moved down. Now seated close enough to speak to his host (v. 12), Jesus urges him to see hospitality differently: not as an exercise in politics, status, and reciprocity, but as an opportunity to serve those who can never repay. The greatest reward, he suggests, comes to those who invite the poor and those in need. Serving someone like the man in the ante-room trap attracts the Father’s blessing in a way that playing politics will never do.

CLOSING PRAYER

Lord Jesus, I ask for a humble attitude and a kind, servant’s heart. Thank you for your supreme examples of humility and service; help me to follow them.

(from Encounter with God)