Luke 14:1-14

Jesus Eats at a Pharisee's House

1 One Sabbath day, Jesus went to eat in the house of a well-known Pharisee. While he was there, he was being carefully watched.

2 In front of him was a man whose body was badly swollen.

3 Jesus turned to the Pharisees and the authorities on the law. He asked them, "Is it breaking the Law to heal on the Sabbath?"

4 But they remained silent. So Jesus took hold of the man and healed him. Then he sent him away.

5 He asked them another question. He said, "Suppose one of you has a son or an ox that falls into a well on the Sabbath day. Wouldn't you pull him out right away?"

6 And they had nothing to say.

7 Jesus noticed how the guests picked the places of honor at the table. So he told them a story.

8 He said, "Suppose someone invites you to a wedding feast. Do not take the place of honor. A person more important than you may have been invited.

9 If so, the host who invited both of you will come to you. He will say, 'Give this person your seat.' Then you will be filled with shame. You will have to take the least important place.

10 "But when you are invited, take the lowest place. Then your host will come over to you. He will say, 'Friend, move up to a better place.' Then you will be honored in front of all the other guests.

11 Anyone who lifts himself up will be brought down. And anyone who is brought down will be lifted up."

12 Then Jesus spoke to his host. "Suppose you give a lunch or a dinner," he said. "Do not invite your friends, your brothers or sisters, or your relatives, or your rich neighbors. If you do, they may invite you to eat with them. So you will be paid back.

13 "But when you give a big dinner, invite those who are poor. Also invite those who can't walk, the disabled and the blind.

14 Then you will be blessed. Your guests can't pay you back. But you will be paid back when those who are right with God rise from the dead."