Luke 14:14 - Printer Friendly

ESV: and you will be blessed, because they cannot repay you. For you will be repaid at the resurrection of the just."

NIV: and you will be blessed. Although they cannot repay you, you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous."

NASB: and you will be blessed, since they do not have the means to repay you; for you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.'

CSB: And you will be blessed, because they cannot repay you; for you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous."

NLT: Then at the resurrection of the righteous, God will reward you for inviting those who could not repay you.'

KJV: And thou shalt be blessed; for they cannot recompense thee: for thou shalt be recompensed at the resurrection of the just.

NKJV: And you will be blessed, because they cannot repay you; for you shall be repaid at the resurrection of the just.”

Jesus is finishing the second of three lessons set in a formal banquet. A ruler of the Pharisees has invited Him to such a meal, along with several others (Luke 14:1). Bystanders line the wall, listening quietly. When the dinner guests arrived, they tried to figure out which seat they should take. The more honorable their families and reputations, the closer to the host they should sit. Jesus told them a parable about how if they assume too much honor, they could be humiliated if someone greater arrives (Luke 14:7–11).

Now, Jesus is speaking to the host. When providing such a meal, the host shouldn't issue invitations based on who he thinks will raise his social standing. He should invite "the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind" (Luke 14:13). He should bless those who can neither bolster his reputation among other men nor reciprocate with a similar banquet. Jesus explains why. Food lasts for a truly short time. An honorable reputation lasts a little longer, but it means nothing after death. The reward of God for caring for the poor and the powerless is an honor that will last forever.

Possibly attempting to diffuse the awkwardness of Jesus' words, one of the other guests ignores Jesus' message about humility and service and focuses on the blessing of God's great feast at the resurrection. Ever willing to adapt to the present situation, Jesus gives a parable about that banquet, specifically how the guests around Him are in danger of missing out because they focus too much on the worries and blessings of the world. The weak, the sick, and the sinners will be more likely to answer God's invitation (Luke 14:15–24).

Luke 14:12–14 continues Jesus' comparison of the kingdom of God to social events on earth. He has already explained the proper humble demeanor appropriate both in a human wedding feast and the Wedding Feast of the Lamb (Luke 14:7–11). Now, He challenges His audience to invite the marginalized to their feasts instead of their relatives and rich friends. Not only will God bless them for doing so, they will also emulate God's kingdom which will be filled with the poor, the sick and injured, and the sojourner (Luke 14:15–24).

A Pharisee invites Jesus to a formal dinner. There, Jesus teaches lessons using invitations and feasts as a theme. These emphasize humility and the importance of not making excuses. After the dinner, Jesus warns that those who seek to follow Him will experience hardship. Believers should "count the cost" and understand what aspects of this world they may have to give up.

Luke 14 continues Jesus' doctrinal march to Jerusalem and the cross. Luke 14 and 15 contain the second grouping of one miracle and a series of discussions about the kingdom of God and salvation; Luke 13:10–35 is the first. Next will be a collection of warnings about rejecting God's kingdom (Luke 16:1—17:10) and two more sets of lessons about the kingdom and salvation, each beginning with a single miracle (Luke 17:11—18:34; 18:35—19:27). After this comes Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem.

Luke was a traveling companion of Paul (Acts 16:10) and a physician (Colossians 4:14). Unlike Matthew, Mark, and John, Luke writes his gospel as an historian, rather than as a first-hand eyewitness. His extensive writings also include the book of Acts (Acts 1:1–3). These are deliberately organized, carefully researched accounts of those events. The gospel of Luke focuses on the earthly ministry of Jesus Christ. Luke's Gentile perspective presents Christ as a Savior for all people, offering both forgiveness and direction to those who follow Him.