Word For The Day Luke 14:7-14 (KJV)

7 And he put forth a parable to those which were bidden, when he marked how they chose out the chief rooms; saying unto them,
8 When thou art bidden of any man to a wedding, sit not down in the highest room; lest a more honorable man than thou be bidden of him;
9 And he that bade thee and him come and say to thee, Give this man place; and thou begin with shame to take the lowest room.
10 But when thou art bidden, go and sit down in the lowest room; that when he that bad thee cometh, he may say Friend, go up higher; then shalt thou have worship in the presence of them that sit at meat with thee.
11 For whosoever exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.
12 Then said he also to him that bade him, When thou makest a dinner or a supper, call not thy friends, nor thy brethren, neither thy kinsmen, nor thy rich neighbors; lest they also bid thee again, and a recompense be made thee.
13 But when thou makest a feast, call the poor, the maimed, the lame, the blind;
14 And thou shalt be blessed; for they cannot recompense thee; for thou shalt be recompensed at the resurrection of the just.

Commentary:
14:7-11 This account is unique to Luke. Verse 11 sums up Jesus' point. As usual, He is able to invest a mundane scene with profound meaning. 14:8 Bidden means "invited." The highest room was the place of honor at a banquet. 14:10 Worship would be more modernly translated "esteem." Jesus is not encouraging human pride (cf. v. 11). Proverbs 25:6-7 offers a parallel. 14:12-14 This passage is found only in Luke. It is surely not a command to refuse hospitality to friends, family, and those who may be well off. Jesus fellowshipped in such circles Himself. Jesus rather issues the reminder that it is incumbent on His followers to do good both to the lovable and the unlovable. (See Matthew 5:46) If the unevangelized and needy are to be reached, God's people must maintain ties with them, and should want to do so for the gospel's sake. (See 1 Corinthians 5:9-11) Jesus was known as a Friend of sinners. 14:14 To do what is right in God's eyes at all times is virtuous, but even more so when one's charitable acts cannot possibly be attributed to desire for immediate personal advantage.