Luke 14:12 kjv
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 neighbours; lest they also bid thee again, and a recompence be made thee.
Luke 14:12 nkjv
Then He also said to him who invited Him, "When you give a dinner or a supper, do not ask your friends, your brothers, your relatives, nor rich neighbors, lest they also invite you back, and you be repaid.
Luke 14:12 niv
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.
Luke 14:12 esv
He said also to the man who had invited him, "When you give a dinner or a banquet, do not invite your friends or your brothers or your relatives or rich neighbors, lest they also invite you in return and you be repaid.
Luke 14:12 nlt
Then 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.
Luke 14 12 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Matt 6:1 | "Beware of practicing your righteousness before men to be noticed by them; otherwise you have no reward with your Father who is in heaven." | Motive for action, heavenly vs. earthly reward. |
| Matt 6:2-4 | "So when you give to the poor... do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing... and your Father who sees in secret will repay you." | Secret giving, God's unseen reward. |
| Lk 6:32-35 | "If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? ... But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return; and your reward will be great..." | Love beyond reciprocity, selfless giving. |
| Lk 14:13-14 | "But when you give a feast, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind... and you will be repaid at the resurrection of the just." | Direct continuation: Who to invite, divine reward. |
| Prov 19:17 | "Whoever is generous to the poor lends to the LORD, and he will repay him for his deed." | God considers acts of kindness to the poor as a loan to Him. |
| Prov 28:27 | "Whoever gives to the poor will not want, but he who hides his eyes will get many a curse." | Blessings for giving to the poor. |
| Isa 58:7 | "Is it not to share your bread with the hungry and bring the homeless poor into your house?" | God's call for compassionate hospitality. |
| Acts 20:35 | "In everything I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, 'It is more blessed to give than to receive.'" | The joy and blessedness of selfless giving. |
| Rom 12:13 | "Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality." | Call to practice hospitality for fellow believers. |
| 1 Pet 4:9 | "Show hospitality to one another without grumbling." | Principle of welcoming others. |
| Heb 13:2 | "Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares." | Broad scope of hospitality. |
| Phil 2:3-4 | "Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others." | Motive of humility and selflessness. |
| Matt 10:41-42 | "Whoever gives one of these little ones even a cup of cold water because he is a disciple, truly, I say to you, he will by no means lose his reward." | Reward for simple acts of kindness based on true discipleship. |
| 2 Cor 9:6-7 | "Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver." | Giving attitude, bounty linked to cheerful heart. |
| Ps 112:5 | "It is well with the man who deals generously and lends..." | Principle of generosity. |
| Gal 6:10 | "So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith." | Prioritizing doing good for others. |
| Col 3:23-24 | "Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ." | Ultimate motivation for service is the Lord. |
| Lk 12:33-34 | "Sell your possessions and give to the needy. Provide yourselves with moneybags that do not grow old, with a treasure in the heavens that does not fail..." | Investing in eternal rather than temporal security. |
| Lk 16:9 | "And I tell you, make friends for yourselves by means of unrighteous wealth, so that when it fails they may receive you into the eternal dwellings." | Using earthly resources for heavenly purposes. |
| 1 Tim 6:17-19 | "Instruct those who are rich in this present world... to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share, storing up for themselves the treasure of a good foundation for the future..." | Encouragement for the wealthy to be generous for eternal gain. |
| Rom 15:1-2 | "We who are strong have an obligation to bear with the failings of the weak, and not to please ourselves. Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, to build him up." | Concern for the good of others, not self-pleasing. |
| James 2:14-17 | "What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? ... If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, and one of you says to them, 'Go in peace, be warmed and filled,' without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that?" | Faith demonstrated through compassion for needy. |
Luke 14 verses
Luke 14 12 Meaning
Jesus instructs a fundamental shift in the practice of hospitality, moving away from a system of social reciprocity and personal gain. He challenges the custom of inviting only those who can offer a return invitation or social benefit, emphasizing that such actions already receive their earthly "repayment." Instead, true generosity should be extended to those who cannot repay, motivated by selfless love rather than a desire for recognition or a return favor. This redefines hospitality from a self-serving social exchange to an act of radical compassion that aligns with heavenly values.
Luke 14 12 Context
Luke chapter 14 features Jesus teaching profound spiritual truths at a dinner hosted by a leading Pharisee on the Sabbath. The immediate context of verse 12 follows Jesus observing how guests chose prominent seats at the feast, which led Him to teach a parable about humility and taking the lowest place, promising exaltation (Lk 14:7-11). After this, Jesus turns His instruction directly to the host, addressing the very nature of hospitality itself. The broader context highlights the values of God's Kingdom, often in contrast to conventional societal norms. Jesus challenges the prevalent social structures built on status, reciprocal obligation, and self-promotion, advocating instead for humility, selfless giving, and genuine compassion, with an eye towards eternal reward.
Luke 14 12 Word analysis
- Then He also said: This signals a continuation of Jesus' teaching, shifting His address from observing guests' behaviors to directly instructing the host on how to exercise hospitality. It demonstrates His authority and keen observation in the setting.
- to him who invited Him: This explicitly identifies the recipient of the teaching as "one of the rulers of the Pharisees" (Lk 14:1). This makes the instruction particularly striking, as Jesus challenges the ingrained customs of a highly respected individual in a position of social and religious influence.
- When you give: (Greek: Hotan poiēs - "Whenever you make/prepare"). This indicates that Jesus is not prohibiting banquets but is rather setting a new paradigm for their purpose and execution. It assumes the regular occurrence of such social events.
- a dinner or a supper: (Greek: ariston for a midday meal, deipnon for the main evening meal). These were significant social occasions, typically used for networking, celebrating, and solidifying social ties. By mentioning both, Jesus emphasizes the general principle for all formal gatherings where reciprocity was expected.
- do not invite: (Greek: mē phōnesēs - a strong prohibition meaning "do not call/summon/invite"). While a strong command, its interpretation is not a blanket ban on inviting family or friends but rather a reorientation of the underlying motive. The emphasis is on prioritizing selfless giving over self-interested invitations.
- your friends, your brothers, your relatives: These categories represent the conventional guests invited to maintain social harmony, fulfill familial obligations, and foster reciprocal social engagements. Jesus challenges this default circle, pointing towards a broader, more compassionate perspective.
- nor rich neighbors: This expands the targeted group beyond family to include those in proximity who hold financial or social power. Inviting them was a strategic move to secure future invitations, potential favors, or maintain one's social standing.
- lest they also invite you back: (Greek: mēpote kai autoi antikalesōsin se - "lest they also in return call/invite you"). This phrase reveals the transactional nature of hospitality in that society. It uncovers the core expectation of reciprocity that governed social interactions and networking.
- and you be repaid: (Greek: kai genetai soi antapodoma - "and there comes to you repayment/requital/return"). This is the critical phrase. It signifies that any benefit received through such reciprocal invitations is your full and final "reward." This implies that acts performed with a view to earthly return forfeit any potential heavenly recompense from God.
Words-group analysis:
- "do not invite your friends, your brothers, your relatives, nor rich neighbors, lest they also invite you back, and you be repaid": This entire instruction confronts the prevailing social etiquette directly. It's a critique of "calculated" generosity—acts performed with an inherent expectation of a return favor or social climb. Jesus isn't necessarily forbidding these relationships or gatherings, but rather challenging the underlying motive for hosting them. The 'repayment' received from human reciprocation diminishes or cancels out any potential divine reward, shifting the focus from earthly gain to heavenly gain. This profoundly subverts the common patronage system of the time.
- "dinner or a supper... do not invite... lest they also invite you back, and you be repaid": This entire teaching on hospitality functions as a microcosm of Kingdom ethics. It contrasts the world's transactional approach ("what's in it for me?") with God's principle of sacrificial, selfless love and generosity, where the focus is on the welfare of the recipient and glorifying God, with the reward entrusted solely to divine timing and measure.
Luke 14 12 Bonus section
The teaching in Luke 14:12-14 represents a pivotal reversal of values characteristic of Jesus' entire ministry, where conventional wisdom is challenged by Kingdom principles. This passage resonates deeply with the Sermon on the Mount/Plain, particularly regarding acts of righteousness and motives for giving. Jesus is not strictly forbidding familial or friendly gatherings, which are healthy aspects of human connection, but is highlighting that such interactions, if driven purely by a desire for earthly return, deplete their spiritual potential. The 'repayment' received from humans cancels out any 'reward' from God in the future. The Kingdom's economy operates on self-sacrificial love, where giving to those who cannot repay accumulates genuine, imperishable wealth in heaven. This teaching invites followers to consider hospitality as a spiritual discipline rather than merely a social custom, challenging them to embody divine generosity towards the marginalized and unseen. It underscores that God values the heart's posture more than the social utility of an action.
Luke 14 12 Commentary
Jesus' instruction in Luke 14:12 radically redefines hospitality from a self-serving social strategy into an act of profound, selfless love. He critiques the common practice of inviting guests based on their ability to reciprocate, which effectively turns an act of kindness into a form of earthly investment yielding immediate returns. By specifically warning against inviting friends, family, or wealthy neighbors, Jesus is targeting the root motive: a desire for social status, future invitations, or reciprocal favors. This earthly repayment, He implies, is the only reward one receives for such calculated generosity.
The verse sets the stage for the positive command in verse 13 to invite the marginalized – the poor, crippled, lame, and blind – who, by their very condition, cannot repay. The emphasis is on the purity of intent: true hospitality, in the Kingdom of God, is given without expectation of earthly recompense, but rather in anticipation of divine blessing "at the resurrection of the just" (v. 14). This teaches believers to model God's own generosity, which is given unconditionally to the undeserving, transforming charitable acts from mere social etiquette into opportunities for eternal treasure. The core message encourages generosity stemming from humility and pure motives, leading to God’s ultimate reward rather than human accolades.
Examples:
- Instead of always hosting affluent neighbors, periodically volunteer time or resources to help a single parent or an elderly shut-in who lives nearby.
- Rather than just giving gifts within one's usual social circle, seek out a local ministry that supports refugees or homeless individuals and contribute to their needs.
- Offer practical help, like transportation or running errands, for someone who cannot manage it themselves due to physical or financial limitations, with no expectation of being repaid or even thanked.