Luke 14:14 kjv

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

Luke 14:14 nkjv

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

Luke 14:14 niv

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

Luke 14:14 esv

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

Luke 14:14 nlt

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

Luke 14 verses

Luke 14 14 Meaning

This verse delivers a profound teaching from Jesus, revealing that true blessedness comes not from seeking reciprocal earthly favors but from selfless acts of kindness towards those unable to repay. The promise is that such generosity will be recompensed by God Himself, specifically at the resurrection of the righteous. It shifts the motivation for good deeds from worldly gain or social standing to an eternal, divine reward, emphasizing God's perfect justice and ultimate vindication of His faithful.

Luke 14 14 Context

Luke chapter 14 presents a series of teachings by Jesus delivered at a Sabbath meal in the house of a leading Pharisee. The immediate context (Luke 14:7-14) describes Jesus observing how guests chose the places of honor at the table. He uses this as an opportunity to teach humility, advising people to take the lowest place so they might be honored, not self-elevated (verses 7-11). Following this, Jesus addresses the host directly (verses 12-14), challenging the customary social practice of inviting only those who could reciprocate. Instead, Jesus instructs the host to invite the poor, crippled, lame, and blind – those who could not possibly repay – promising that such an act of pure generosity would bring divine blessing and ultimate recompense at the resurrection. This teaching then naturally leads into the Parable of the Great Banquet (verses 15-24), further illustrating God's invitation to the marginalized after His initial invitations are rejected by those deemed worthy in society. Historically, banquets were not merely meals but crucial social functions for networking, gaining influence, and establishing reciprocal obligations within Jewish society. Jesus's teaching directly challenged this prevalent quid pro quo culture, promoting a radical, kingdom-focused ethic of selfless giving that transcends earthly calculation.

Luke 14 14 Word analysis

• and (kai, Greek: καὶ): A simple conjunction connecting this verse's promise of blessing to the previous instruction about inviting the disadvantaged. It implies a direct consequence or result.
• you will be blessed (esē makarios, Greek: ἔσῃ μακάριος):
  • makarios (μακάριος): More than merely "happy" in a worldly sense; it refers to a state of being truly fortunate or "blessed by God." It indicates divine favor, deep spiritual well-being, and genuine prosperity in God's eyes, independent of earthly circumstances. This is the same word used for the Beatitudes in Matt 5 and Lk 6. It conveys divine approval and the bestowal of divine favor.
  • esē (ἔσῃ): Future tense of "to be," indicating a definite and guaranteed future state. The blessing is not merely a possibility but a certain outcome.
• because (hoti, Greek: ὅτι): A causal conjunction, providing the reason for the blessing.
• they cannot repay you (ouk echousin antapodounai soi, Greek: οὐκ ἔχουσιν ἀνταποδοῦναί σοι):
  • antapodounai (ἀνταποδοῦναί): The verb means "to repay," "recompense," "to give back in return." It specifically implies reciprocity. The phrase highlights the deliberate choice to give where no human return is possible, which is key to unlocking divine blessing.
  • ouk echousin: "they do not have" or "they are not able." It signifies their absolute inability to reciprocate in the conventional social sense.
• for (gar, Greek: γάρ): Another causal conjunction, introducing the basis for God's promised reward.
• you will be repaid (antapodothēsetai, Greek: ἀνταποδοθήσεται):
  • antapodothēsetai: This is the future passive indicative of the same verb antapodidomi (ἀνταποδίδωμι – to repay). The passive voice is crucial: it indicates that the repayment comes from an implied agent, which in theological context is God Himself. This underscores that the recompense is divine, not human.
• at the resurrection (en tē anastasei, Greek: ἐν τῇ ἀναστάσει):
  • anastasei (ἀναστάσει): "resurrection." This specifies the timing of the divine repayment, situating it in the eschatological future. It elevates the reward from a present, material transaction to a glorious, eternal vindication. It emphasizes the ultimate nature of God's reward.
• of the just (tōn dikaiōn, Greek: τῶν δικαίων):
  • dikaiōn (δικαίων): "righteous ones," "just ones." This noun, derived from dikaios, refers to those who are righteous or in right standing before God, often implying those who live according to God's will and are faithful to Him. The recompense is specifically for this group, connecting generosity with overall faithfulness to God.

Words-group by words-group analysis

• "and you will be blessed, because they cannot repay you": This phrase introduces a counter-intuitive principle of divine blessing. It links blessedness directly to selfless giving—acts motivated by pure generosity rather than expectation of return. It challenges the conventional understanding of "blessing" which was often tied to material prosperity or social recognition earned through reciprocal favors. True divine favor is reserved for actions untainted by self-interest.
• "for you will be repaid at the resurrection of the just": This part reveals the ultimate source, timing, and nature of the repayment. The use of the passive voice for "you will be repaid" implies that God Himself is the one who will perform the act of recompense. The "resurrection of the just" points to a specific future event, shifting the reward from the here and now to the culmination of God's redemptive plan. It emphasizes that God's justice guarantees recompense for His faithful, ensuring no act of selfless love goes unrewarded in His economy. It signifies the believer's eschatological hope and ultimate vindication.

Luke 14 14 Bonus section

• Challenging Human Motives: The teaching in this verse serves as a powerful diagnostic tool for human motives in generosity. It pushes listeners to examine whether their acts of kindness are truly selfless or subtly driven by a desire for reputation, return favors, or social credit.
• Divine Economy vs. Human Economy: The verse beautifully illustrates the difference between God's economy and human economy. In human systems, giving often implies receiving, but in God's kingdom, the greatest rewards come from giving when no human return is expected. God operates on grace and ultimate justice, promising to settle all accounts perfectly in His time.
• Focus on the Eschatological: This verse powerfully redirects focus from temporal gains to eternal hope. The "resurrection of the just" isn't merely a vague afterlife; it's a specific, climactic event in biblical eschatology where God's righteous will be glorified and rewarded. This perspective sustains believers through present difficulties or lack of recognition for their deeds.
• Integral to Luke's Theology: This teaching fits seamlessly within Luke's consistent theme of Jesus's concern for the marginalized, the poor, and the outcast (e.g., Lk 4:18, Lk 6:20-21, Lk 7:22, the Parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus in Lk 16). It's part of Jesus's broader program of reversing worldly fortunes and priorities for the sake of the Kingdom of God.

Luke 14 14 Commentary

Luke 14:14 captures Jesus's radical ethical vision, urging His followers to live by Kingdom values that invert worldly systems. At its core, the verse champions altruistic generosity over reciprocal hospitality. Jesus challenges the societal norm where social events were transactional, built on a system of mutual benefit. By advocating for inviting the poor and disadvantaged who lack means to repay, Jesus exposes the self-serving nature of much human "generosity." The true blessing promised ("you will be blessed") is not a fleeting earthly gain but a state of divine favor. This divine reward is explicitly deferred to "the resurrection of the just," establishing that God, not humans, is the ultimate re-payer of selfless acts of love. This shifts the motive for giving from immediate earthly reward to eternal, divine recognition, ensuring that charity springs from a pure heart of compassion and obedience to God, rather than calculated self-interest. It underscores God's perfect justice, guaranteeing that genuine, kingdom-minded giving will never go unrewarded in the age to come. This teaching calls believers to transcend worldly wisdom and embody God's lavish and unmerited grace.