Luke 14:15 kjv

And when one of them that sat at meat with him heard these things, he said unto him, Blessed is he that shall eat bread in the kingdom of God.

Luke 14:15 nkjv

Now when one of those who sat at the table with Him heard these things, he said to Him, "Blessed is he who shall eat bread in the kingdom of God!"

Luke 14:15 niv

When one of those at the table with him heard this, he said to Jesus, "Blessed is the one who will eat at the feast in the kingdom of God."

Luke 14:15 esv

When one of those who reclined at table with him heard these things, he said to him, "Blessed is everyone who will eat bread in the kingdom of God!"

Luke 14:15 nlt

Hearing this, a man sitting at the table with Jesus exclaimed, "What a blessing it will be to attend a banquet in the Kingdom of God!"

Luke 14 verses

Luke 14 15 Meaning

This verse records the enthusiastic exclamation of a dinner guest in response to Jesus’ teachings about inviting the marginalized to feasts and being rewarded in the resurrection. The guest's statement, “Blessed is everyone who will eat bread in the kingdom of God!” expresses a common Jewish hope for the coming Messianic Age. It points to a future time of ultimate joy, divine provision, and communion with God, envisioning a great eschatological feast. While seemingly pious, it serves as a setup for Jesus' subsequent parable (Luke 14:16-24), which clarifies the true nature of God's invitation and who truly participates in the promised kingdom banquet.

Luke 14 15 Context

Luke Chapter 14 presents a series of teachings by Jesus delivered at a Sabbath meal hosted by a prominent Pharisee. The preceding verses (Luke 14:7-11) deal with humility, advising guests to take the lowest seat to avoid embarrassment, emphasizing that those who exalt themselves will be humbled and vice versa. Immediately before verse 15 (Luke 14:12-14), Jesus instructs his host not to invite only wealthy friends or relatives to his feast, but rather the poor, crippled, lame, and blind. The reasoning given is that such selfless hospitality cannot be repaid in this life but will be rewarded “at the resurrection of the just.” It is in direct response to this promise of eschatological reward that one of the fellow dinner guests utters the statement in Luke 14:15, shifting the discussion from an earthly feast to the ultimate divine banquet. The guest's statement then prompts Jesus to tell the parable of the Great Banquet (Luke 14:16-24), which serves as a powerful illustration and qualification of who truly partakes in the kingdom of God.

Luke 14 15 Word Analysis

• When one of those who reclined at table with him:

  • one: Refers to an unnamed individual among Jesus’ fellow diners. The focus is on the statement itself rather than the person's identity.
  • reclined at table (Greek: synanakeimenon - "recline with"): Describes the common custom of eating meals while leaning on couches, typical for banquets or formal dinners. This posture suggested familiarity and fellowship, highlighting that the remark came from an insider to the discussion.
  • with him: Indicates the guest was privy to Jesus' private teachings, not just an onlooker.

• heard these things:

  • heard: Signifies a direct reception of Jesus' preceding counsel on hospitality (Luke 14:12-14) and the promise of recompense at the "resurrection of the just." This suggests the guest connected Jesus' promise of future reward with a long-held Jewish hope.
  • these things: Specifically refers to Jesus' advice about inviting the poor, the crippled, the lame, and the blind, and the promise that one "will be repaid at the resurrection of the just."

• he said to him:

  • Indicates an immediate and direct verbal response from the guest to Jesus. The guest was engaging with Jesus' words.

• “Blessed is everyone who will eat bread in the kingdom of God!”:

  • Blessed (Greek: makarios): Not merely "happy," but signifying divinely favored, supremely fortunate, and enviable. This term is used frequently in the Beatitudes (e.g., Matt 5; Luke 6) and elsewhere to describe those who receive God's favor or are in a state of spiritual well-being through God's grace. It often describes the joy experienced by those who participate in God's saving plan.
  • is everyone (Greek: pas hos - "everyone who"): Indicates universality. However, within Jewish thought, this "everyone" was often implicitly understood to mean "every righteous Jew." Jesus’ subsequent parable will dramatically challenge this exclusivity.
  • who will eat bread:
    • will eat (Greek: phagetai, future tense of phagō): Emphasizes the future, eschatological nature of this participation.
    • bread (Greek: arton): Here stands metonymically for a full meal or feast. To "eat bread" in this context is to fully participate in the Messianic banquet. It implies sustenance, joy, and fellowship at God's table.
  • in the kingdom of God (Greek: en tē basileia tou Theou):
    • This phrase refers to God's sovereign rule, which is the central theme of Jesus' teaching.
    • For the guest, this "kingdom of God" primarily represents the future, perfected Messianic age, a time of ultimate peace, prosperity, and justice, often envisioned as a grand banquet with the patriarchs (cf. Matt 8:11-12).
    • This highlights a common Jewish expectation of a literal, physical kingdom where the righteous would be exalted. Jesus, however, also taught the Kingdom was both present (already) and future (not yet). The guest focuses on the "not yet" aspect, possibly overlooking the kingdom's present demands on humble living and inclusive love.

Luke 14 15 Bonus Section

• The phrase "eat bread in the kingdom of God" is a common euphemism for full participation in the benefits and joys of the Messianic era. It's not just about literal food, but spiritual fulfillment, communion, and eternal life within God's perfected reign.
• The guest's statement shows a recognition of the eschatological dimension of Jesus’ teaching, correctly associating true blessedness with God's ultimate rule. However, it represents a theological jump that overlooks the immediate, present demands of discipleship and hospitality that Jesus had just expounded upon.
• This verse can be seen as an example of common human tendency to idealize a future spiritual reward while neglecting present duties and the radical implications of the gospel in daily life.
• The very act of reclining at table for the guest indicates status, highlighting the contrast with the poor and outcast whom Jesus urged his host to invite. This social position subtly sets up the challenge that the guest (and many like him) would face when the invitation to God's kingdom was extended to all, regardless of status.

Luke 14 15 Commentary

Luke 14:15 encapsulates a profound Jewish hope: the blessedness of partaking in the final, glorious Messianic feast in the Kingdom of God. The guest’s exclamation, stemming from Jesus' discourse on future rewards, resonates with prophecies of a great banquet prepared by the Lord for all peoples (Isa 25:6). While pious and reflecting a true longing for God’s future reign, the statement inadvertently reveals a limited understanding of who truly merits inclusion. The guest likely assumed this "everyone" referred to the righteous among Israel. Jesus' immediate response is not to contradict the blessedness of the kingdom, but to expand and qualify the conditions of entry through the parable of the Great Banquet (Luke 14:16-24). This parable reveals that many initially invited (those with excuses) will be excluded, while the truly "blessed" will be the unexpected guests—the poor, the outcast, those from the highways and hedges—who respond to God's unexpected, expansive invitation with immediate willingness and humility. The verse, therefore, sets the stage for a critical teaching on radical inclusivity and responsiveness to God’s call, contrasting perceived entitlement with genuine submission to His will.