Luke 14:21 kjv

So that servant came, and shewed his lord these things. Then the master of the house being angry said to his servant, Go out quickly into the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in hither the poor, and the maimed, and the halt, and the blind.

Luke 14:21 nkjv

So that servant came and reported these things to his master. Then the master of the house, being angry, said to his servant, 'Go out quickly into the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in here the poor and the maimed and the lame and the blind.'

Luke 14:21 niv

"The servant came back and reported this to his master. Then the owner of the house became angry and ordered his servant, 'Go out quickly into the streets and alleys of the town and bring in the poor, the crippled, the blind and the lame.'

Luke 14:21 esv

So the servant came and reported these things to his master. Then the master of the house became angry and said to his servant, 'Go out quickly to the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in the poor and crippled and blind and lame.'

Luke 14:21 nlt

"The servant returned and told his master what they had said. His master was furious and said, 'Go quickly into the streets and alleys of the town and invite the poor, the crippled, the blind, and the lame.'

Luke 14 verses

Luke 14 21 Meaning

The master, enraged by the excuses of the initially invited guests, commands his servant to quickly extend the invitation to his grand banquet to the marginalized and disadvantaged within the city—specifically the poor, crippled, blind, and lame. This signifies God's open, urgent invitation to His Kingdom to those who are typically overlooked or considered unworthy by society and the religiously self-sufficient, following the rejection by those who initially seemed destined for the privilege.

Luke 14 21 Context

Luke 14:21 is a pivotal verse within Jesus's Parable of the Great Banquet (Luke 14:15-24). This parable is told immediately after Jesus, while at a Sabbath meal, teaches on humility (Luke 14:7-11) and advises his host to invite the poor, crippled, lame, and blind to a feast rather than those who can reciprocate (Luke 14:12-14). The parable itself further elaborates on these themes, contrasting the self-centered excuses of the initially invited with the readiness of the marginalized. Historically, elaborate feasts were significant social events reflecting status and reciprocal obligations. Refusing an invitation, especially after initial acceptance, was a profound insult. In this context, the "first invited" likely represents the Jewish religious leaders and complacent Israelites who rejected Jesus's invitation to the Kingdom, valuing earthly pursuits over divine calls. The master's subsequent command to invite the "poor, crippled, blind, and lame" signifies God's turning to the socially excluded—both within Israel and later to the Gentiles—who, recognizing their spiritual poverty and need, would readily accept the invitation. This implicitly critiques the pride and self-righteousness of the religious establishment, who, like the initial guests, found worldly excuses to miss the divine banquet.

Luke 14 21 Word analysis

• servant (δοῦλος - doulos): Signifies a bondservant or slave, highlighting complete submission and dedication to the master's will. In the parable, this represents those faithfully conveying God's message, like prophets or apostles.
• reported these things: Refers to the rejections and flimsy excuses given by the initially invited guests (Luke 14:18-20), setting the stage for the master's strong reaction.
• master of the house (οἰκοδεσπότης - oikodespotēs): The head of the household, holding full authority. Symbolizes God, whose invitation and subsequent actions are sovereign and final.
• being angry (ὀργισθείς - orgistheis): This denotes not uncontrolled human rage but righteous indignation or divine displeasure. It highlights the seriousness of rejecting God’s gracious invitation and demonstrates that such refusal is not taken lightly; it incurs judgment.
• said to his servant: Reaffirms the master’s authority and immediate command, redirecting the flow of the invitation.
• ‘Go out quickly’ (ἔξελθε ταχέως - exelthe tacheōs): Conveys a sense of urgency and immediacy. God’s Kingdom call requires swift action, reflecting a shift in the master's strategy and the rapid unfolding of salvation history (e.g., the expansion of the Gospel).
• into the streets and lanes (πλατείας καὶ ῥύμας - plateias kai rhymas): "Streets" are wide public roads, "lanes" are narrow alleyways or paths. These are accessible, common public spaces, contrasting with the exclusive settings where the initially invited guests would reside. It signifies a universal, non-discriminatory outreach to everyone available, particularly the common people within the "city" (society).
• of the city (τῆς πόλεως - tēs poleōs): Indicates that this initial extension of the invitation is still within the boundaries of the known community or, parabolically, within Israel itself, before the subsequent command to go "to the highways and hedges" (Luke 14:23).
• and bring in here: An active command for inclusion, signifying God's desire for full participation in His fellowship.
• the poor (πτωχούς - ptōchous): Refers to the economically destitute, often those on the lowest rung of society. Symbolically, these are individuals who recognize their utter dependence and spiritual bankruptcy, having no status or means to impress God. They are therefore open to grace.
• and crippled (ἀναπήρους - anapērous): Those with physical deformities or disabilities that impair mobility. Symbolically represents those who are spiritually "unfit" or unable to approach God through their own efforts or religious works.
• and blind (τυφλούς - tyfrous): Lacking physical sight. Symbolically, this refers to spiritual blindness or ignorance, those who cannot perceive divine truth or the coming of God's Kingdom on their own.
• and lame (χωλούς - chōlous): Those who have difficulty walking due to leg injuries or deformities. Symbolically represents those spiritually weak, unable to "walk" in God's ways, or those who are without means to pursue righteousness on their own.

• "reported these things to his master. Then the master of the house, being angry, said to his servant...": This phrase sequence highlights the cause-and-effect: rejection leads to divine wrath and a change in strategy. The master's anger isn't impulsive but a righteous response to profound ingratitude and the disregard for his generous offer, which then prompts a radical re-direction of his invitation.
• "Go out quickly into the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in here the poor and crippled and blind and lame.": This entire command signifies a dramatic reversal of social norms and a prophetic action. The immediate shift from exclusive invitations to a widespread, urgent outreach to the marginalized illustrates God's plan B when His initial "chosen" people reject His grace. It's an indictment of the prideful and a blessing for the humble, indicating that spiritual qualification is often found where societal value is least seen.

Luke 14 21 Bonus section

• This verse directly challenges the social and religious hierarchy of Jesus's day, where proximity to God was often linked to health, wealth, and adherence to external religious customs, effectively excluding the disabled and poor.
• The swift change in invitation strategy illustrates divine adaptability and perseverance in fulfilling His purpose, ensuring that His house "will be filled" (Luke 14:23), regardless of human rejection.
• The types of people invited (poor, crippled, blind, lame) often carry metaphorical meaning in Christian theology, symbolizing those who are spiritually impoverished, unable to "walk" in God's ways, or lacking spiritual discernment without divine intervention.
• The urgency implied by "quickly" signifies both the immediacy of God's invitation and the finite nature of the opportunity, stressing the importance of responding without delay.
• This episode underlines that the true qualification for God’s feast is not social status or perceived righteousness, but humble receptivity to His invitation, even—or especially—from those considered unworthy by the world.

Luke 14 21 Commentary

Luke 14:21 represents a critical moment in the Parable of the Great Banquet, encapsulating Jesus’s radical vision of the Kingdom of God. The master's righteous anger underscores the gravity of rejecting a divine invitation, reflecting God's profound displeasure with indifference and self-imposed exclusions from His grace. This anger prompts an immediate and decisive shift: the invitation is withdrawn from the privileged and self-important who offered trivial excuses and is now extended urgently to society's outcasts. The "poor, crippled, blind, and lame" were the most marginalized in ancient society, often seen as divinely disfavored or simply unworthy of inclusion at a noble feast. By commanding their inclusion, Jesus dramatically overturns conventional societal values, teaching that the Kingdom of God is accessible to those who recognize their need, spiritual emptiness, and have nothing to offer but their acceptance of unmerited favor. This act highlights God’s profound inclusivity and foreshadows the universal offer of the Gospel to those beyond traditional expectations, including Gentiles and all who humbly admit their spiritual incapacities, demonstrating that grace is for the humble and dependent, not the proud and self-sufficient.