But when thou makest a feast, call the poor, the maimed, the lame, the blind:
When a feast is made the poor, the maimed, the lame and the blind are to be called, rather than friends, brethren, kinsmen or rich neighbors who will invite again and repay the favor. It requires unselfish ministry to those who cannot repay, in contrast to the self-seeking practice of the world of giving only where return, gain or recognition is expected, with Christ's own life as the model. Such kindness brings blessing precisely because the guests cannot recompense, and the host will be recompensed at the resurrection of the just when each person's deeds are made manifest. What is possessed beyond the actual necessities of life is held in trust from God, and the surplus is to be shared to feed the hungry, clothe the naked and relieve suffering rather than kept for self while others cry for bread. A feast kept by this rule is not turned into self-indulgent feasting and gluttony with luxuries for self and family, but is kept with genuine thanksgiving to God and remembrance of Christ by caring for people in need.
Meaning and Context
When a feast is made the call is to go to the poor, the maimed, the lame, and the blind, rather than to friends, brethren, kinsmen, or rich neighbors who will invite again and make recompense. Inviting those who cannot repay brings blessing, with recompense at the resurrection of the just. Welcoming such guests does not require costly food or display, for a warm welcome and a place at the table are themselves meaningful gifts.
What is possessed beyond the actual necessities of life is held in trust from God, and the surplus entrusted is to be used to bless humanity and relieve suffering. That means feeding the hungry, clothing the naked, caring for the widow and the fatherless, and ministering to the distressed and downtrodden, because abundance of luxuries was never meant to be kept for self while others cry for bread and widespread misery exists. Such sharing makes the kindness free of expectation of return, since the needy cannot repay.
The command belongs to Luke 14:2-14, which gives warning of the danger imperiling souls in striving for the highest place. The teaching in Luke 14:8-11 was spoken as a parable yet describes scenes actually witnessed in life, closing with the lesson that whoever exalts himself shall be abased and whoever humbles himself shall be exalted. That lesson is to be practiced by choosing humbling instead of self-exalting, so as to be honored with lifting up instead of lifting up self. The command stands together with the teaching on taking the lowest room in humility and with the parable of the great supper and the excuses of those first bidden.
It leads directly to the parable of the supper, where giving the invitation is the work for all to do. The class first invited refuses to come and will never be invited again and will not taste of the supper, while the second invitation gathers the poor and needy, the poor and the maimed and the halt and the blind, from streets and lanes and highways and hedges to fill the house. So the great feast is abundantly supplied with guests, but none of those who refused will taste of it.
The instruction recalls Israel's duty to include the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow at the sacred feasts. Those gatherings taught care for the bereaved and poor throughout the year, and taught that God's spiritual blessings given to Israel were to be shared with the world. In the same way the verse belongs to the lesson that God's invitation to the blessings of His kingdom, pictured by a great feast and pointing to eternal life, was not reserved for the Jews but was to be extended to people they despised and shunned.
Unselfish Service Rewarded
The verse calls for unselfish ministry to those who cannot repay, in direct contrast to the self-seeking practice of the world which gives only where return favor, gain, or recognition is expected, and it holds up Christ's own life as the model for such service. Because the poor, the maimed, the lame, and the blind cannot return the favor, welcoming them is free of expectation of return and is true hospitality. That giving to those who cannot repay counters selfishness and the misuse of entrusted gifts, rather than reserving invitations for friends and wealthy relatives who can repay.
Such kindness brings blessing precisely because the guests cannot recompense, and the host will be recompensed at the resurrection of the just. At that time each person's deeds and the results of every life will be made manifest, and everyone will reap what he has sown. Welcoming such guests need not involve costly food or display, for a warm welcome and a place at the table are themselves meaningful gifts.
Such service promises no reward of worldly gain, recognition, or earthly wealth, but being noted in heaven its recompense cannot fail. It directs people to store up treasure in heaven rather than seek their reward in earthly wealth. This promise is a stimulus and encouragement to every worker for God when work in this life seems almost fruitless, when earnest and persevering efforts to do good show no visible results and the effort seems lost.
The duty to help people in need is an enduring command, not a new principle replacing the Old Testament instruction given through Moses, and no service to the needy, afflicted, or sorrowing will lose its reward. First attention should be given to those who are most needy, acting a part in the present life in order to share the blessedness of the future, while privileges of service lightly regarded and an invitation slighted will be sent to those despised as of little value. Shunning humble and unfortunate people because helping them is unpleasant or seems beneath one's station is selfishness, not refinement.
Holiday Hospitality Practiced
Luke 14:13 gives the rule for keeping Thanksgiving Day, and few Thanksgivings are kept by it. When making a feast it must not be turned into self-indulgent feasting and gluttony by loading the table with luxuries for self and family. Keeping the day by the verse requires genuine thanksgiving to God with a thank offering in gratitude for rain, sun, crops and harvest, without gorging, murmuring, unpleasant feeling, or unholy thought. It requires inviting the poor and afflicted and people with disabilities who cannot repay, rather than reserving the feast for family and friends and guests who will invite again in return, with recompense promised at the resurrection of the just. It calls for caring for people in need and gratitude for Jesus rather than merely a sumptuous meal.
The verse is fulfilled in the Christmas celebration by not spending money in gratification of appetite through hurtful indulgences and stimulants which weaken the brain and physical powers. It is fulfilled by not giving gifts only to human agents while Jesus is forgotten and left out of calculation. Christmas kept by the verse remembers Christ who died to save the human family and God as the great Giver of all mercies and blessings, instead of selfishness and self-indulgence dishonoring God in earthly, selfish lines. What is possessed is held in trust from God, and Christ's followers are to associate with others to share the benefits God has given in order to advance His work and serve others. Christ's representatives are to include the poor, the lame, and the blind in their hospitality and care, for the duty to help people in need is an enduring command and not a new principle replacing the instruction given through Moses, and giving to those who cannot repay counters selfishness and the misuse of God's gifts, so that no service to the needy, afflicted, or sorrowing will lose its reward.
When a feast is made the poor, the maimed, the lame and the blind are to be called, rather than friends, brethren, kinsmen or rich neighbors who will invite again and repay the favor. It requires unselfish ministry to those who cannot repay, in contrast to the self-seeking practice of the world of giving only where return, gain or recognition is expected, with Christ's own life as the model. Such kindness brings blessing precisely because the guests cannot recompense, and the host will be recompensed at the resurrection of the just when each person's deeds are made manifest. What is possessed beyond the actual necessities of life is held in trust from God, and the surplus is to be shared to feed the hungry, clothe the naked and relieve suffering rather than kept for self while others cry for bread. A feast kept by this rule is not turned into self-indulgent feasting and gluttony with luxuries for self and family, but is kept with genuine thanksgiving to God and remembrance of Christ by caring for people in need.
Meaning and Context
When a feast is made the call is to go to the poor, the maimed, the lame, and the blind, rather than to friends, brethren, kinsmen, or rich neighbors who will invite again and make recompense. Inviting those who cannot repay brings blessing, with recompense at the resurrection of the just. Welcoming such guests does not require costly food or display, for a warm welcome and a place at the table are themselves meaningful gifts.
What is possessed beyond the actual necessities of life is held in trust from God, and the surplus entrusted is to be used to bless humanity and relieve suffering. That means feeding the hungry, clothing the naked, caring for the widow and the fatherless, and ministering to the distressed and downtrodden, because abundance of luxuries was never meant to be kept for self while others cry for bread and widespread misery exists. Such sharing makes the kindness free of expectation of return, since the needy cannot repay.
The command belongs to Luke 14:2-14, which gives warning of the danger imperiling souls in striving for the highest place. The teaching in Luke 14:8-11 was spoken as a parable yet describes scenes actually witnessed in life, closing with the lesson that whoever exalts himself shall be abased and whoever humbles himself shall be exalted. That lesson is to be practiced by choosing humbling instead of self-exalting, so as to be honored with lifting up instead of lifting up self. The command stands together with the teaching on taking the lowest room in humility and with the parable of the great supper and the excuses of those first bidden.
It leads directly to the parable of the supper, where giving the invitation is the work for all to do. The class first invited refuses to come and will never be invited again and will not taste of the supper, while the second invitation gathers the poor and needy, the poor and the maimed and the halt and the blind, from streets and lanes and highways and hedges to fill the house. So the great feast is abundantly supplied with guests, but none of those who refused will taste of it.
The instruction recalls Israel's duty to include the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow at the sacred feasts. Those gatherings taught care for the bereaved and poor throughout the year, and taught that God's spiritual blessings given to Israel were to be shared with the world. In the same way the verse belongs to the lesson that God's invitation to the blessings of His kingdom, pictured by a great feast and pointing to eternal life, was not reserved for the Jews but was to be extended to people they despised and shunned.
Unselfish Service Rewarded
The verse calls for unselfish ministry to those who cannot repay, in direct contrast to the self-seeking practice of the world which gives only where return favor, gain, or recognition is expected, and it holds up Christ's own life as the model for such service. Because the poor, the maimed, the lame, and the blind cannot return the favor, welcoming them is free of expectation of return and is true hospitality. That giving to those who cannot repay counters selfishness and the misuse of entrusted gifts, rather than reserving invitations for friends and wealthy relatives who can repay.
Such kindness brings blessing precisely because the guests cannot recompense, and the host will be recompensed at the resurrection of the just. At that time each person's deeds and the results of every life will be made manifest, and everyone will reap what he has sown. Welcoming such guests need not involve costly food or display, for a warm welcome and a place at the table are themselves meaningful gifts.
Such service promises no reward of worldly gain, recognition, or earthly wealth, but being noted in heaven its recompense cannot fail. It directs people to store up treasure in heaven rather than seek their reward in earthly wealth. This promise is a stimulus and encouragement to every worker for God when work in this life seems almost fruitless, when earnest and persevering efforts to do good show no visible results and the effort seems lost.
The duty to help people in need is an enduring command, not a new principle replacing the Old Testament instruction given through Moses, and no service to the needy, afflicted, or sorrowing will lose its reward. First attention should be given to those who are most needy, acting a part in the present life in order to share the blessedness of the future, while privileges of service lightly regarded and an invitation slighted will be sent to those despised as of little value. Shunning humble and unfortunate people because helping them is unpleasant or seems beneath one's station is selfishness, not refinement.
Holiday Hospitality Practiced
Luke 14:13 gives the rule for keeping Thanksgiving Day, and few Thanksgivings are kept by it. When making a feast it must not be turned into self-indulgent feasting and gluttony by loading the table with luxuries for self and family. Keeping the day by the verse requires genuine thanksgiving to God with a thank offering in gratitude for rain, sun, crops and harvest, without gorging, murmuring, unpleasant feeling, or unholy thought. It requires inviting the poor and afflicted and people with disabilities who cannot repay, rather than reserving the feast for family and friends and guests who will invite again in return, with recompense promised at the resurrection of the just. It calls for caring for people in need and gratitude for Jesus rather than merely a sumptuous meal.
The verse is fulfilled in the Christmas celebration by not spending money in gratification of appetite through hurtful indulgences and stimulants which weaken the brain and physical powers. It is fulfilled by not giving gifts only to human agents while Jesus is forgotten and left out of calculation. Christmas kept by the verse remembers Christ who died to save the human family and God as the great Giver of all mercies and blessings, instead of selfishness and self-indulgence dishonoring God in earthly, selfish lines. What is possessed is held in trust from God, and Christ's followers are to associate with others to share the benefits God has given in order to advance His work and serve others. Christ's representatives are to include the poor, the lame, and the blind in their hospitality and care, for the duty to help people in need is an enduring command and not a new principle replacing the instruction given through Moses, and giving to those who cannot repay counters selfishness and the misuse of God's gifts, so that no service to the needy, afflicted, or sorrowing will lose its reward.