But when thou makest a feast, call the poor, the maimed, the lame, the blind:
Parallel translations
- WEB But when you make a feast, ask the poor, the maimed, the lame, or the blind;
- BSB But when you host a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, and the blind,
- NKJV But when you give a feast, invite the poor, the maimed, the lame, the blind.
- NASB But whenever you give a banquet, invite people who are poor, who have disabilities, who are limping, and people who are blind;
- NLT Instead, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, and the blind.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Instead, invite the poor, maimed, lame, and blind. Kingdom generosity reaches those who cannot reciprocate.
Overview
These were people often marginalized and unable to repay hospitality. Jesus directs love toward them precisely because they cannot return the favor. Such giving mirrors God's gracious welcome of the helpless and undeserving.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 30
- Luke 14:21So 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.
- Isa 58:10And if thou draw out thy soul to the hungry, and satisfy the afflicted soul; then shall thy light rise in obscurity, and thy darkness be as the noon day:
- Prov 14:31He that oppresseth the poor reproacheth his Maker: but he that honoureth him hath mercy on the poor.
- Isa 58:7Is it not to deal thy bread to the hungry, and that thou bring the poor that are cast out to thy house? when thou seest the naked, that thou cover him; and that thou hide not thyself from thine own flesh?
- Job 29:15–16I was eyes to the blind, and feet was I to the lame.
- Heb 13:2Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.
- Job 31:16–20If I have withheld the poor from their desire, or have caused the eyes of the widow to fail;
- Neh 8:10Then he said unto them, Go your way, eat the fat, and drink the sweet, and send portions unto them for whom nothing is prepared: for this day is holy unto our LORD: neither be ye sorry; for the joy of the LORD is your strength.
- Matt 14:14–21And Jesus went forth, and saw a great multitude, and was moved with compassion toward them, and he healed their sick.
- Matt 22:10So those servants went out into the highways, and gathered together all as many as they found, both bad and good: and the wedding was furnished with guests.
- Deut 16:14And thou shalt rejoice in thy feast, thou, and thy son, and thy daughter, and thy manservant, and thy maidservant, and the Levite, the stranger, and the fatherless, and the widow, that are within thy gates.
- 1 Tim 5:10Well reported of for good works; if she have brought up children, if she have lodged strangers, if she have washed the saints’ feet, if she have relieved the afflicted, if she have diligently followed every good work.
- Deut 14:29And the Levite, (because he hath no part nor inheritance with thee,) and the stranger, and the fatherless, and the widow, which are within thy gates, shall come, and shall eat and be satisfied; that the LORD thy God may bless thee in all the work of thine hand which thou doest.
- Deut 26:12–13When thou hast made an end of tithing all the tithes of thine increase the third year, which is the year of tithing, and hast given it unto the Levite, the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow, that they may eat within thy gates, and be filled;
- Deut 16:11And thou shalt rejoice before the LORD thy God, thou, and thy son, and thy daughter, and thy manservant, and thy maidservant, and the Levite that is within thy gates, and the stranger, and the fatherless, and the widow, that are among you, in the place which the LORD thy God hath chosen to place his name there.
- Prov 3:9–10Honour the LORD with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase:
- 2 Chr 30:24For Hezekiah king of Judah did give to the congregation a thousand bullocks and seven thousand sheep; and the princes gave to the congregation a thousand bullocks and ten thousand sheep: and a great number of priests sanctified themselves.
- Rom 12:13–16Distributing to the necessity of saints; given to hospitality.
- Prov 31:6–7Give strong drink unto him that is ready to perish, and wine unto those that be of heavy hearts.
- 1 Tim 3:2A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach;
- Acts 2:44–45And all that believed were together, and had all things common;
- 2 Sam 6:19And he dealt among all the people, even among the whole multitude of Israel, as well to the women as men, to every one a cake of bread, and a good piece of flesh, and a flagon of wine. So all the people departed every one to his house.
- Acts 4:34–35Neither was there any among them that lacked: for as many as were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the prices of the things that were sold,
- Matt 15:32–39Then Jesus called his disciples unto him, and said, I have compassion on the multitude, because they continue with me now three days, and have nothing to eat: and I will not send them away fasting, lest they faint in the way.
- Job 29:13The blessing of him that was ready to perish came upon me: and I caused the widow’s heart to sing for joy.
- Neh 8:12And all the people went their way to eat, and to drink, and to send portions, and to make great mirth, because they had understood the words that were declared unto them.
- Titus 1:8But a lover of hospitality, a lover of good men, sober, just, holy, temperate;
- Acts 9:39Then Peter arose and went with them. When he was come, they brought him into the upper chamber: and all the widows stood by him weeping, and shewing the coats and garments which Dorcas made, while she was with them.
- Luke 11:41But rather give alms of such things as ye have; and, behold, all things are clean unto you.
- Phlm 1:7For we have great joy and consolation in thy love, because the bowels of the saints are refreshed by thee, brother.
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Christ at the center
Luke shows Jesus the Savior for all — outsiders, the poor, the nations — the one who, on the Emmaus road, opened all the Scriptures to show they were about himself.
How Luke 14:13 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
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