Inviting the Uninvited
Imagine actually doing it.
This time, it’s Jesus who asks a question of the religious leaders. Twice. Luke tells us they said nothing and they had no response.
It didn’t matter. Jesus wasn’t there to win a verbal argument. He went ahead and healed the man.
I wonder how many have taken these words of Jesus literally: When you give a banquet, invite the poor, crippled, lame, and blind.
Someone should do it. I challenge everyone reading this to actually walk through the steps of taking Luke 14:13 literally. What would that look like today, in 2025? I’m sure we can point to organizations, charities, and soup kitchens that reflect the spirit of it. But what would it look like on a personal level to open your own home, your own table, your own life in such a way?
Maybe today Jesus would say: When you host a dinner, invite those who can’t return the favor. Invite the person who makes others uncomfortable, the neighbor you don’t understand, the one who’s been left out of every other invitation. What do you think?
The parable that follows makes the contrast even clearer. The invitations go out, but the invited guests decline. So the host fills the house with those no one expected: the poor, the forgotten, the ones outside the gates. It’s not a story about good manners; it’s about the nature of God’s kingdom. The ones who assumed they belonged end up missing the feast.
This is the Kingdom.
Luke 14:1-24
One Sabbath, when Jesus went to share a meal in the home of one of the leaders of the Pharisees, they were watching him closely. A man suffering from an abnormal swelling of the body was there. Jesus asked the lawyers and Pharisees, “Does the Law allow healing on the Sabbath or not?” But they said nothing. Jesus took hold of the sick man, cured him, and then let him go. He said to them, “Suppose your child or ox fell into a ditch on the Sabbath day. Wouldn’t you immediately pull it out?” But they had no response.
When Jesus noticed how the guests sought out the best seats at the table, he told them a parable. “When someone invites you to a wedding celebration, don’t take your seat in the place of honor. Someone more highly regarded than you could have been invited by your host. The host who invited both of you will come and say to you, ‘Give your seat to this other person.’ Embarrassed, you will take your seat in the least important place. Instead, when you receive an invitation, go and sit in the least important place. When your host approaches you, he will say, ‘Friend, move up here to a better seat.’ Then you will be honored in the presence of all your fellow guests. All who lift themselves up will be brought low, and those who make themselves low will be lifted up.”
Then Jesus said to the person who had invited him, “When you host a lunch or dinner, don’t invite your friends, your brothers and sisters, your relatives, or rich neighbors. If you do, they will invite you in return and that will be your reward. Instead, when you give a banquet, invite the poor, crippled, lame, and blind. And you will be blessed because they can’t repay you. Instead, you will be repaid when the just are resurrected.”
When one of the dinner guests heard Jesus’ remarks, he said to Jesus, “Happy are those who will feast in God’s kingdom.”
Jesus replied, “A certain man hosted a large dinner and invited many people. When it was time for the dinner to begin, he sent his servant to tell the invited guests, ‘Come! The dinner is now ready.’ One by one, they all began to make excuses. The first one told him, ‘I bought a farm and must go and see it. Please excuse me.’ Another said, ‘I bought five teams of oxen, and I’m going to check on them. Please excuse me.’ Another said, ‘I just got married, so I can’t come.’ When he returned, the servant reported these excuses to his master. The master of the house became angry and said to his servant, ‘Go quickly to the city’s streets, the busy ones and the side streets, and bring the poor, crippled, blind, and lame.’ The servant said, ‘Master, your instructions have been followed and there is still room.’ The master said to the servant, ‘Go to the highways and back alleys and urge people to come in so that my house will be filled. I tell you, not one of those who were invited will taste my dinner.’”
Psalm 112:4-9
They shine in the dark for others who do right.
They are merciful, compassionate, and righteous.
Those who lend generously are good people—
as are those who conduct their affairs with justice.
Yes, these sorts of people will never be shaken;
the righteous will be remembered forever!
They won’t be frightened at bad news.
Their hearts are steady, trusting in the Lord.
Their hearts are firm; they aren’t afraid.
In the end, they will witness their enemies’ defeat.
They give freely to those in need.
Their righteousness stands forever.
Their strength increases gloriously.
Prayer
God,
Has anyone ever read through the gospels and simply written a bullet list of all Jesus’ commands? I imagine someone has. Sometimes I want to. You know, to simplify it all. I know it would be a difficult list to actually accomplish, loving enemies and throwing banquets for the lame and all. But it would at least give something tangible to follow along with.
Then again, I guess it would make me nothing more than the religious leaders - builders of lists and keepers of rules.
Goodness…change my heart, God. Give me the character of Jesus that loves enemies and welcomes the inconvenient, setting tables for all the “wrong” people.
So help me, God.
By your Spirit & in Christ,
Amen.