Chapter 31
Humility and Hospitality
Verse 1: Observing that the guests were choosing the best places for themselves based on status, he told them a parable: | Luke 14:7
2 “When someone invites you to a wedding banquet, do not seat yourself in the best place, because a person more distinguished than you may have been invited by your host, | Luke 14:8
3 and the host who invited you both will come and tell you, ‘Give this person your place,’ and then ashamed you would move to the lowest place. | Luke 14:9
4 But when you have been invited, go and seat yourself at the lowest place, so when your host comes, they may say to you, ‘My friend, move up higher’; then you shall be honored in the presence of all those who sit at the table with you. | Luke 14:10
5 Because everyone who exalt themselves shall be humbled, and everyone who humble themselves will be exalted.” | Luke 14:11
6 He told to the one who had invited him as well, “When you give a breakfast or a dinner, do not ask your friends, your family or rich neighbors, as they may invite you in return, and you would be repaid. | Luke 14:12
7 But when you entertain, invite the poor, the crippled, the maimed and lame, and the blind. | Luke 14:13
8 Then you shall be blessed because they cannot repay you and you will be repaid when you see my Father.” | Luke 14:14
The Parable of the Great Dinner
9 One of the dinner guests when they heard this, said to him, “Blessed is he who will feast in the kingdom of God!” | Luke 14:15
10 Then Jesus said to him, “A certain man made a great banquet and invited many. | Luke 14:16
11 At the time for the banquet he sent his servant to tell those who had been invited, ‘Come, because everything is ready now.’ | Luke 14:17
12 But one after another they began to make excuses. The first said to him, ‘I must travel to Caesarea, for I am to teach at the synagogue there, and I cannot come. Please excuse me.’ | Luke 14:18
13 Another said, ‘I am meeting with the stonecutter, for we are expanding the outer court, and I cannot come; please excuse me.’ | Luke 14:19
14 Another said, ‘I have been preparing my argument on the law of tithes, and I must present it to the council, and I cannot come, please excuse me.’ | Luke 14:20
15 So the servant returned and reported everything to his master. Then the owner of the house became very angry and told him, ‘Go quickly into the streets and winding alleys of the town and bring in the poor, the crippled and maimed, the blind, and the lame.’ | Luke 14:21
16 And the servant said, ‘Sir, your order has been done, and yet, there is still room.’ | Luke 14:22
17 Then the master said to the servant, ‘Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, so that my house will be full. | Luke 14:23
18 For I say to you, none of those who were invited shall taste my banquet.’” | Luke 14:24
The Cost of Discipleship
19 One day, when large crowds were going alongside him, and he turned and said to them, | Luke 14:25
20 “If anyone comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and even life itself, they cannot be my disciple. | Luke 14:26
21 Whoever does not carry their own cross and follows me cannot be my disciple. | Luke 14:27
22 Which of you, planning to build a tower, does not first sit down and calculate the cost, to see whether they have enough money to complete it? | Luke 14:28
23 Otherwise, when the foundation has been laid and the work cannot be completed, all who see it will begin to ridicule them, | Luke 14:29
24 saying, ‘This man started to build and yet, was not able to finish.’ | Luke 14:30
25 Or what king, intending to wage war against another king, will not first sit down and consider whether he can engage with ten thousand troops to repel the one who comes against him with twenty thousand? | Luke 14:31
26 Else if he cannot succeed, then while the other is still a great distance away, he sends an envoy and asks for the terms of peace. | Luke 14:32
27 The kingdom of my father is like a certain man who wanted to kill a powerful man. He drew the sword in his own house and drove it into the wall so that he could find out whether his hand would carry through. Then he slew the powerful man. | Gospel of Thomas 98
28 So therefore, in order to become my disciple you must give up all your possessions. | Luke 14:33
29 Many are standing at the door, but it is the solitary who will enter the bridal chamber.” | Gospel of Thomas 75
The Parable of the Shared Loaf
30 Now all the tax collectors, sinners and outcasts were all drawing near to listen to him. | Luke 15:1
31 And the Pharisees and the scribes began to grumble and complain, “This man welcomes outcasts, sinners and eats with them.” | Luke 15:2
32 So Jesus told them this parable: | Luke 15:3
33 “Which one of you, having given their last denarii to the temple, is hungry and searches for a loaf of bread to eat until they find it. | Luke 15:4
34 And when they have found it, takes it to their neighbor who has nothing, rejoicing. | Luke 15:5
35 And the neighbor says, 'I know one who is sick and cannot leave their house. Come, let us bring this bread and eat together.' | Luke 15:6
36 Just so, I tell you, whenever two or three gather to care for the least among them, there my Father rejoices over them. | Luke 15:7
37 And I tell you, when the woman broke her bread and said 'come, let us eat together,' the angels in heaven leaned down to watch. | Luke 15:8
38 For as a lamp lights a dark room, so does one act of kindness illuminate what no words of faith can reach. | Luke 15:9
39 Even so, I tell you, there is rejoicing among the angels of heaven over one person who sees a need and acts, more than over a thousand who say Lord, Lord, and do nothing.” | Luke 15:10
The Parable of the Prodigal and His Brother
40 Then Jesus went onto say, “There was a certain man who had two sons. | Luke 15:11
41 and the younger son said to his father, ‘Father, give me my share of the inheritance that will belong to me.’ So the father divided his assets between them. | Luke 15:12
42 A few days later the younger son got together all he had and travelled to a distant country, and there he invested his wealth with a wise merchant. The investment prospered and from it's abundance the son helped the unfortunate to the best of his ability. | Luke 15:13
43 And a severe famine swept throughout that country, many had perished and begin to be in need. | Luke 15:14
44 The younger son now himself wise, used his merchant connections and brought in seed to sustain the poor and help work the fields. Overtime the land yielded an abundant harvest, so great that there was enough for all. | Luke 15:15
45 And those whom he had helped did not forget. And they said to him: ‘Thou hast been as a father to us in our affliction. Where you go, we will follow.’ | Luke 15:16
46 After some time, he said to himself, 'I will return to my fathers house, as it is only right for him to see how his portion helped the people. And I will bring with me those whom I have served, that my father may rejoice with us.’ | Luke 15:17
47 And together they took the road together toward his father's house. | Luke 15:18
48 And while he was still in the distance, his father saw them coming. He saw a company of men and women, some lean from the years of famine, some carrying children, all walking with him. | Luke 15:19
49 His father then saw this son and was deeply moved; he ran and put his arms around him and kissed him. And he looked upon those who had come with him and said: ‘These also are welcome in my house.’ | Luke 15:20
50 The son spoke to his father. ‘From what you had given me, I used it for others. I have brought them so you might see.’ | Luke 15:21
51 And the father wept, he said to his servants: ‘Bring forth the best robe and put it on my son. And prepare food and drink for all those who have come with him, for they are guests of this house. | Luke 15:22
52 And bring the fatted calf and slaughter it, and we shall eat and celebrate, | Luke 15:23
53 for this son of mine went out into the world and gave himself to the least of these. He was far from me, and yet he was never closer to my heart.’ And they began to celebrate. | Luke 15:24
54 Meanwhile the older son was working in the field, and as he approached the house, he heard music and saw dancing. | Luke 15:25
55 So he called one of the servants and inquired to what was going on. | Luke 15:26
56 ‘Your brother has returned,’ he said, ‘and your father has killed the fattened calf, because he has him back safe and sound.’ | Luke 15:27
57 The older son became very angry and refused to go in. Then his father came out and started to beg him. | Luke 15:28
58 But he answered his father, ‘Look, all these years I have served you and never disobeyed a commandment of yours. I climbed the ladder of the temple and I have become respected in their establishment. | Luke 15:29
59 But when this son of yours returns from squandering your wealth with the outcast and profane, you kill the fattened calf for him!’ | Luke 15:30
60 Then the father said to him, 'Son, you are always with me, and all that I have is yours. Yet you have sought righteousness before God while neglecting your fellow man. You have kept the law and climbed high, but the hungry nor naked did not know your name, and the prisoner never saw your face. | Luke 15:31
61 But it was right to celebrate and be glad, for your brother went out and did what the law was always meant to do. He fed the hungry, clothed the naked and raised up the fallen. And in doing so, he fulfilled more than you have kept. Now go and do likewise.’” | Luke 15:32