Luke 14:12
What does Luke 14:12 mean?
A plain-English look at Luke 14:12 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Luke 14:12 means
Turning to the host, Jesus challenges conventional hospitality. Do not invite only friends, family, or rich neighbors who can repay you with a return invitation. Kingdom hospitality is not a social investment strategy. Jesus is not outlawing ordinary meals with loved ones; He is exposing motives that seek payback and prestige. True generosity mirrors God’s grace: it flows to those who cannot reciprocate. Such giving trusts God for reward rather than social networks. By aiming at the heart, Jesus recasts the dinner table as a place of mercy, not manipulation—a foretaste of God’s feast where the unworthy and needy are welcomed.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000And he said to him also that had bidden him, When thou makest a dinner or a supper, call not thy friends, nor thy brethren, nor thy kinsmen, nor rich neighbors; lest haply they also bid thee again, and a recompense be made thee.
KJV
King James Version · 1611Then said he also to him that bade him, When thou makest a dinner or a supper, call not thy friends, nor thy brethren, neither thy kinsmen, nor thy rich neighbours; lest they also bid thee again, and a recompence be made thee.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901And he said to him also that had bidden him, When thou makest a dinner or a supper, call not thy friends, nor thy brethren, nor thy kinsmen, nor rich neighbors; lest haply they also bid thee again, and a recompense be made thee.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949And he said to the master of the house, When you give a feast, do not send for your friends and your brothers and your family or your neighbours who have wealth, for they may give a feast for you, and so you will get a reward.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862And he said also to him who did call him, `When thou mayest make a dinner or a supper, be not calling thy friends, nor thy brethren, nor thy kindred, nor rich neighbours, lest they may also call thee again, and a recompense may come to thee;
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752And he said to him also that had invited him: When thou makest a dinner or a supper, call not thy friends nor thy brethren nor thy kinsmen nor thy neighbours who are rich; lest perhaps they also invite thee again, and a recompense be made to thee.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890And he said also to him that had invited him, When thou makest a dinner or a supper, call not thy friends, nor thy brethren, nor thy kinsfolk, nor rich neighbours, lest it may be they also should invite thee in return, and a recompense be made thee.
Context
The shift from guests to host extends the humility theme into generosity. Verses 13–14 will specify whom to invite—the poor, maimed, lame, and blind—and promise blessing at the resurrection. This counters the dominant culture of reciprocity and sets up the parable of the Great Supper, where similar categories of people fill the master’s house. The flow shows that Jesus’ critique of honor-seeking spills into the way we use resources, anticipating the gracious scope of God’s kingdom invitation and the accountability of those who refuse it.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Proverbs 14:20
The poor is hated even of his own neighbor; But the rich hath many friends.
- Luke 1:53
The hungry he hath filled with good things; And the rich he hath sent empty away.
- Zechariah 7:5
Speak unto all the people of the land, and to the priests, saying, When ye fasted and mourned in the fifth and in the seventh month, even these seventy years, did ye at all fast unto me, even to me?
- Matthew 6:1
Take heed that ye do not your righteousness before men, to be seen of them: else ye have no reward with your Father who is in heaven.
- Proverbs 22:16
He that oppresseth the poor to increase his gain, Andhe that giveth to the rich, shall come only to want.
- Matthew 5:46
For if ye love them that love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same?
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