Parable of the Guests

7Now He began telling a parable to the invited guests when He noticed how they had been picking out the places of honor at the table, saying to them, 8“Whenever you are invited by someone to a wedding feast, do not take the place of honor, for someone more distinguished than you may have been invited by him, 9and the one who invited you both will come and say to you, ‘Give your place to this person,’ and then in disgrace you will proceed to occupy the last place. 10But whenever you are invited, go and take the last place, so that when the one who has invited you comes, he will say to you, ‘Friend, move up higher’; then you will have honor in the sight of all who are dining at the table with you. 11For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”

12Now He also went on to say to the one who had invited Him, “Whenever you give a luncheon or a dinner, do not invite your friends, your brothers, your relatives, nor wealthy neighbors, otherwise they may also invite you to a meal in return, and that will be your repayment. 13But whenever you give a banquet, invite people who are poor, who have disabilities, who are limping, and people who are blind; 14and you will be blessed, since they do not have the means to repay you; for you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.”