Study Desk

Now 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,

And he put forth a parable to those which were bidden, when he marked how they chose out the chief rooms; saying unto them.

"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,

When thou art bidden of any man to a wedding, sit not down in the highest room; lest a more honourable man than thou be bidden of him;

and 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.

And he that bade thee and him come and say to thee, Give this man place; and thou begin with shame to take the lowest room.

"But 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.

But when thou art bidden, go and sit down in the lowest room; that when he that bade thee cometh, he may say unto thee, Friend, go up higher: then shalt thou have worship in the presence of them that sit at meat with thee.

"For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and the one who humbles himself will be exalted."

For whosoever exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.

Now 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.

Then 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.

"But whenever you give a banquet, invite people who are poor, who have disabilities, who are limping, and people who are blind;

But when thou makest a feast, call the poor, the maimed, the lame, the blind:

and 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."

And thou shalt be blessed; for they cannot recompense thee: for thou shalt be recompensed at the resurrection of the just.