Common English Bible

Luke 14:3-17 Common English Bible (CEB)

3. Jesus asked the lawyers and Pharisees, "Does the Law allow healing on the Sabbath or not?"

4. But they said nothing. Jesus took hold of the sick man, cured him, and then let him go.

5. He said to them, "Suppose your child or ox fell into a ditch on the Sabbath day. Wouldn’t you immediately pull it out?"

6. But they had no response.

7. When Jesus noticed how the guests sought out the best seats at the table, he told them a parable.

8. "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.

9. 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.

10. 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.

11. All who lift themselves up will be brought low, and those who make themselves low will be lifted up."

12. 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.

13. Instead, when you give a banquet, invite the poor, crippled, lame, and blind.

14. And you will be blessed because they can’t repay you. Instead, you will be repaid when the just are resurrected."

15. When one of the dinner guests heard Jesus’ remarks, he said to Jesus, "Happy are those who will feast in God’s kingdom."

16. Jesus replied, "A certain man hosted a large dinner and invited many people.

17. When it was time for the dinner to begin, he sent his servant to tell the invited guests, ‘Come! The dinner is now ready.’