Parable of the Guests

7 And He began speaking a parable to the invited guests when He noticed how athey had been picking out the places of honor at the table, saying to them,

8 “When you are invited by someone to a wedding feast, ado not 1take the place of honor, for someone more distinguished than you may have been invited by him,

9 and he who invited you both will come and say to you, ‘Give your place to this man,’ and then ain disgrace you 1proceed to occupy the last place.

10 “But when you are invited, go and recline at the last place, so that when the one who has invited you comes, he may say to you, ‘Friend, amove up higher’; then you will have honor in the sight of all who 1are at the table with you.

11 “aFor everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”

12 And He also went on to say to the one who had invited Him, “When you give a luncheon or a dinner, do not invite your friends or your brothers or your relatives or rich neighbors, otherwise they may also invite you in return and that will be your repayment.

13 “But when you give a 1reception, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind,

14 and you will be blessed, since they 1do not have the means to repay you; for you will be repaid at athe resurrection of the righteous.”