“BLESSING THE POWERLESS”

“But when you give a feast, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, and you will be blessed, because they cannot repay you. For you will be repaid at the resurrection of the just.”

Luke 14:13-14

I’ve only been here a month, but as far as I am concerned, Canadians are hospitable people. The families, whose homes we’ve visited, I must say that they have excellent hosting skills. They made sure their homes were clean, the food was fresh, and the conversations were great.

The Philippines, the country from where I come, is also known for its people’s hospitality. We try our best to make our guests feel comfortable and homey.  But this tradition has a specific backdrop: “now it’s my turn; next time it’s yours.” There’s this particular assumption that because we invited people in our homes, they should return the favor and ask us in theirs. To some, that’s not a big deal, but to others, that’s pressure enough.

The same was the trend in Jewish culture. Today’s verse took place during a feast at the home of one of the rulers of the Pharisees (Luke 14:1), where Jesus was invited. It so happened that there was a man with dropsy in the house whom Jesus healed. The Lord also noticed how the guests chose the places of honor, causing Him to teach them a lesson about humility.

Jesus knew why the host invited his guests: (1) to return a favor (2) to coerce his guests to do the same. This kind of hospitality cannot be understood as an expression of love and grace, but a proof of one’s pride and selfishness (Wiersbe). This deed is a crafty way of gaining recognition among the elite and celebrities.

The text implies that Jesus does not condemn hosting parties for families and friends but warns us against exclusive parties for them. The Lord is condemning the attitude of doing good for the sake of a tangible, temporal reward. We must also understand that good works performed to gain God’s approval are equally evil because they demonstrate a self-seeking attitude.

Jesus taught the people at the feast to do something their culture prohibited: inviting the poor, the disabled, the lame, and the blind. They were the ones considered “unclean” and were banned from participating in religious services. They were the outcasts of the community who had no power to return the favor. Jesus’ promised that inviting such people guarantees a blessing because it is a way of ministering to them for the Lord’s sake and not our own. 

This act is an example of laying up treasures in heaven (Matthew 6:20), and the promise of reward will be given at the judgment seat of Christ (2 Corinthians 5:10).

Sharing one’s blessings to family and friends is a noble act, but it’s what’s expected of anyone, including unbelievers. As members of God’s family, we are to go the extra mile and consider caring for those who cannot care for themselves. There are people out there trying so hard just to get their hands on their next meal. Sometimes, they even rummage the trash bins, hoping to get a “tasty” leftover for lunch.

In the eyes of God, no one is an outcast (Psalm 99:4); He is kind to both believers and unbelievers (Matthew 5:45), and He plays no favorites (Romans 2:11). However, His heart is close to the brokenhearted and saves the spiritually crushed (Psalm 34:18). As His children, we are to follow the example of our Father. Therefore, let’s find opportunities to bless the powerless.

Pursue the Saviour today!