Luke 14: A Seat at the Table

At a Pharisee's house, Jesus heals a man on the Sabbath and teaches guests to take the lowest seat. He says to invite the poor, the crippled, the lame and the blind. In the parable of the great banquet, the master fills his house with people who were not first invited. Jesus teaches that following Him means counting the cost.

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Read Luke 14

World English Bible · 35 verses

¹ When he went into the house of one of the rulers of the Pharisees on a Sabbath to eat bread, they were watching him.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
² Behold, a certain man who had dropsy was in front of him.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
³ Jesus, answering, spoke to the lawyers and Pharisees, saying, “Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?”This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁴ But they were silent. He took him, and healed him, and let him go.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁵ He answered them, “Which of you, if your son or an ox fell into a well, wouldn’t immediately pull him out on a Sabbath day?”This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁶ They couldn’t answer him regarding these things.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁷ He spoke a parable to those who were invited, when he noticed how they chose the best seats, and said to them,This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁸ “When you are invited by anyone to a wedding feast, don’t sit in the best seat, since perhaps someone more honorable than you might be invited by him,This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁹ and he who invited both of you would come and tell you, ‘Make room for this person.’ Then you would begin, with shame, to take the lowest place.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹⁰ But when you are invited, go and sit in the lowest place, so that when he who invited you comes, he may tell you, ‘Friend, move up higher.’ Then you will be honored in the presence of all who sit at the table with you.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹¹ For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.”This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹² He also said to the one who had invited him, “When you make a dinner or a supper, don’t call your friends, nor your brothers, nor your kinsmen, nor rich neighbors, or perhaps they might also return the favor, and pay you back.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹³ But when you make a feast, ask the poor, the maimed, the lame, or the blind;This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹⁴ and you will be blessed, because they don’t have the resources to repay you. For you will be repaid in the resurrection of the righteous.”This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹⁵ When one of those who sat at the table with him heard these things, he said to him, “Blessed is he who will feast in God’s Kingdom!”This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹⁶ But he said to him, “A certain man made a great supper, and he invited many people.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹⁷ He sent out his servant at supper time to tell those who were invited, ‘Come, for everything is ready now.’This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹⁸ They all as one began to make excuses. “The first said to him, ‘I have bought a field, and I must go and see it. Please have me excused.’This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹⁹ “Another said, ‘I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I must go try them out. Please have me excused.’This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
²⁰ “Another said, ‘I have married a wife, and therefore I can’t come.’This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
²¹ “That servant came, and told his lord these things. Then the master of the house, being angry, said to his servant, ‘Go out quickly into the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in the poor, maimed, blind, and lame.’This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
²² “The servant said, ‘Lord, it is done as you commanded, and there is still room.’This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
²³ “The lord said to the servant, ‘Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
²⁴ For I tell you that none of those men who were invited will taste of my supper. For many are called, but few are chosen.’”This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
²⁵ Now great multitudes were going with him. He turned and said to them,This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
²⁶ “If anyone comes to me, and doesn’t disregard his own father, mother, wife, children, brothers, and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he can’t be my disciple.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
²⁷ Whoever doesn’t bear his own cross and come after me, can’t be my disciple.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
²⁸ For which of you, desiring to build a tower, doesn’t first sit down and count the cost, to see if he has enough to complete it?This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
²⁹ Or perhaps, when he has laid a foundation and isn’t able to finish, everyone who sees begins to mock him,This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
³⁰ saying, ‘This man began to build and wasn’t able to finish.’This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
³¹ Or what king, as he goes to encounter another king in war, will not sit down first and consider whether he is able with ten thousand to meet him who comes against him with twenty thousand?This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
³² Or else, while the other is yet a great way off, he sends an envoy and asks for conditions of peace.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
³³ So therefore, whoever of you who doesn’t renounce all that he has, he can’t be my disciple.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
³⁴ “Salt is good, but if the salt becomes flat and tasteless, with what do you season it?This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
³⁵ It is fit neither for the soil nor for the manure pile. It is thrown out. He who has ears to hear, let him hear.”This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.

Scripture: World English Bible, public domain, eBible.org

Worksheets

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Open Preschool on its own page

Luke 14 · Preschool

Everyone Is Invited

Name Date

Color the picture. Point to the table and the guests.

Can you find these in the picture? Circle each one!

Bible Verse

“But when you make a feast, ask the poor, the maimed, the lame, or the blind;”

Luke 14:13 (WEB)

Prayer

Thank You, God, for making me!

Take It Home

Read the verse aloud. Ask: Who can we invite and be kind to?

Open Grade 4 on its own page

Luke 14 · Grade 4

Humble Hearts

Name Date

Read and Think

Jesus was invited to a meal at a Pharisee's home. A man with a swelling illness was there. Jesus asked if it was right to heal on the Sabbath, but no one answered. He healed the man and sent him away. Then He watched the guests rush for the best seats. He taught that the humble will be lifted up, but the proud will be brought low.

Jesus told the host to invite people who could never pay him back. That is how God gives His grace. Then a guest said how blessed it would be to eat in God's Kingdom. Jesus answered with a parable. A man invited many people to a feast, but they all made excuses. So he invited the poor, crippled, blind and lame, and even people from the roads and hedges. God's feast will be full.

As crowds followed Jesus, He told them to count the cost. A builder plans before building a tower. A king thinks before going to war. Following Jesus means loving Him above everything, even family and our own life.

Show What You Know

What did Jesus do for the man with the swelling illness?
What happens to the humble and the proud?
Who was invited to the feast after the first guests refused?
What do the tower builder and king teach?

Word Bank Fill-In

Use the word bank to fill in each blank.

humbleGodinviteseatsfeast

Then He watched the guests rush for the best .
He taught that the will be lifted up, but the proud will be brought low.
Jesus told the host to people who could never pay him back.
That is how gives His grace.
A man invited many people to a , but they all made excuses.

Think About It

Jesus taught us to take the lower seat. Where could you put others first this week?
What excuses do people make for not coming to Jesus? What helps you say yes to Him?

Memory Verse

For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.”

Luke 14:11 (WEB)

Copy It

Prayer

Dear God, thank You for this Bible story. Help me to . Amen.

Take It Home

For families: talk about these together.

How can you be humble at home, at church, or with friends?
What is hard about choosing Jesus over other things?
Who could you include this week who usually gets left out?

Open Grade 5 on its own page

Luke 14 · Grade 5

Counting the Cost

Name Date

Read and Think

Luke 14 takes place mostly at a dinner table. The Pharisees were watching Jesus closely. He healed a man and asked which of them would not pull a son or an ox out of a well on the Sabbath. They could not answer. He then noticed guests grabbing the best seats. He taught that in God's Kingdom, everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.

Jesus told His host to invite the poor and disabled, who could not repay him. When one guest spoke of the blessing of eating in God's Kingdom, Jesus told the parable of the great banquet. The invited guests gave excuses about fields, oxen and marriage. Those things were not bad, but they put them ahead of the master's invitation. So the master filled his house with people from the streets, lanes, highways and hedges. God's grace goes out to those who know they need it.

Jesus then turned to the crowds following Him. He said no one can be His disciple unless He comes first, even before family and before one's own life. A disciple must carry his cross. Like a builder estimating the cost of a tower, or a king weighing a battle, we should understand that following Jesus means giving Him everything. Salt that loses its saltiness is useless.

Show What You Know

What question about the Sabbath could the Pharisees not answer?
Why were the guests' excuses wrong?
Whom did the master invite after the guests refused?
What does the banquet show about God's grace?
What do the builder and king examples teach?

Crossword

Across

Jesus said to invite the ____ to a party.
What the first guests made.
The guests picked the best ____.

Down

Jesus said to pick the ____ seat.
Poor people came to it instead.
God lifts up the ____.

Think About It

Jesus said He must come before everything. What is something that competes with Jesus for first place in your heart?
How can your family welcome people who are often left out?

Memory Verse

For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.”

Luke 14:11 (WEB)

Copy It

Prayer

Dear God, thank You for this Bible story. Help me to . Amen.

Take It Home

For families: talk about these together.

Jesus said the humble will be lifted up. What does being humble look like at home, at church, or with friends?
What excuses keep you from putting God first?
Why is Jesus worth more to you than anything else?

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Luke 14: A Seat at the Table

Read Luke 14

Worksheets

Everyone Is Invited

Prayer

Take It Home

Be Humble

Trace the Words

Match the Pictures

Mini Maze

Draw It

Prayer

Take It Home

A Seat at the Table

Trace the Words

Match the Pictures

Put the Story in Order

Prayer

Take It Home

Come to the Feast

Read the Story

Show What You Know

Word Search

Prayer

Take It Home

The Great Banquet

Read the Story

Answer the Questions

Put the Story in Order

Prayer

Take It Home

Humble Hearts

Read and Think

Show What You Know

Word Bank Fill-In

Think About It

Copy It

Prayer

Take It Home

Counting the Cost

Read and Think

Show What You Know

Crossword

Think About It

Copy It

Prayer

Take It Home

More print options