I have been meditating on this text for the past month and decided to write an article about it.
“When you give a dinner or a banquet, do not invite your friends or your brothers or your relatives or rich neighbors, lest they also invite you in return and you be repaid. 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 14:12-14)
In a world where relationships are often built on mutual benefit—where invitations, connections, and friendships can become transactions—Jesus’ words in Luke 14:12-14 disrupt the norm.
Jesus calls us to a radical way of living that moves beyond self-interest and into sacrificial love. The world conditions us to invest in relationships that will advance our social standing, career, or influence. But Jesus tells us to give, expecting nothing in return.
Moving beyond Transactional Relationships
Throughout history, societies have been built on a system of reciprocity—giving in expectation of receiving. The Roman Empire, for example, had a deeply ingrained culture of social climbing, where networking and gift-giving came with unwritten rules. Biblical scholar Joel B. Green notes that every exchange in Roman society was tied to obligation—favors were rarely given freely, and people of wealth and influence were never associated with the poor.
“Central to the political stability of the Empire was the ethics of reciprocity, a gift-and-obligation system that tied every person, from the emperor in Rome to the child in the most distance province, into an intricate web of social relations. … Gifts, by unwritten definition, were never “free,” but were given and received with either explicit or implicit strings attached.”
Jesus completely rejects this mindset. He does not just tell us to act humble to gain favor—He tells us to invest in people who can never repay us. This is a profound critique of our own world today, where relationships can be measured by what we gain from them.
How the Gospel Sets Us Free
Jesus calls us to love without expecting a return because of the resurrection. He assures us that the rewards of this life are nothing compared to what is to come. The love, joy, and fulfillment of eternity will far outweigh any sacrifice we make now. This frees us to love without conditions. We no longer need to seek validation from people because God fully loves us. We don’t have to fight for a position because we are secure in Christ. And we don’t need to worry about rewards because our treasure is in heaven.
How Should We Respond?
- Love People Who Cannot Repay You.
Seek out relationships where you give without expecting a return. Befriend those who are overlooked, serve those in need, and invest in people with nothing to offer back. - Invite the Marginalized into Your Life
True hospitality isn’t about entertaining important guests—it’s about opening our homes and hearts to forgotten ones. Who in your community is lonely? Who is struggling? Love them as Jesus does. - Examine Your Motivations
Are you forming relationships based on what you can get? Do you only serve when it benefits you? The gospel calls us to a love that mirrors Jesus’—one that gives freely, even to those who may never return the favor.
“Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.” (Philippians 2:3)
“Freely you have received; freely give.” (Matthew 10:8)
Jesus redefines what it means to love. He invites us away from a world of social climbing into a kingdom where love is given, not traded. May we be people who give, serve, and love—without counting the cost, because we know our true reward is in Him.