At a table, we share food, stories, burdens, and joy. At a table, masks come off and hearts open up. So it’s no surprise that Jesus often taught profound truths at a table—or while headed to one. Many times we invite those with whom we are comfortable to sit at our table.
Jesus turns that pattern upside down. He invites those who can’t repay, those overlooked or pushed aside, those who feel like outsiders. And ultimately, He invites us—broken, needy, and unable to repay His kindness—to sit at His table.
In Luke 14, Jesus challenges our instinct to invite only people who are easy, familiar, or beneficial to us. He pushes us to widen the circle. He invites us into Kingdom hospitality, a hospitality that reflects God’s heart rather than our comfort zones.
“When you give a luncheon or dinner, do not invite your friends, your brothers or sisters, your relatives, or your rich neighbors… But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, and you will be blessed.” — Luke 14:12–14