Parable of the Wedding Feast: Verse, Meaning & Lesson

The Parable of the Wedding Feast is in Luke 14:7–14. Jesus told this parable to teach modesty and to consider others before oneself in the eyes of God.

This guide gives you a complete summary of the Parable of the Wedding Feast, including the verses in Scripture, the meaning, and lessons that can be applied to the Christian life.

Parable of the Wedding Feast In Scripture

Luke 14:7–14 – Parable of the Wedding Feast

⁷He spoke a parable to those who were invited, when he noticed how they chose the best seats, and said to them, ⁸ “When you are invited by anyone to a wedding feast, don’t sit in the best seat, since perhaps someone more honourable than you might be invited by him, 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. 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 honoured in the presence of all who sit at the table with you. ¹¹ For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.”

¹²He 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 neighbours, or perhaps they might also return the favour, and pay you back. ¹³ But when you make a feast, ask the poor, the maimed, the lame, or the blind; 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.”

Read Luke 14

Parable of the Wedding Feast Meaning

This parable means that true honor comes from humility and serving those who cannot repay you, as opposed to seeking status and recognition from others. Jesus used this metaphor to convey that those who seek to elevate themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.

Parable of the Wedding Feast Lessons

Humility in Social Situations

This parable teaches that seeking honor for oneself can lead to embarrassment and that it’s better to take a humble position and be invited to move up, rather than assume a place of honor and be asked to step down.

God’s Invitation to the Humble

The main lesson is that it illustrates that God honors those who are humble. The principle of being exalted by God when one is humble is a key theme in Jesus’ teachings and the Kingdom of God.

Generosity Without Expectation

By advising to invite the poor, crippled, lame, and blind to feasts—those who cannot repay—the parable encourages generosity without the expectation of reciprocity, reflecting the grace of God’s Kingdom. As Christians, we should be looking for ways to serve the less fortunate without expecting anything in return.

Blessings for the Generous

Another lesson from the parable is that it promises blessings for those who show kindness to the less fortunate, suggesting that true rewards come not from earthly recognition but from God’s acknowledgment in the resurrection of the righteous.

The Wedding Feast as a Metaphor for the Kingdom

The imagery of the wedding feast is used to represent the Kingdom of God, indicating that it is a celebration to which all are invited, but especially those who might not be considered worthy by societal standards or personal history. Jesus teaches that the Kingdom of God subverts worldly expectations and values, emphasizing humility, grace, and the joyous celebration that awaits those who respond to God’s gracious call. It’s a powerful reminder of the transformative nature of God’s love and the inclusive community He is building.

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Summary of the Parable of the Wedding Feast

We hope you enjoyed this summary of the Parable of the Wedding Feast.

As you discovered, the Parable of the Wedding Feast appears in Luke 14:7–14. And the primary meaning of the parable is that true honor comes from humility and serving those who cannot repay you, as opposed to seeking status and recognition from others. The life lessons include showing humility in social situations, God honors the humble, having generosity without expectation, the generous will be blessed, and the Kingdom of God is available to all; even those not considered to be worthy by societal standards.

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