Luke 14:12 - Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible

When thou makest a dinner, &c.— "By no means confine thy hospitality to thy rich relations, acquaintance and neighbours, or to them chiefly, lest the whole of thy reward be an invitation from them to a like entertainment;" for that the text here, as in some other instances, impliesthe addition of the particle only, appears from this, that our Lord cannot be supposed to exclude entirely from the entertainments of the rich, all those who are not objects of charity; or to forbid every sort of expence, which has not the poor for its immediate object. His going to entertainments frequently, as well as his suffering himself to be anointed with precious ointments, shews plainly that the obligations we are under of being charitable to the poor, does not hinder us from doing honour to those whom we esteem, though it should be attended with some expence. It is very apparent that the word rich refers not merely to neighbours, but also to the kindred, and other persons who are mentioned with them. For if these were in low circumstances, their being related to them was an argument why they should be regarded, rather than neglected. It is probable, that our Lord observed in the Pharisees a habit of making magnificent feasts, and of treating the great as well as their equals out of pride, ambition, and ostentation; which might render this advice peculiarly proper, especially if he who now gave the entertainment was, as many of his brethren certainly were, very deficient in works of charity.