In this passage we learn that Jesus is going to battle with the culture of reciprocity. A culture that tries to win favor with neighbors and influential people so that favors might be reciprocated. Instead, Jesus says that we are to invite people into our homes and hearts that cannot reciprocate. Jesus says: "But when you have a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, and the blind."
When we live
outside of the culture of reciprocity — the culture of back
scratching — Jesus calls us blessed. He says that we are blessed
when people cannot repay us. That when we give of ourselves — and
we give to those who cannot repay us — that we are blessed. We are
blessed by who we sit with and we are blessed by the God who repays.
And this is the
kicker — the blessing is found in the God who repays. It says at the end of verse 14: “for you will
be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.” God is the one
who is on the repayment side of the equation. This is God's
responsibility — and this is God's good work. That Jesus has
called us blessed when we surrender our all to him — and allow
Jesus to use us for his glory in the earth.
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