Introduction Jesus was fond of parables. He told earthly stories to illustrate heavenly truths. In this passage of Scripture Jesus is still at a feast, a party being thrown by the chief Pharisee (v.1). Jesus has used the opportunity of the party or feast to discuss some important issues that grieved his holy heart. Jesus told them not to ignore the needy (vv.1-6); refuse personal honor (vv.7-11); do things and don t expect to be repaid (vv.12-14). Jesus reminded them in verse 14; and you will be blessed, because they cannot repay you; for you shall be repaid at the resurrection of the just. God s kingdom is coming. God s reward is coming with him. Apparently one of the Pharisees at the party-hearing this was compelled to say, Blessed is he who shall eat bread in the kingdom of God! Jesus uses the statement as an occasion to address some misunderstandings about the Kingdom of God. He likens it to a great supper or banquet or feast. This great supper will include not just Jews but Gentiles. For those who believe heaven is an exclusive club with only people from their denomination, Jesus reminds them God s goal is to save everyone willing to be saved, from every tribe, every tongue, and nation. Jesus goes about correcting the view that heaven is an exclusive place only for observant Jews. I suspect the parable applies to the Jewish people in verses 16-22 and to the Gentiles in verses 23-24. But the parable has a strong message for both Jew and Gentile, all people. God is planning a great supper where all who accept His invitation will be gathered together. Once the guest list is filled, time will be no more; and all things will come to a crashing and dramatic halt. The doors to His banquet hall will be closed forever. In order for us to understand this passage of scripture we must have some understanding of expectations in the first century about what the kingdom of God, the kingdom of Messiah would be like. Many religious Jews pictured the Kingdom of God as a future feast where people like Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses and the prophets were the honored guests. Isaiah 25:6 (NKJV); And in this mountain The Lord of hosts will make for all people A feast of choice pieces, A feast of wines on the lees, Of fat things full of marrow, Of well-refined wines on the lees. In the Christian culture we say things like, won t heaven be great? I will see you here, there, or in the air! I ll see you on the other side. Tragically there are people who believe they will go to heaven simply because they are religious, or because they believe in God, or because they are at least better the worst person they know! One of the greatest mistakes a person can make is to assume they are in the kingdom of God when in fact they are not. This parable in part is about an invitation to a great feast, a great supper. I believe it illustrates the great invitation of salvation that God extends to the world through Jesus Christ the Lord. The parable also addresses the person who is extended the invitation but then makes excuses why he cannot participate in the future festivities. We all receive invitations to parties, weddings to grand occasions. Once in my life I was invited to be a part of delegation that was to meet with the President of the United States with a group of radio broadcasters. The week I was to leave for Washington D.C. we were hit by one of the biggest snow storms in decades. The airports were paralyzed. I could not go. I was bitterly disappointed. What invitations are 1
important to you? Which invitations do you feel you can politely decline? God issues the ultimate invitation freedom from sin, freedom in Christ, freedom from the consequences of hell and death; God issues an invitation for peace, redemption, forgiveness and future in Christ. What excuse can be given to reject such an offer? Some Considerations Concerning Invitations (vv.15-17) Luke 14:15 (NKJV); Now when one of those who sat at the table with Him heard these things, he said to Him, Blessed is he who shall eat bread in the kingdom of God! 16 Then He said to him, A certain man gave a great supper and invited many, 17 and sent his servant at supper time to say to those who were invited, Come, for all things are now ready. Warren Wiersbe explains: In Jesus day when you invited guests to a dinner, you told them the day but not the exact hour of the meal. A host had to know how many guests were coming so he could butcher the right amount of animals and prepare sufficient food. Just before the feast was to begin, the host sent his servants to each of the guests to tell them the banquet was ready and they should come (see Es.5:8; 6:14). In other words, each of the guests in this parable had already agreed to attend the banquet. The host expected them to be there (TBEC; Vol. 1; p.230). I suspect the Pharisee was right to think of the Kingdom of God like a great feast or banquet. I suspect the invited guests are those whom God has revealed the Kingdom secrets the Jewish people. God extended a covenant of salvation to the Jewish nation. Exodus 6:7 (NKJV); I will take you as My people, and I will be your God. Then you shall know that I am the Lord your God who brings you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians. Jeremiah 7:23 (NKJV); But this is what I commanded them, saying, Obey My voice, and I will be your God, and you shall be My people. And walk in all the ways that I have commanded you, that it may be well with you. In the story Jesus has the master s servant say (v.16b), Come, for all things are now ready. God at great personal expense has purchased your freedom. Jesus Christ came to the earth to fulfill all righteous and be the substitute for your sin. The provision for salvation has been secured and is waiting for the guests to respond to God s gracious invitation of salvation. In verse 16 Jesus says the man gave a supper and invited many. We are not told how many but many probably means a lot. The people who hear the gospel in churches, in homes, in stores, on the radio, on television; from believers who minister the gospel to the unbelieving; gospel literature, through creation and conscience God speaks. The invitation is extended and given over and over again. One of the key concepts you must understand about this parable is the idea that all the people invited had in fact accepted the invitation in advance. Sure I will come. 2
Perhaps you believe in God, you even believe in Jesus. Your parents, your pastor, your personal friend has told you about Jesus, how to know Him and love Him, they told you the story of the death of Jesus for your sins; His resurrection from the dead. They have made a confession, they have made a profession, but when push comes to shove they have made no preparation, they are not really ready to attend, they refuse to clean up put on their wedding garments and go to the feast. Matthew 22:14 (NKJV) For many are called, but few are chosen. Titus 1:16 (NKJV);16 They profess to know God, but in works they deny Him, being abominable, disobedient, and disqualified for every good work. Some Consequences Concerning Excuses (vv.18-21a) Luke 14:18-19 (NKJV); But they all with one accord began to make excuses. The first said to him, I have bought a piece of ground, and I must go and see it. I ask you to have me excused. 19 And another said, I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I am going to test them. I ask you to have me excused. As Jesus is telling the story the religious leaders and all the guests would have known what a great insult had taken place. On the surface the excuses might seem plausible even defensible, but they are not. A rationalization is a plausible but untrue excuse of why we do what we do! I read where a person called into work with this excuse; Sorry Boss, I can t come into work today...my spirit guide says work is for losers. Another person called into work and told them she had amnesia and wasn t even sure if she worked there to be calling in sick! Another person said, I m calling in blind just can t see myself working for you today! One person had this excuse, I was taking a shower and I drop the soap, as I reached down to pick it up, I slipped an fell in the shower, which caused me to bust my lip twist my ankle, strain my back, stub my finger, and I got soap in my eyes! The first guest bows out because he says, I have bought a piece of property and I must go and see it! What? In the world of Jesus purchasing a piece of property was a long and complicated process. Just like now! You have real estate agents, you have lenders, you have contingencies, you have inspections. The man would have plenty of opportunities to go and inspect the property. Most banquets or feasts were held in the evening, the man probably had only a little time to inspect the property, the sun was setting the feast was at hand! The man s excuse... I have business. Do you allow business to take the place of God in your life? The second man s excuse is I just bought a used car I mean a team of oxen. Who buys a used car and doesn t take it to Freeway Ford for a thorough inspection? The man can t buy a team of oxen and not take them out for a test drive right? His statement and I am going to test them seems to indicate right now the servant was on his way to tell him all is ready and the man says to late I m on my way to test drive my team of oxen. The number is oddly important five oxen means he had considerable property 3
and almost certainly someone worked for him. The man is wrapped up in acquisitions, mergers, purchases. Luke 14:20 (NKJV); Still another said, I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come. The third quest s excuse is no excuse at all. Look man, I m married. Jewish weddings were never a surprise. They were long, drawn out complicated events that required much planning. The man knew well in advance he was getting married why in the world would he accept an invitation to a great feast knowing he could never make good on the obligation? The man s excuse? I focus on the family. Family is more important than any previous commitment or obligation. Even if the commitment is to God? They are excuses. Billy Sunday called an excuse the skin of a reason stuffed with a lie. Charlie Peacock wrote a song called I want to be in the light popularized by DC Talk. In the song, he writes; I am the King of excuses. I have one for every selfish thing I do. What s going on inside me? I despise my own behavior. This only serves to confirm my suspicion, I m still a man in need of a Savior. Are you ready to invite Jesus into your life? Why? My friend Bill Fay has a top ten list of excuses. 1. I m not ready. 2. My friends will think I m crazy if I accept Jesus. 3. What about my family? 4. I ve done too many bad things. 5. I m having too much fun. 6. Why does God let bad things happen? 7. There are many paths to God. 8. There are too many religions in the world. 9. I ve always believed in God. 10. There are too many hypocrites in the church. These three guests actually expected to receive a rain-check. We will get another invitation somewhere down the road. The invitation would not come a second time. Some Compensation For Unlikely Candidates (vv.21b-24) Luke 14:21b-24 (NKJV); Then the master of the house, being angry, said to his servant, Go out quickly into the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in here the poor and the maimed and the lame and the blind. 22 And the servant said, Master, it is done as you commanded, and still there is room. 23 Then the master said to the servant, Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled. 24 For I say to you that none of those men who were invited shall taste my supper. The master is angry. There is no real reason to refuse such a fine feast. The guests showed contempt for the huge expense. People show apathy, indifference, contempt for the enormous cost God paid to purchase redemption. They showed contempt in the fact 4
that they tried to deceive the Lord. They accepted the first invitation but made no attempt to dress properly or arrive on time. In his anger the master said to the servant, Go out quickly into the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in here the poor and the maimed and the lame and the blind. Why? They have no excuse. The poor cannot afford oxen, the blind cannot read the Judean Multiple Listing Service, or see real estate and the poor, the maimed, the lame and the blind usually weren t married no one would have them. These people would be hungry and lonely and all too happy to accept an invitation for free food. To invite these people was unthinkable and unheard of. The Lord s supper will take place. The servant was told to leave the homes of the rich, the selfish, the self-sufficient. He was to go outside the circle of the so called solid citizens of religious righteousness and care about the people no one else cared for. Oddly enough the master will get proper clothes for the improperly clothed, for the blind he will guide them and direct them. Yet even the poor and the blind and the maimed reject the offer some because of pride or bitterness, some because they are too ashamed or self-centered, absorbed in self pity. People will sometimes say to me, you don t understand, a Christian hurt me, wounded me, Christians are rude to me, they are always trying to convert me! Typically I will say, I m sorry. Will you accept on apology by me, on their behalf? You and Jesus agree that anger and bitterness are not the answer. By the way, to you who is Jesus? Look again at verses 22 and 23 Master, it is done as you commanded, and still there is room. Then the master said to the servant, Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come it, that my house may be filled. The Lord demands a re-doubling of the effort pull out the stops make every effort to invite anyone everyone. I suspect the passage meant the Gentiles, or the greatest sinners imaginable. The Lord says compel them. This does not mean put a knife to their throat or chains to their body or a gun to their head. We compel by reason and love, preaching and persuasion, by the power of the Holy Spirit. 2 Corinthians 5:11 (NKJV); Knowing, therefore, the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are well known to God, and I also trust are well known in your consciences. Conclusion Please don t miss the final words of Jesus in the story For I say to you that none of those men who were invited shall taste my supper. 5
God will change His mind about me. Even though I lived a life of refusal and rebellion God will give me one last chance. There is no second chance. It is appointed once for man to die and then the judgment. Mark 10:15 (NKJV); Assuredly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will by no means enter it. The story is clear. The host gave the positions to those initially invited to someone else. But he also shut the door on the excuse makers so they could not change their minds and come in. In fact the host was angry. We rarely think of God expressing judicial anger against those who reject His gracious invitations, but verses like Isaiah 55:6 and Proverbs 1:24-33 give a solemn warning that we not treat His calls lightly (TBEC; Vol.1; p.231). Isaiah 55:6 (NKJV); Seek the Lord while He may be found, Call upon Him while He is near. The message to all lost sinners is repent, all things are ready. Come to Christ. There is nothing left to do for the salvation of your soul you must receive Jesus Christ. You must accept His invitation. The feast is ready. The invitation is free. You are invited to come. Many people make the same mistake today as in the parable. They find an excuse. They settle for something good and refuse something great. They settle for second best. There is nothing wrong with owning a farm, buying real estate, examining your purchases or a quiet evening at home with your new bride. But if good things, keep you from the best thing then they become bad things. Revelation 19:7-9 (NKJV);7 Let us be glad and rejoice and give Him glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has made herself ready. 8 And to her it was granted to be arrayed in fine linen, clean and bright, for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints. 9 Then he said to me, Write: Blessed are those who are called to the marriage supper of the Lamb! And he said to me, These are the true sayings of God. 6