Day 72

Luke 14:15–24 (NIV)

¹⁵ When one of those at the table with him heard this, he said to Jesus, “Blessed is the man who will eat at the feast in the kingdom of God.” ¹⁶ Jesus replied: “A certain man was preparing a great banquet and invited many guests. ¹⁷ At the time of the banquet he sent his servant to tell those who had been invited, ‘Come, for everything is now ready.’ ¹⁸ “But they all alike began to make excuses. The first said, ‘I have just bought a field, and I must go and see it. Please excuse me.’ ¹⁹ “Another said, ‘I have just bought five yoke of oxen, and I’m on my way to try them out. Please excuse me.’ ²⁰ “Still another said, ‘I just got married, so I can’t come.’

²¹ “The servant came back and reported this to his master. Then the owner of the house became angry and ordered his servant, ‘Go out quickly into the streets and alleys of the town and bring in the poor, the crippled, the blind and the lame.’ ²² “ ‘Sir,’ the servant said, ‘what you ordered has been done, but there is still room.’ ²³ “Then the master told his servant, ‘Go out to the roads and country lanes and make them come in, so that my house will be full. ²⁴ I tell you, not one of those men who were invited will get a taste of my banquet.’ ”

Pray for God to show you something to use from the passage

Read the Passage

Who is in the passage?

What action verbs do you see?

What other words stick out in your mind

Questions

What is wrong with the excuses given by those who had earlier said they would come?

If you are the servant doing the inviting, would you go to the places that the master wants him to? Do we when we share the gospel?

What is Jesus’ point in inviting those not well to do? (remember yesterday’s story 12-14)

Notes

vs 15 One of the Pharisees perhaps trying to find connection with Jesus makes the point of looking forward to the great banquet of Heaven (Isa 25:6)

Jesus takes the opportunity to once again try to wake up those religious ones around the table with a parable.

Note: don't read too much into parables. One could say that God first offered his salvation to the rich and then to poor, blind only after the rich didn't accept. That is not the point. The point is those that think they are well to do spiritually and don't need to come to God when called will find themselves outside of the party. Those no matter what their position in life or what they have done those that accept God’s invitation are welcomed into the celebration. The parable for those who are listening to it is making the suggestion that they are too busy with life to realize the grand opportunity of God's invitation (it is literally right in front of them) and they are making excuses as to why Jesus isn't the way to God.

Those the Pharisees think don't deserve to be there will be because they did accept the invite.

vs 16- the master of the banquet had told those that there would be a banquet and many said they were interested in going until other things get in the way.

18- 21- People come up with all sort of excuses for not following God. Notice the first two deal with money and wealth. Reminds me of the parable of the ground and the seed that fell among the thorns. The concerns of this world crowded them out. (8: 14)

the third invitee makes the point of even family needing to be less a priority than God (8:21, 13:26)

The excuses show those who said they wanted to go to the banquet had other priorities other than following through with their wanting to go.

vs 24- Jesus says what he has been saying all along. Don’t wait to accept the invitation of God. There will be a time when it will be too late.

21b-23- these who are invited go along with what Jesus had just said in 13:12-14. God invites all. Even the ones that the "religious" would not go near. All no matter what their status are given the chance to respond.

vs 23 - Make them come in- convince them- think about it - would you not be suspicious of an invite without strings attached? The servant is to explain what the banquet is about and convince them that it will be the celebration of celebrations.

so are we sure we are ready for the banquet?

If you are the servant doing the inviting- would you go to the places that the master wants him to? Do we when we share the gospel?

Aren't you glad God invites all!