July 29 – Parable of the Great Dinner

Sunday School Lesson

July 29

Parable of the Great Dinner

 

Devotional Reading: Luke 14:25-33

Background Scripture: Luke 14:15-24

 

Luke 14:15-24

¹⁵ And when one of them that sat at meat with him heard these things, he said unto him, Blessed is he that shall eat bread in the kingdom of God.

¹⁶ Then said he unto him, A certain man made a great supper, and bade many:

¹⁷ And sent his servant at supper time to say to them that were bidden, Come; for all things are now ready.

¹⁸ And they all with one consent began to make excuse. The first said unto him, I have bought a piece of ground, and I must needs go and see it: I pray thee have me excused.

¹⁹ And another said, I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I go to prove them: I pray thee have me excused.

²⁰ And another said, I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come.

²¹ So that servant came, and shewed his lord these things. 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 hither the poor, and the maimed, and the halt, and the blind.

²² And the servant said, Lord, it is done as thou hast commanded, and yet there is room.

²³ And the lord said unto 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 unto you, That none of those men which were bidden shall taste of my supper.

 

Key Verse

Go out quickly into the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in hither the poor, and the maimed, and the halt, and the blind.—Luke 14:21

 

Lesson Aims

After participating in this lesson, each learner will be able to:

1. Retell Jesus’ parable of the great dinner.
2. Identify the two general categories of people who were invited to the dinner.
3. List excuses given today for refusing the invitation of Jesus, and present a response to each.

Introduction

 

1. Jesus’ Eating Habits

Some time ago a study was undertaken to address the question, “What would Jesus eat?” The study investigated common foods of Jesus’ day in order to determine what was most likely a regular part of His diet. The Gospels note that Jesus ate fish and honey (Luke 24:41-43) and shared a typical Passover meal with His disciples (22:15). They also record different times when Jesus ate in homes or ate with His disciples, but no specific menu is mentioned on those occasions.

A more important issue involving Jesus’ eating habits, according to the Gospels, is whom He ate with. These include Matthew (also known as Levi) the publican (tax collector), in whose house Jesus ate along with “a great company of publicans and of others” (Luke 5:29). He also ate with unnamed Pharisees (Luke 11:37; 14:1-24, the Scripture from which today’s text is taken), with various “publicans and sinners” (Luke 15:1, 2), with Martha and Mary (Luke 10:38-42; John 12:1-3), and with His disciples (as noted above). In fact Jesus was criticized as being “gluttonous” (Luke 7:34).

Jesus’ eating habits reveal His desire to reach out to all people—both the sinners who knew they were sinners and sinners such as the Pharisees whose self-righteousness blinded them to the truth about their condition.

Those habits highlight Jesus’ purpose for coming into the world. As He told another publican, Zacchaeus, “For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost” (Luke 19:10).

 

1. Lesson Background

The parable of the great dinner in today’s text comes not long after Jesus’ teaching in last week’s text from Luke 13. Following that section of teaching in 13:22-30, some of the Pharisees informed Jesus that He needed to vacate the territory of Perea because Herod Antipas (son of Herod the Great) wanted to kill Him (13:31).

Jesus was not fazed by this threat (which may have been fabricated by the Pharisees in order to diminish the effectiveness of Jesus’ ministry). He continued to focus His attention on reaching Jerusalem and lamented over its failure throughout the years to accept the words of God’s appointed messengers, some of those even being killed (Luke 13:34, 35). He knew that in just a few months, He would be among that number.

Luke 14 begins with Jesus’ entering the house of “one of the chief Pharisees” for a meal on a Sabbath Day. We do not know the exact location of this house, but it can be assumed that Jesus was still in the territory of Perea (where the teaching in last week’s text occurred). He was being watched closely, apparently to see if He would violate the Pharisees’ standards of conduct. After healing a man in the house, Jesus rebuked the Pharisees for their hypocritical behavior (14:2-6).

Jesus then told a parable aimed at those in attendance at the meal, in order to correct their behavior of selecting prominent seats (Luke 14:10). He then spoke more directly to the man who had invited him to the dinner (14:12). Jesus challenged him to invite the rejects and the outcasts of society—those unable to return the favor. A reward for such generosity may not come in this life, but it will come in God’s time: “at the resurrection of the just” (14:14). The mention of resurrection prompted a comment from one of the guests in the Pharisee’s house, which is where the lesson text begins.

 

1. The Place

(Luke 14:15)

1. Sitting with Jesus (v. 15a)

^15a. And when one of them that sat at meat with him heard these things, he said unto him.

We noted in last week’s study how Luke often recounts situations when people in an audience speak up spontaneously with a question or comment directed toward Jesus. Here, following Jesus’ teaching concerning proper dinner etiquette (from a spiritual standpoint), one of the guests in the Pharisee’s house speaks up.

 

1. Speaking to Jesus (v. 15b)

^15b. Blessed is he that shall eat bread in the kingdom of God.

The guest’s comment is an interesting one. Jesus has said nothing in the house thus far specifically about the kingdom of God. He used the word blessed in verse 14 to encourage His listeners to invite to their dinners the outcasts and the neglected. Perhaps this man is trying to one-up Jesus’ statement by declaring his own understanding of what blessedness means. Perhaps Jesus’ teaching has made this man a bit uncomfortable since neither he nor any other Pharisee seems likely to follow Jesus’ advice when planning his next dinner. So his statement may be an effort to turn the conversation in a different direction.

On the other hand, this person may be one of the few in attendance who understands what Jesus has said thus far. He seems to understand that Jesus is speaking of the kingdom of God, which will include a heavenly banquet (see Isaiah 25:6; Luke 13:29; Revelation 19:9). The future banquet is a symbol of God’s acceptance and reward of the resurrected, righteous people. This ultimate inclusion by God is also the ultimate blessing.

 

1. The Parable

(Luke 14:16-24)

1. Invitation Extended (vv. 16, 17)
2. Then said he unto him, A certain man made a great supper, and bade many.

Jesus speaks this parable unto him, to the man who had made the previous remark. But it is certainly intended to be heard by all who are present.

That the host in this parable—who undoubtedly represents God—bade many should be understood in light of how such gatherings are typically planned and organized. The initial invitation to a gathering like a great supper amounts to being given a heads-up: be prepared! At some future time the invitation will be followed by an announcement that the supper is indeed ready. Then it will be time for the invited to come.

17. And sent his servant at supper time to say to them that were bidden, Come; for all things are now ready.

The supper likely takes a considerable amount of time to prepare, to accommodate the many who have been invited. Once everything is in order, a servant is dispatched to issue the second invitation: Come; for all things are now ready.

 

1. Invitation Rejected (vv. 18-20)

^18a. And they all with one consent began to make excuse.

Amazingly (perhaps shockingly to those hearing the parable), the individuals who had earlier been invited to the supper reply with a series of excuses as to why they cannot attend. The phrase they all with one consent does not suggest that these people conspire to answer as they do. It means that they all offer reasons why they cannot come.

 

What Do You Think?

How do we overcome excuses people make to avoid responding to Jesus’ invitation?

 

Points for Your Discussion

When those excuses have an intellectual basis

When those excuses have an emotional basis

When those excuses have a volitional basis

 

^18b. The first said unto him, I have bought a piece of ground, and I must needs go and see it: I pray thee have me excused.

 

Two issues may be raised regarding this excuse. First, one would not buy a piece of ground without first going to see it and assess its value. Second, a field can be (re)examined at any time; why does it have to be done right at this moment? No doubt Jesus’ audience sees through the flimsiness of this response. It’s obvious that the man simply does not want to come.

 

19. And another said, I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I go to prove them: I pray thee have me excused.

The same critique applies to the second excuse. Why do these oxen have to be tested now? As was true with the piece of ground, the time to test the oxen is before the purchase, not after.

 

How to Say It

AntipasAn-tih-pus.

DemasDee-mus.

HerodHair-ud.

PereaPeh-ree-uh.

PhariseesFair-ih-seez.

ZacchaeusZack-key-us.

 

20. And another said, I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come.

This third individual does not present even any semblance of politeness; there is no “I pray thee have me excused” accompanying his statement, as with the other two. All he says is I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come.

But this is as poor an excuse as the previous two. Why should marriage keep one from responding to a previously given invitation? Even if this man has gotten married since the original invitation was issued, common courtesy requires that he follow through and attend the dinner once it is ready. Not to do so is to insult the host’s gracious spirit.

It should be noted that these activities that are used as reasons not to attend the dinner are not wrong in and of themselves. There is nothing inherently sinful with buying a field, buying oxen, or getting married. The problem is that these three situations have become nothing more than pathetic excuses to cover the individuals’ unwillingness to come to the dinner. If they really want to attend, they will come.

 

Making Excuses

Most people are pretty good at making excuses. It happens in every realm of life. Children blame misdeeds on their siblings or friends. Politicians blame their predecessors, at least during the first few years of their terms in office. Married people excuse their own contribution to the problems in their marriages. Students blame poor grades on their teachers or the subject matter. Examples are legion.

On the other hand, a lot has been said as to why we shouldn’t excuse ourselves. Benjamin Franklin put it this way: “He that is good for making excuses is seldom good for anything else.” J. C. Penney built a successful retail chain on this principle: “I do not believe in excuses. I believe in hard work as the prime solvent [solution] of life’s problems.” But as Mason Cooley observed, “Excuses change nothing, but make everyone feel better.” Cooley was only partially right: we may feel better at the moment; but when the truth comes out, the game is over.

Think of the people who excused themselves from attending the feast Jesus spoke of in this parable. They each had what, at the time, might have seemed like a good reason for declining the invitation. But in the context of this invitation to God’s eternal feast, they missed the chance of their lifetimes! Those who reject this invitation may think they are choosing correctly. Oh, how wrong they are!

—C. R. B.

 

What Do You Think?

What changes are needed for believers to make their relationship with Jesus the highest priority?

 

Points for Your Discussion

Considering distractions of a person’s age demographic

Considering distractions based in cultural expectations

Considering family fissures that may result

 

1. Invitation Expanded (vv. 21-24)
2. So that servant came, and shewed his lord these things. 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 hither the poor, and the maimed, and the halt, and the blind.

The host is understandably upset at such cavalier rejections of his invitation, especially when they are accompanied by obviously unacceptable reasons for doing so.

Although angry, the master of the house orders the servant to invite the village’s most unfortunate: the poor (destitute beggars), the maimed (disabled due to injury), the halt (unable to walk), and the blind. These people are to be found on the main streets, perhaps begging, but will also live in the lanes, the backstreets of hovels and shacks. They are the very same groups that Jesus had encouraged those in attendance at this gathering to invite to any supper they may prepare (Luke 14:13, where “lame” is used to translate the word rendered halt in this verse).

We can imagine that the fatted calf is roasted, the raisin cakes are baked, the wine has been delivered, and the musicians are already playing. The feast cannot be delayed.

 

What Do You Think?

How will you help your church reach out to the overlooked people in your community?

 

Points for Your Discussion

Regarding those with disabilities

Regarding those with addictions

Regarding the poverty-stricken

Other

 

Unexpected Invitations

Each year, the president of the United States delivers the State of the Union address to a joint session of Congress, gathered in the House of Representatives chamber of the Capitol Building. The hall is filled for the event with “important” people. The speech is televised and seen by millions. Presidents of both parties have used the occasion to promote their programs for the nation, hoping to rally the support of the citizenry.

In more recent times, a few ordinary people who represent some element of the presidential agenda have received unexpected invitations. They are seated in a prominent place in the audience. When the president mentions them in an effort to draw sympathetic attention to the presidential agenda, TV cameras zoom in on these newly created celebrities-of-the-moment.

Much like the guests invited by the host near the end of Jesus’ parable, the presidential guests are often the victims of life’s injustices. However, the invited guests in the parable were not so honored to promote the host’s political agenda. Instead, they were summoned to show that the Lord’s desire to share His feast. But remember: those invited who dishonor the summons cannot reconsider later.

—C. R. B.

 

22. And the servant said, Lord, it is done as thou hast commanded, and yet there is room.

Even though those in the streets and lanes of the city have not received an earlier invitation, they are more than happy to come. Perhaps, being in the condition they are in, they have never been asked to such a gathering as this. However, as the servant reports, yet there is room.

 

23. And the lord said unto the servant, Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled.

Now the host instructs the servant to extend his invitation even farther. The highways and hedgeslikely refers to the territory beyond the city limits; we might say “out in the sticks.”

The appeal is not to be given halfheartedly or casually; the servant is to compel these residents to come. Perhaps this is necessary because at first those in these far-removed locations will find it hard to believe that someone in the city actually wants them to attend a dinner. But the host’s objective is clear: he desires that his house . . . be filled.

 

What Do You Think?

What additional steps can you take to share God’s Word with the lost?

 

Points for Your Discussion

Personally

In cooperation with other Christians

 

24. For I say unto you, That none of those men which were bidden shall taste of my supper.

The ending of this parable does not turn out “happily ever after” for the original invitees. As we contrast those originally invited with those receiving the later invitations, the message of the parable becomes clear: Jesus is describing how God’s invitation to His kingdom is presented first to the Jews. It is they who have received the initial invitation by means of possessing the prophecies of Jesus’ coming and their position as God’s covenant people. But they, for the most part, reject the kingdom as presented by Jesus. John writes, “He came unto his own, and his own received him not” (John 1:11).

Then the message of the kingdom is offered to a different group, including those scorned by groups such as the scribes and Pharisees. These outcasts are represented by the poor and physically disabled. The third group, in the highways and hedges, represents the Gentiles, those peoples and nations who are also among the lost whom Jesus came to save (Luke 19:10). They were described in last week’s text as those from the four corners of the earth who will have the privilege of sitting down in the kingdom of God (13:29).

The tragic irony is that those first bidden to come to the kingdom (the Jews) are the ones who will be excluded from the dinner; however, they have no one to blame but themselves for being left out. The parable’s message thus ties very closely with Jesus’ statement that concluded last week’s printed text: “And, behold, there are last which shall be first, and there are first which shall be last” (Luke 13:30).

 

What Do You Think?

How should we interact, if at all, with those who accepted Christ at one point but now reject Him?

 

Points for Your Discussion

Considering arguments for seeking them out (Luke 15:4-10; etc.)

Considering arguments for not seeking them out (Hebrews 6:4-8; etc.)

 

Conclusion

1. Keeping First Things First

While last week’s text included the statement that the first will be last, today’s study could be summarized by considering the importance of keeping first things first. There is no contradiction between the two ideas. Last week’s lesson dealt with the way that God sees people and the manner in which they will be treated on the Day of Judgment; today’s study concerns priorities in the lives of God’s people.

The excuses offered by the three individuals in Jesus’ parable reveal much about the individuals who offered them. Each excuse clearly shows that attending the dinner was not a priority for any of the three. They had something better to do. They could have made time for the dinner—if they had wanted to. Attendance was not high on their to-do list, if it was on there at all.

It is still true that the cares of this world and the obligations associated with it can often take priority over the things of God. This is a warning that is found throughout the Scriptures and one that today’s Christian must take seriously. “Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world,” writes John. “If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him” (1 John 2:15). James is just as direct: “Know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God” (James 4:4).

In the parable of the sower, Jesus described how some of the seed fell among thorns (Luke 8:7). He later explained that this represents “they, which, when they have heard, go forth, and are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to perfection” (8:14). In his second letter to Timothy, Paul lamented of Demas, who “hath forsaken me, having loved this present world” (2 Timothy 4:10). Demas may not have been tempted by a field, by oxen, or by a wife, but something in the world had seized control of his heart.

 

1. Knowing the Times

During the change to David’s leadership in ancient Israel, some who “came to David to Hebron, to turn the kingdom of Saul to him” are described as those who “had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do” (1 Chronicles 12:23, 32). We live in a time when spiritual values are not promoted in any significant, meaningful way by culture. The lure of the world is very strong and begs for our attention through the various media outlets of our time. Our youth are especially the targets of these outlets and must be instructed by both the home and the church. The battle for hearts has never been more intense. Do we know the times? Having that knowledge, do we know what to do with it?

Those are important questions, and we must answer them to protect our own relationship with God first and foremost. Let’s face it: we won’t be much good for the kingdom of God if we’re so focused on protecting others that we neglect our own spiritual well-being. While multitudes clamored for Jesus’ attention, He still realized the need to be alone with the Father from time to time (Luke 5:15, 16). He realized that His apostles needed rest (Mark 6:30-32). But rest and time alone with God go against the grain of an always-connected, 24/7 culture. Inadequate rest lowers our spiritual defenses. Consider how Satan timed his attack on Jesus: the attack came when Jesus was physically at His weakest (Matthew 4:1-11). Adequate rest makes possible the effectiveness of spiritual disciplines such as prayer, Bible study, and the supportive fellowship of other believers.

 

To know the times and to know what to do with that knowledge has a direct bearing on the cost of discipleship. To attend the great supper requires not only an invitation to do so, but also the willingness to pay the “opportunity cost” required to be there. From the world of economics, an opportunity cost is the “benefit that a person could have received, but gave up to take another course of action.” We see opportunity cost in Mark 10:21, 28; Luke 14:33; etc. What price are you willing to pay to be at the great supper?

 

 

1. Prayer

Our Father, with gratitude we thank You for the invitation we have received to be at Your great supper! May we examine our hearts as the day approaches and destroy all excuses for not attending. We pray this in the name of Jesus, who makes the great supper possible. Amen.

1. Thought to Remember

Only the life that puts Jesus first will last.

 

 

KID’S CORNER

Who Will Feast with Jesus?

July 29, 2018

Luke 14:15-24

 

Luke 14:15-24

(Luke 14:15) When one of those who were reclining at the table with Him heard this, he said to Him, “Blessed is everyone who will eat bread in the kingdom of God!”

One of the dinner guests (perhaps a disciple, perhaps not) entered into a table discussion with Jesus by affirming what Jesus taught and the hope of the Jewish people. Anyone who eats at the marriage supper of the Lamb or at the great messianic feast in the kingdom of God (and there will be many such feasts in heaven and later on earth) will be honored and happy. This person may have expressed this truth with some self-satisfaction, because he assumed that he would be so blessed for some reason, perhaps because he was a Jew, one of God’s chosen people.

Therefore, Jesus told a parable that indicated people were being invited to feast in the kingdom of God by Him whenever and wherever He shared the good news or taught (and later whenever and wherever His followers shared the good news and taught). But many would refuse His invitation to the heavenly feast, because they preferred the things of this world and what their culture offered them to the things of God and the truths of and from God that Jesus taught and demonstrated. Those who prefer the things of this world to the things of God will not experience the things of God, come to know God, or enjoy the messianic feast in the kingdom of God. The privileged may think they are special and because of their special status will always have an open invitation into the kingdom of God or don’t even need an invitation to the heavenly feast. Some may think they don’t need to change their thinking, repent of their sins, or believe in Jesus at all to go to heaven, but Jesus’ sober teaching serves as a warning to the worldly-minded who refuse His invitation when they hear it extended to them.

(Luke 14:16) But He said to him, “A man was giving a big dinner, and he invited many;

The comment of the dinner guest opened the door for Jesus to teach another parable. In the parable, the “someone” may ultimately represent God the Father, and the “servant” may represent Jesus the Messiah Who God sent into the world to invite people into the kingdom of God. Or, Jesus may be the Host who was inviting people to follow Him into the kingdom of God, so He would be the Host of the great feast. The feast is the expected feast in the kingdom of God that the Jews looked forward to with eager anticipation. Jesus applied His parable to the statement that the guest made at the dinner they were attending. During His public ministry, Jesus was also planning and preparing for the great messianic banquet in the kingdom of God. Through His teaching and preaching, He was inviting many people to His messianic feast. When the messianic feast was finally ready, His invited guests would be told when to come into the kingdom of God to eat of the feast. The most important invitation anyone will ever receive in this life is the invitation to eat with Jesus and His followers forever, but too many people refuse Jesus’ invitation and make worldly excuses for not trusting Him with their lives and their future. Those who made excuses in Jesus’ parable fit that description.

(Luke 14:17) and at the dinner hour he sent his slave to say to those who had been invited, ‘Come; for everything is ready now.’

When Jesus the Messiah came into the world according to the Old Testament Prophets “everything was now ready” for Him to preach and teach and eat with religious people and sinners. Many were invited to hear Him teach, but not everyone took advantage of the invitation or the opportunity to be with Jesus. Many who heard Him teach refused His invitation to follow Him, and to follow Jesus was the way into the kingdom of God. Even worse, when some heard Him teach, they listened only to find a way to entrap Him and find an excuse to murder Him. In Jesus’ parable, the servant or slave could represent Jesus the Messiah, the One sent by God and Who came into the world as the Suffering Servant of Isaiah 53. Jesus wanted His hearers to know that the day of salvation had come to them, and He, the Messiah, was with them leading the way to salvation. When people ate with Jesus they were eating at a banquet with their heavenly King in human flesh, and if they believed in Him they would someday eat with Him in the kingdom of God. Throughout eternity there will be many such banquets with Jesus. Today is the day to accept Jesus and follow Him as Lord and Savior. Everything is ready now for you to receive the gift of eternal life; then, if you do receive Jesus as Lord and Savior, you can eat the messianic dinner in the kingdom of God whenever it is served. Jesus warned against making excuses to not follow Him to the feast.

(Luke 14:18) “But they all alike began to make excuses. The first one said to him, ‘I have bought a piece of land and I need to go out and look at it; please consider me excused.’

We have good reason to believe that those invited by the slave had agreed to the invitation to dinner when they first received it sometime earlier. Those invited may represent those who believed the prophets, practiced the Judaism of Jesus’ day, and looked forward to the Messiah’s coming. Most likely, Jesus told this parable to Jews and Jewish leaders who believed that just because they were Jews they would automatically eat bread in the kingdom of God. The parable can be applied today. Those invited were only waiting to learn the time when the feast was ready (or for our day, when Jesus would come again), but they did not have a loving, friendly, important relationship with the Host, God the Father or Jesus Christ. When the time came to go to the feast, the time of the feast conflicted with their worldly priorities and their worldly priorities came first. Their love of the world was more important to them than honoring God’s (the Host’s) priorities and making His priorities, their priorities. Likewise, a person may say they believe in God and want to go to heaven someday, but they let their worldly priorities interfere so they miss the feast and miss heaven too. In Jesus’ parable, those invited first began to make excuses: “they all alike” may refer to everyone the host first invited to the feast – the host had “invited many.” “They all alike” may mean they all were concerned primarily about the things of this world and not the things of God. The first excuse shows more concern for the person’s possessions in this world than for the host who issued the invitation. The excuse shows more interest in buying things than learning about God and doing what God says. For these guests, their material possessions were more important than God and following Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.

(Luke 14:19) “Another one said, ‘I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I am going to try them out; please consider me excused.’

Did the first person purchase land unseen? Did the second person purchase oxen unseen and untried, so he did not know how they would behave under a yoke? They were certainly unwise to put their possessions or their work in a place of more importance than spending time with God, Who invites us to spend time with Him and allow Him to meet all our needs.

(Luke 14:20) “Another one said, ‘I have married a wife, and for that reason I cannot come.’

The third person could probably have brought his wife to the feast. The host would have gladly welcomed her. Jesus ate with men and women at the same dinner and taught men and women while they ate together. Our relationship with God is more important than any of the relationships that we have in this life. The third invited guest could spend time with his wife, his new wife, after the feast or take her to the feast. To reject Jesus’ invitation to spend time with Him, and put others in a place of more importance than God, may lead to a time when you will never receive another invitation or be called when the feast in the kingdom is ready.

(Luke 14:21) “And the slave came back and reported this to his master. Then the head of the household became angry and said to his slave, ‘Go out at once into the streets and lanes of the city and bring in here the poor and crippled and blind and lame.’

The owner of the house had every right to expect his invited guests to accept and honor his invitation and come when he told them the feast was ready. As noted above, these guests apparently had previously agreed to come, and at the last moment chose not to come and gave selfish, worldly excuses that dishonored their host (God is more important than a field, an ox, or any other person). Representing God, the Master had ultimate authority and justifiable anger. So, having invited the wealthy and the religious people who had rejected Him, He invited the neediest people of the town; who probably felt so unworthy to enter the master’s house that the slave had to “bring” them in. Because they were “the poor, the crippled, the blind and the lame,” they would need extra help to get to the feast, and the feast would have been of all surpassing value to them. They probably never dreamed of such a blessing! God does not disregard the poor, the crippled, the blind and the lame, but wants them to enter the kingdom of God too. As an example, remember the poor sick beggar, Lazarus, who angels took to be with Abraham when he died.

(Luke 14:22) “And the slave said, ‘Master, what you commanded has been done, and still there is room.’

We must be careful not to push the parable to mean more than Jesus intended, though we will discover more and more insights every time we read one of Jesus’ parables. The slave reported to the master that he still had room for more guests, but the master did not extend a second invitation to those he had invited first. We must be careful not to spurn God’s invitation to act and obey Him, because sometimes we only get one invitation, only one chance to do something for God and others before the opportunity passes us by. We may never receive a second chance or opportunity to accept Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. If our worldly pursuits are always more important to us than pursuing God, someday we may find it is too late for us to try to enter the kingdom of God.

(Luke 14:23) “And the master said to the slave, ‘Go out into the highways and along the hedges, and compel them to come in, so that my house may be filled.

Having invited both the worldly people and the neediest people all around him and closest to him in the town (the Jews), and having brought the neediest into his house (Jesus’ followers), the master will fill his house with those outside the town (the Gentiles). The master had sufficient authority over everyone to compel them to come to his feast, but he did not compel those to come who had rejected him and preferred their worldly pursuits to being with him. Those in the roads and lanes may have felt compelled to go because of the authority of the person who invited them. Or, they may have felt so unworthy to come to the feast because the one who invited them was a famous king; so, they had to be compelled by the king’s servant to have the confidence to go and the assurance of acceptance by the king. They knew the master was worthy to be honored by them and everyone, and they felt humbly amazed at the invitation to go to his feast when others may have seemed so much more worthy than themselves. God has room in the kingdom of heaven for the least and last to be invited, and no matter what some may say and do His kingdom will be full. The last to be invited may be those living and learning about Jesus today, who need to accept His invitation today before it is too late.

(Luke 14:24) ‘For I tell you, none of those men who were invited shall taste of my dinner.’”

Jesus came and invited people to follow Him because the kingdom of God was at hand or in their midst where He was. To eat dinner with Jesus anywhere was to eat at a messianic dinner with the Messiah, the King of the Jews. If a person refused to eat with and listen to Jesus, he would miss the spiritual food Jesus offered; he would not hear God’s good news; he would not learn that Jesus was the way of salvation, Who came into the world to save sinners. To remain away from Jesus, the King over all creation, will result in eternal consequences and great sadness for those who reject His invitation to enter the kingdom of God and feast with Him.

 

 

Who Will Feast with Jesus?

July 29, 2018

Luke 14:15-24

 

“When one of those at the table with him heard this, he said to Jesus, ‘Blessed is the one who will eat at the feast in the kingdom of God’” (Luke 14:15). Too often, people look far off into the future and miss the blessings of the present. While he was eating with Jesus, a man commented about eating in the kingdom of God in the future, and he missed the blessing of eating with the One who was preparing the great feast and inviting people into the kingdom of God as He taught. Most of the time, those who invited Jesus and His twelve disciples to dinner were quite wealthy. Some of these believed Jesus was the Messiah, but others did not. So, Jesus took the opportunity to teach another parable. He explained that some of those He was inviting into the kingdom of God would refuse the invitation because they were too worldly-minded. They focused their attention on themselves and their prosperity, rather than primarily on the things of God and how they could use their many God-given gifts to bless others. Whenever Jesus taught, He was inviting people into the kingdom of God in the present, with a glorious future yet to be realized; but self-centered listeners did not seriously consider His teachings. They were preoccupied with their business ventures and personal opportunities — they thought their many blessings were from God and certain signs of God’s acceptance. Therefore, Jesus spent much of His time inviting the poor, the crippled, the blind and the lame into the kingdom of God; He urged them to accept the fact that God was blessing them through Him. No matter their background, all who believed in Him would feast in the kingdom of God.

 

Thinking Further

Name ____________________

 

1. What kind of people will eat the messianic banquet in the kingdom of God?

 

 

2. What seemed of most importance to those who made excuses when they were called to come to the banquet? What did that communicate to the host?

 

 

3. What kind of people went to the banquet and what does that mean to you?

 

 

4. What kind of excuses do people give today for not spending time with Jesus Christ and those who love God and Christ?

 

 

5. Why will some people be happier existing away from God and Christ after they die rather than live with God and those who love Him after they die, even while they are suffering torment because they have rejected God’s rule and the Kingdom of God?

 

 

Questions for Discussion and Thinking Further

 

1. What kind of people will eat the messianic banquet in the kingdom of God? Those who accept Jesus’ invitation to believe in and follow Him.

 

2. What seemed of most importance to those who made excuses when they were called to come to the banquet? What did that communicate to the host? Their worldly possessions and worldly relationships were of more importance to them than their host: more important than God. They themselves and fulfilling their worldly desires were of most importance to them: they felt they were more important than God. They communicated to the host that he was not very important to them, and they made a field or an ox or a person they could have taken to the feast with them more important than the host, for they made frivolous excuses to do things that could have been postponed to a later time.

 

3. What kind of people went to the banquet and what does that mean to you? Those who were the most needy, the type of people Jesus fed and healed during His ministry accepted the invitation of the host. Knowing their needs and their hearts, the host and his servant did all that the most needy needed done to help them come to the feast.

 

4. What kind of excuses do people give today for not spending time with Jesus Christ and those who love God and Christ? Some may make the excuse that they have more important things to do and more important people to spend their time with than seeking to do what God would want them to do or being with those who put their focus on God first and foremost when they love, worship, and serve God. Some may make the excuse that God and His people are not very exciting or fun to be with, possibly even boring to be with. Some may make the excuse that they do not want God or others to judge their behavior, even though few others (in addition to God) may even know about their bad behavior. Some may just feel guilty around true believers and not want to be with them. All such excuses are frivolous to God and should be to us.

 

5. Why will some people be happier existing away from God and Christ after they die rather than live with God and those who love Him after they die, even while they are suffering torment because they have rejected God’s rule and the Kingdom of God? They would not be happy praising God and spending time praising God with those who love God and love to praise God. They would rather be where God does not interfere with their existence and their desire to keep their focus primarily upon themselves. As they focus more and more upon themselves, they will be less and less happy. Because of their self-centeredness, they would be even more unhappy and suffer more if God made them remain in the presence of our holy God and His people forever. Because God loves all people, He will not force those who do not love Him be in His presence.

 

 

Word Search

Name ______________________

 

F L F U J W H F U I N K S Y V

Z N D C A N C E L E D B Z C B

P D D E R U T R O T Z L R N E

M R F W B K B V W K R X F S F

C O A M R T C S I N S P J O Q

J L I H J U G Y C G I Y R X V

I W V E N K P Q K J A G J M T

A O S A L I X V E S I V E C N

R U T V U N B L D V M Y S P A

S F A E R G J V E F D J U A V

A O K N N D C M L R Q W S T R

C N S T E O W H E W E L F I E

O Q C Z V M Z T D B F V R E S

S I F B E O E B L T Q A M N G

C H Q M S P Y T N E V E S T S

 

 

Peter

Jesus

Lord

Forgive

Sins

Seventy

Seven

Kingdom

Heaven

Patient

Canceled

Debt

Wicked

Servant

Tortured

 

 

 

True and False Test

Name ________________________

 

Circle the true or false answers. Correct the false statements by restating them.

 

1. Jesus wanted the crowds and His disciples to avoid some of the practices of the scribes and Pharisees. True or False

 

2. The teachers of the law and the Pharisees refused to preach the law of Moses. True or False

 

3. The scribes and Pharisees made unnecessary laws for the people, Jesus, and His disciples to obey. True or False

 

4. The scribes and Pharisees did all they could to help the crowds draw closer to God and obey all God’s laws. True or False

 

5. Jesus commended giving a tenth in offerings. True or False

 

6. Important matters of the law are justice, mercy and faithfulness. True or False

 

7. Jesus warned that some guides can be dangerous. True or False

 

8. Religious hypocrites can end up suffering anguish and distress. True or False

 

9. Some people can become so concerned about following their human rules that they ignore how God wants us to live. True or False

 

10. Some religious people are full of greed and self-indulgence. True or False

 

True and False Test Answers

Matthew 23:1-4, 23-26

 

1. True
2. False
3. True
4. False
5. True
6. True
7. True
8. True
9. True

10.True

 

Prayer

Our Father, with gratitude we thank You for the invitation we have received to be at Your great supper! May we examine our hearts as the day approaches and destroy all excuses for not attending. We pray this in the name of Jesus, who makes the great supper possible. Amen.