Luke 14:15-24
The Parable of the Great Banquet
15When 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."
16Jesus replied: "A certain man was preparing a great banquet and invited many guests. 17At 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. 24I tell you, not one of those men who were invited will get a taste of my banquet.' "
At a large banquet like this, the Host invited many to come...The invitation would have been in two parts...He would have needed to know how many guests were coming, so He would know how much to prepare...And then a second invitation after He knows the number of people coming, it is ready...All except the original invitation...Now that the banquet is prepared, (we) the guests have decided to make excuses...Weak excuses...This is a banquet we do not want to miss...This banquet is from God and His Son...
The Host is upset with us for now refusing His invitation...So more guests are invited...The poor and ill are invited and are as welcome as the rich and powerful...Invitations are sent out everywhere, to all the roads and country lanes...The Host wants His house full...He will invite everyone...
God invites everyone, but we need to repent and follow Him... Repenting means turning from sin and turning to God...We have excuses for ignoring and putting off God, but in the parable the Host has a sense of urgency...The LORD does not want us to keep putting the invitation off...He is hurt and upset by our dismissal...We as humanity can be apathetic and complacent...