Page 17 - Florida Sentinel 7-27-18

Parable Of The Great Dinner Luke 14:15-24 (KJV)
pared. In this parable, the host sends a servant out as a messenger and invites guests to attend and alert invitees that the feast is ready. Excuses, Excuses, Excuses
(vv. 18–21)
Today, we have a whole industry devoted to prepar- ing invitations, from paper notes and e-vites, to websites and video messages. Can you imagine preparing a large dinner and on the day of, your invited guests one by one send notice that they cannot attend? Can you imagine the hurt feelings?
In this parable, the in- vited guests turned down the invite and offered an array of excuses for why they could not attend the prepared din- ner. Angered by the excuses, the host instructs the servant to find anyone who would accept the invitation to come.
Likewise, God calls hu- manity to join and experi- ence His kingdom. He prepares and makes ready all that we need in advance. God sends messengers to us to share the good news of His call. All excuses to ignore God’s invitations are trivial. It disturbs Him when we deny His welcome.
There is Still Room (vv. 22–24)
The servant goes out into the hills and highways to in- vite those least likely to join the party. The lowly guests begin pouring in, but still there is room at the banquet. The host then instructs the servant to spread the news to everyone everywhere and bid them to come and fill the house.
This parable’s irony is that the esteemed few were unable to show, but the lowly were willing to come and at- tended in large numbers.
One of the major reasons a host invites certain guests to any party is the potential of scarcity. No host wants the food to run out or the space to become overpopulated and too crowded for guests.
In the kingdom of God, the Lord’s table has more than enough space. We serve a God who specializes in suf- ficiency and abundance. One’s position or status in society does not matter; there is always room in the kingdom of God.
As Christians, we are called to serve as messengers of God by sharing with oth- ers the invitation to His king- dom.
Just as we are welcomed and embraced by God, we are called to receive and ac- cept others with open arms.
There is no excuse that can release us from the Christian duties of humility and hospitality.
Luke 14:15 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 ex- cuse. 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 there- fore 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.
Jesus traveled from place to place preaching and teach- ing to all who would listen. He used parables as a pri- mary tool to convey His mes- sages.
A parable is a short narra- tive aimed at teaching a spir- itual principle or moral lesson.
On numerous occasions, Jesus’ followers would come to Him with questions or in- sight about a spiritual prac- tice, and He often responded with parables to enhance the followers’ understanding.
The parable of the great dinner is told in both Matthew 22:1–14 and Luke 14:15–25. Whereas Matthew uses the parable to reveal good treatment to- ward new believers, Luke’s writing emphasizes God’s open invitation to all people. When the host opens the din- ner to include all people in Luke 14:21–25, the people least considered were the very ones willing to attend, and there was still more room for others.
Dinner is Served (Luke 14:15–17)
The parable of the great dinner begins as a response from Jesus to a dinner party guest proclaiming the honor of feasting in the kingdom of God. The kingdom of God pronounces His eternal rule or reign. Jesus uses this para- ble to illustrate that the Lord’s table is not restricted to a particular few, but rather open and inclusive for all who desire to come and par- take. Once all elements are put in place at a dinner party, the host will announce, “Din- ner is served,” which is an in- vitation for all guests to join the party and participate in the lavish feast that is pre-
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