Read Luke 14:16-2116Then said he unto him, A certain man made a great supper, and bade many: 17And sent his servant at supper time to say to them that were bidden, Come; for all things are now ready. 18And 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. 19And another said, I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I go to prove them: I pray thee have me excused. 20And another said, I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come. 21So that servant came, and showed 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. (Luke 14:16‑21). LUK 14:16-2116Then said he unto him, A certain man made a great supper, and bade many: 17And sent his servant at supper time to say to them that were bidden, Come; for all things are now ready. 18And 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. 19And another said, I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I go to prove them: I pray thee have me excused. 20And another said, I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come. 21So that servant came, and showed 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. (Luke 14:16‑21)
HOW utterly contemptible are all human thoughts of God, when compared with the revelations of Himself in His blessed Word! Here is a short parable, spoken by the Lord Jesus, which scatters to the wind our dark, uncertain thoughts of God. God's great salvation is likened to a great supper which a certain man made.
I was speaking about this parable lately to a man who had been butler in a family for many years. I said to him, "Just tell me what you do, when dinner or supper is on the table.”
“Oh," said he, "I merely open the drawing-room doors, and say, 'Dinner is on the table,' which means all is ready. The guests then take their seats.”
"Well now," said I, "suppose, when you took off the covers, that there was a bit of paper on every dish with this sentence on it, 'A promise of a supper,' what would you say?”
"Say? why, sir," he said, "I should not know where to put my face: I never heard of such a thing.”
I said, "No, I suppose not; no man would ever think of serving his fellow-men as unbelief would represent God. Now, this is the simple question: Is the gospel-feast a present, certain reality, or is it the mere promise of salvation, leaving the anxious sinner in disappointment and uncertainty? Is it a real supper, or the hope of one? Is it the certainty of salvation, or the hope to be saved?
Let us now look at the parable.
How plain the words, "A certain man made a great supper, and bade many"! The supper was made before the invitation was sent.
“And sent his-servant at supper-time, to say to them that they were bidden, COME, FOR ALL THINGS ARE NOW READY.”
In Matt. 22 MAT 22:1-461And Jesus answered and spake unto them again by parables, and said, 2The kingdom of heaven is like unto a certain king, which made a marriage for his son, 3And sent forth his servants to call them that were bidden to the wedding: and they would not come. 4Again, he sent forth other servants, saying, Tell them which are bidden, Behold, I have prepared my dinner: my oxen and my fatlings are killed, and all things are ready: come unto the marriage. 5But they made light of it, and went their ways, one to his farm, another to his merchandise: 6And the remnant took his servants, and entreated them spitefully, and slew them. 7But when the king heard thereof, he was wroth: and he sent forth his armies, and destroyed those murderers, and burned up their city. 8Then saith he to his servants, The wedding is ready, but they which were bidden were not worthy. 9Go ye therefore into the highways, and as many as ye shall find, bid to the marriage. 10So those servants went out into the highways, and gathered together all as many as they found, both bad and good: and the wedding was furnished with guests. 11And when the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a man which had not on a wedding garment: 12And he saith unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment? And he was speechless. 13Then said the king to the servants, Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. 14For many are called, but few are chosen. 15Then went the Pharisees, and took counsel how they might entangle him in his talk. 16And they sent out unto him their disciples with the Herodians, saying, Master, we know that thou art true, and teachest the way of God in truth, neither carest thou for any man: for thou regardest not the person of men. 17Tell us therefore, What thinkest thou? Is it lawful to give tribute unto Caesar, or not? 18But Jesus perceived their wickedness, and said, Why tempt ye me, ye hypocrites? 19Show me the tribute money. And they brought unto him a penny. 20And he saith unto them, Whose is this image and superscription? 21They say unto him, Caesar's. Then saith he unto them, Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar's; and unto God the things that are God's. 22When they had heard these words, they marvelled, and left him, and went their way. 23The same day came to him the Sadducees, which say that there is no resurrection, and asked him, 24Saying, Master, Moses said, If a man die, having no children, his brother shall marry his wife, and raise up seed unto his brother. 25Now there were with us seven brethren: and the first, when he had married a wife, deceased, and, having no issue, left his wife unto his brother: 26Likewise the second also, and the third, unto the seventh. 27And last of all the woman died also. 28Therefore in the resurrection whose wife shall she be of the seven? for they all had her. 29Jesus answered and said unto them, Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God. 30For in the resurrection they neither marry, nor are given in marriage, but are as the angels of God in heaven. 31But as touching the resurrection of the dead, have ye not read that which was spoken unto you by God, saying, 32I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob? God is not the God of the dead, but of the living. 33And when the multitude heard this, they were astonished at his doctrine. 34But when the Pharisees had heard that he had put the Sadducees to silence, they were gathered together. 35Then one of them, which was a lawyer, asked him a question, tempting him, and saying, 36Master, which is the great commandment in the law? 37Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. 38This is the first and great commandment. 39And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. 40On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets. 41While the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them, 42Saying, What think ye of Christ? whose son is he? They say unto him, The Son of David. 43He saith unto them, How then doth David in spirit call him Lord, saying, 44The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, till I make thine enemies thy footstool? 45If David then call him Lord, how is he his son? 46And no man was able to answer him a word, neither durst any man from that day forth ask him any more questions. (Matthew 22:1‑46) it is very emphatic: "I HAVE PREPARED MY DINNER; my oxen and fatlings are killed, and all things are ready.”
It is quite true, that, before Christ came, faith had then to do with the promise. But now Christ HAS COME. He has died. He is risen. He is in heavenly glory. All is finished. All things are ready. The promise is fulfilled. It is no longer the promise of salvation, but SALVATION ITSELF.
“But, they made light of it." "And they all with one consent began to make excuse.”
How truly this was fulfilled, and is still, in the rejection of Christ by the Jews, whose were the fathers, and unto whom the promises of God had been made. And though the gospel-feast has been spread before all nations, yet man, if left to the freedom of his own choice, invariably makes light of it. The "piece of ground," the "oxen," the "wife," yea, the very slavery of Satan is chosen by the human heart, before God's great gospel-feast.
But divine, boundless grace goes still further: "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.”
And again: "Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled.”
Truly, every believer can say:—
"Why was I made to hear Thy voice,
And enter whilst there's room;
Whilst thousands make the wretched choice,
And rather starve than come?”
It is now supper time. The table is filling fast. Do you say, "I am such a poor, wretched sinner, the gospel-feast cannot be for me, until I am better?”
Poor, did you say?. Why, you are of the very sort who are to be brought in quickly. And why that word "quickly," but to show you must be brought to Jesus at once, just as you are?
“Ah, but," says another, "sin has so blighted, and ruined, and maimed me, I am not fit for the gospel-feast.”
Maimed? Why, it is the "maimed" one that is to be brought to Him.
“Ah!" says another, "but I have been a professor, and have halted so shamefully and so often.”
Halted? Why you are the very person; for the “halt" were to be brought.
“But I am no scholar. I don't understand anything. All seems dark to me.”
Dark? Why it was the very "blind" that were to be brought. And what a welcome! What a real supper!
Now, when a man is brought, and sits eating at the supper-table, is it presumption for him to know with certainty that he has his supper? You would take the man to be mad, if he said he hoped he had a supper; or he hoped he should get one.
And is not God's salvation as great a reality as any man's supper? How can it be presumption, then, to believe God, and know with-certainty that, since He has given me faith in Christ, and brought me to believe in Him, I am saved, forgiven, and justified from all things?
God is perfectly righteous in leaving those who make light of it to perish. He says, "They that were bidden shall not take of my supper." And His sovereign grace is displayed in the "poor," the "maimed," the "halt,'' and the" blind," whom He compels to come in. All are welcomed, but all are not saved. He that hears His words and believes in God who sent Him, "hath everlasting life." And he that rejects His words shall perish.
There is one point we must notice in Matthew's Gospel: "And when the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a man which had not on a wedding garment." He was speechless; cast out into outer darkness, where there is weeping and gnashing of teeth.
This is most solemn. The vilest sinner is welcome at the supper-table. But let no man presume to come there in his own clothes; or, as the figure evidently means, in his own righteousness. The clothing of the saved sinner must be of the brightest white. But his very best suit is filthy rags. These filthy garments must be taken away; and he must have a "change of raiment.”
Come with me to the grave of Jesus. Whilst He lay there, where was righteousness? Look abroad on the face of the whole earth; and repeat, where was righteousness to be found?
NOWHERE. All had sinned. The whole world stood guilty before God. All was darkness, sin, and death. The only righteous One lay dead in the grave. But look, the stone is rolled away; the Prince of Life arises from among the dead there, and there alone, is righteousness; perfect, bright, unsullied righteousness.
Believer, that risen Christ is thy change of raiment, God's best robe for thee and me. What a change of raiment, my old rags, my old self, put off in Thy death, Lord Jesus; and Thou, risen Christ, my everlasting righteousness, to shine forever in the brightness of the glory of God.
Thus, "poor," "maimed," "halt," "blind" one, has God not only net thee in unbounded grace, but has provided for thee a robe of righteousness, that fits thee for His holy presence. Yes, the father not only fell upon the neck of the prodigal and kissed him, just as he was, but the best robe was ready, and the ring, and the shoes were ready, all things were ready for the feast of joy (Luke 15) LUK 15:1-321Then drew near unto him all the publicans and sinners for to hear him. 2And the Pharisees and scribes murmured, saying, This man receiveth sinners, and eateth with them. 3And he spake this parable unto them, saying, 4What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it? 5And when he hath found it, he layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing. 6And when he cometh home, he calleth together his friends and neighbors, saying unto them, Rejoice with me; for I have found my sheep which was lost. 7I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance. 8Either what woman having ten pieces of silver, if she lose one piece, doth not light a candle, and sweep the house, and seek diligently till she find it? 9And when she hath found it, she calleth her friends and her neighbors together, saying, Rejoice with me; for I have found the piece which I had lost. 10Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth. 11And he said, A certain man had two sons: 12And the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the portion of goods that falleth to me. And he divided unto them his living. 13And not many days after the younger son gathered all together, and took his journey into a far country, and there wasted his substance with riotous living. 14And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that land; and he began to be in want. 15And he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country; and he sent him into his fields to feed swine. 16And he would fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat: and no man gave unto him. 17And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father's have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger! 18I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee, 19And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants. 20And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him. 21And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son. 22But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet: 23And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry: 24For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry. 25Now his elder son was in the field: and as he came and drew nigh to the house, he heard music and dancing. 26And he called one of the servants, and asked what these things meant. 27And he said unto him, Thy brother is come; and thy father hath killed the fatted calf, because he hath received him safe and sound. 28And he was angry, and would not go in: therefore came his father out, and entreated him. 29And he answering said to his father, Lo, these many years do I serve thee, neither transgressed I at any time thy commandment: and yet thou never gavest me a kid, that I might make merry with my friends: 30But as soon as this thy son was come, which hath devoured thy living with harlots, thou hast killed for him the fatted calf. 31And he said unto him, Son, thou art ever with me, and all that I have is thine. 32It was meet that we should make merry, and be glad: for this thy brother was dead, and is alive again; and was lost, and is found. (Luke 15:1‑32). The prodigal could not have been happy in the father's house clothed in rags. The redeemed saint could not be happy in the presence of God, in the filthy rags of self-righteousness. But God has given him the best robe; better than Adam wore in innocence; better than highest angels wear; for both have failed, and the robe has been polluted; the "Son of the Morning" sinned, and Adam, the lord of the lower creation, fell.
But the risen Christ can never fail; no spot can ever soil the best robe. God hath made Him to be our righteousness. "But of Him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption" (1 Cor. 1:3030But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption: (1 Corinthians 1:30)) 1CO 1:3030But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption: (1 Corinthians 1:30). As truly as He was made sin for use (that is, for all believers,) so certainly are we made "the righteousness of God IN HIM” (2 Cor. 5:2121For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. (2 Corinthians 5:21)) 2CO 5:2121For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. (2 Corinthians 5:21).What a wondrous feast of grace, where all things are of God!
When a person is invited to supper, he is not even expected to bring his own knives and forks, much less is he expected to pay for it. It is so at the gospel-feast. The sinner has nothing to give; all to receive. My reader; are you at the feast? If you believe God, then it is as certain that you are saved, as a man who believes his friend, and sits down to his supper, knows that he has his supper.
God give my reader this blessed certainty, and grace to walk with garments undefiled.
CHARLES STANLEY.
I hear young persons sometimes asked if they love Jesus; as though salvation came by loving Him, instead of believing on Him. On this point Scripture is very clear and simple: faith in Him first, love to Him afterward. "We love Him, because He first loved us" (1 John 4:1919We love him, because he first loved us. (1 John 4:19)) 1JO 4:1919We love him, because he first loved us. (1 John 4:19). Look at that beautiful incident recorded in the ninth chapter of John's Gospel, where Jesus finds the poor man (whose eyes He had opened), when the Jews had cast him out of the synagogue. He said to him: "Dost thou believe on the Son of God?"' The man answered and said: "Who is He, Lord, that I' might believe on Him?" And Jesus said unto him: "Thou halt both seen Him, and it is He that talketh with thee." And he said, "Lord, I believe; and he worshipped Him" (John 9:35-3835Jesus heard that they had cast him out; and when he had found him, he said unto him, Dost thou believe on the Son of God? 36He answered and said, Who is he, Lord, that I might believe on him? 37And Jesus said unto him, Thou hast both seen him, and it is he that talketh with thee. 38And he said, Lord, I believe. And he worshipped him. (John 9:35‑38)) JOH 9:35-3835Jesus heard that they had cast him out; and when he had found him, he said unto him, Dost thou believe on the Son of God? 36He answered and said, Who is he, Lord, that I might believe on him? 37And Jesus said unto him, Thou hast both seen him, and it is he that talketh with thee. 38And he said, Lord, I believe. And he worshipped him. (John 9:35‑38).