Luke 14:1-24
A certain man made a great supper and invited many; and sent his servant at supper time to say to them that were bidden, ‘Come for all things are now ready.’ And they all began to make excuse.”
It seems in that land the guests were first invited, then when all was ready, word was sent for them to come; such feasts were most often an evening meal.
But the men invited to this feast all had excuses not to come: one said he had bought a piece of ground and must go to see it: another said he had bought five yoke of oxen and was going to try them; all had plans they, thought more important. This was very disrespectful to the man who had the feast prepared for them, and they had nothing to pay or to do for it, only to come.
The man was very disappointed to have no guests and he told his servant to go into the streets and lanes of the city and bring the persons he found there, the poor, the lame, and blind, to eat his supper. The servant went and those people came, yet there was room for more.
So the man sent the servant outside the city to the highways and to the hedges, where the workers of the fields and orchards would be, to call them to the feast, for the man wanted all his seats filled; he wanted to share his good things with all who would come. Jesus Was showing that God has good things He wants to share with people, called “a great supper.”
But many who knew God’s invatition thought their own ways and things were more important and would not go with Christ, God’s “Servant.” Many poor and helpless ones accepted Him, and yet there was room for many more in God’s House, and all people were invited.
We might say this story was not really finished, for you notice that it is not told of the house being full, so we know God’s “feast” is still waiting for more “guests.” The invitation to come to Christ and enjoy God’s love and all He provides, may still be accepted, even by ones poor” and unworthy, which all really are.
And notice too, that, the ones who were careless of the invitation were not forced to come; those who came felt their need of the supper, and the kiness of the invitation “compelled” them.
So now God does not force any to “come” to His “feast,” but has sent the great invitation, telling of Jesus as Saviour, and that all who receive Him shall be with Him: “Whosoever will may come.” Revelation 22:17.
Sometimes boys and girls and older persons say they will “wait a while” to think of this, and that there is “plenty of time.” But the Lord Jesus did not say that in the story; the meage was, “Come; for all things are now ready.”
Jesus said of those who refused, that they should not taste of that “supper.”
ML 07/22/1945