The Great Banquet.

Luke 14:15-24

The Parable of the Great Banquet
15 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.”

16 Jesus replied: “A certain man was preparing a great banquet and invited many guests. 17 At 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 compel them to come in, so that my house will be full. 24 I tell you, not one of those who were invited will get a taste of my banquet.’”

The men the man had invited to the house were required to attend to show their respect. They did not, but instead chose to do things that could wait for another time. This was a slap in the face to the man, and so he instead invited all the poor and crippled to come in. Once they were all taken in, even with room left at the table, the owner refused to allow the ones originally invited to attend.

My fellow Gentiles, we were allowed into the banquet hall to feast with our Father in Heaven. Do not get hung up on this temporary life and its trappings. Eternity is coming for those who believe. Choose to believe today and allow your life to be transformed.

Amen.
DK