“The Great Banquet”

Wednesday, June 21, 2017

This parable is recorded in Luke 14:15-34. It follows a parable about humility and the importance of not exalting ourselves (verses 7-13). We will study the humility parable in a later post.

The parable of the great supper was told in response to a man who was dining with Jesus and who heard the Master discuss the need for humility. This man stated, “Blessed is he who shall eat bread in the kingdom of God!”

Jesus tells the story of a man who gave a great feast and invited many people to attend. But most of the people who were invited, rather than to appreciate the great honor of being a guest of this man, began to make excuses for why they would not attend the banquet.

The primary teaching of the parable had to do with the Jews’ rejection of Jesus as Messiah. Although given the first opportunity to obey the Lord under the new covenant, the Bible tells us that “He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him” (John 1:11). The gospel is said to be the power of God for salvation, “to the Jew first” (Romans 1:16).

There is an important application of this parable to all people, however, and not just to disobedient Jews. The Savior has invited everyone to His great banquet. “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light” (Matthew 11:28-30).

There is not a person who is cannot be saved by God’s grace. As we often sing, “The gospel is for all.” The death of Jesus on the cross made salvation possible for all men (Hebrews 5:8-9). We would do well to remember that God’s desire to for “all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth” (1 Timothy 2:4). He does not want any soul to perish (2 Peter 3:9).

But, of course, both in the first century and now, many souls continue to rebel against God. When given the opportunity to obey God and be saved, many people refuse to serve Him. They do not appreciate the great supper He has provided for all of the obedient, which is an analogy for heaven itself.

So many make excuses, like the third men illustrated in the parable. The excuses Jesus mentions here are not good solid reasons for disobedience (there are no such things as good reasons to reject God). But one excuse is as good (or as bad) as another.

Some non-Christians make excuses for not obeying the gospel. Some who have been baptized into Christ make excuses for not being faithful to their Lord. Some Christians make excuses for not using their talents and taking advantage of opportunities to serve God in a devoted and committed way.

This parable shows us that excuses are not acceptable to God. Period.

--Roger Hillis

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