THE PARABLES OF JESUS - THE GREAT SUPPER

We are taking a 25 week walk through the parables of Jesus. Week 9 we covered a parable that has always confused me, may it has confused you as well or maybe just how to implement it in your own life. It is the parable of the friend who arrives at midnight and the two main points – see a need – meet a need and be persistent in prayer!

Last week we looked at the seats at the wedding and how Christians’ worst enemy is self.

The number one enemy of the Christian is self! Satan uses self to destroy the Christian through: (1) ambitions and desires which oppose God’s will, (2) attitudes which control our lives, (3) affections for “things.” Last week’s message with the first parable Luke 14:7-11 dealing with the guests

This week is Luke 14:12-24 that deal with the host. While both are not typical parables – they deal with hypothetical situations so many scholars put them here in the category of parables.

The setting is Jesus is at the house of a one of the ruling Pharisees and everyone is watching Jesus carefully as he was there for a Sabbath meal. Jesus heals the man and then Jesus watching the people as they sat down to eat this meal – noticed how people chose their seats –

And taught them to be humble and exalt themselves above others – there was probably someone more important than them coming –

Jesus continues this parable to explain the invitation is to salvation. The Bible gives many invitations. God has done His part by giving His Son. Christ has done His part by dying on the cross. The Holy Spirit has done His part by convicting us of our sins. Despite many invitations, man continues to reject this great gift. The word for excuse has several meanings: reject, refuse, beg off, and avoid.

As we being – Let us Pray!

THE GREAT SUPPER

Luke 14:12–24 – He said also to the man who had invited him, “When you give a dinner or a banquet, do not invite your friends or your brothers or your relatives or rich neighbors, lest they also invite you in return and you be repaid. But when you give a feast, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, and you will be blessed, because they cannot repay you. For you will be repaid at the resurrection of the just.” When one of those who reclined at table with him heard these things, he said to him, “Blessed is everyone who will eat bread in the kingdom of God!” But he said to him, “A man once gave a great banquet and invited many. And at the time for the banquet he sent his servant to say to those who had been invited, ‘Come, for everything is now ready.’ But they all alike began to make excuses. The first said to him, ‘I have bought a field, and I must go out and see it. Please have me excused.’ And another said, ‘I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I go to examine them. Please have me excused.’ And another said, ‘I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come.’ So the servant came and reported these things to his master. Then the master of the house became angry and said to his servant, ‘Go out quickly to the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in the poor and crippled and blind and lame.’ And the servant said, ‘Sir, what you commanded has been done, and still there is room.’ And the master said to the servant, ‘Go out to the highways and hedges and compel people to come in, that my house may be filled. For I tell you, none of those men who were invited shall taste my banquet.’”

I do not believe that Jesus is saying do not invite you friends and neighbors but rather invite those who are needy. The Geek verb translated invite is better translated to mean “Stop Continually Inviting,” Jesus says mix it up – invited those who cannot repay you – invite those that have nothing

If you only invite those who will prepay you – how are you doing the will of God?

Jesus says do it this way and at the resurrection you will be repaid. When someone at the table heard Jesus’ words he replied, “Blessed is everyone who will eat bread in the kingdom of God!”

But Jesus replied – that is a big word in there – but

They did not get it – actions speak louder than words. Maybe he was a Pharisee – they believed in the resurrection but the way they treated people did not align with God’s Word

I. The Invites—vv. 16–17 – Jesus replied – a great banquet was planned

A. Invitations sent—v. 16. The invitations were sent in advance. Each person had enough time to prepare for the supper.

Like today – we send out invites with an RSVP

B. Invitations sought—v. 17. It was a custom to follow up the written invitation with a personal visit.

Now the feast is ready – you may come – Note some of the invitations for man today:

1. Invitation to salvation—Matthew 11:28–30 – All things have been handed over to me by my Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him. Come to me, all 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.”

Come to Him

John 14:6 – Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

2. Invitation to serve—Mark 9:35 – And he sat down and called the twelve. And he said to them, “If anyone would be first, he must be last of all and servant of all.”

John 12:26 – If anyone serves me, he must follow me; and where I am, there will my servant be also. If anyone serves me, the Father will honor him.

James 1:22 – But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.

3. Invitation to surrender—Romans 12:2 –Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

James 4:7 – Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

Galatians 2:20 – I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

4. Invitation to sacrifice—Luke 9:23 – And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.

Mark 8:35 – For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel's will save it.

Romans 12:1 – I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.

II. The Excuses—vv. 18–20 Note the excuses made for not attending the supper: Poor, foolish, unimaginable

A. Purchasing excuse—v. 18. The man bought ground and wanted to see it. No one buys ground without first seeing it. This was a very poor excuse.

B. Proving excuse—v. 19. A man bought oxen and wanted to test or prove them. No one works animals at night. Again, a foolish excuse.

C. Pleasure excuse—v. 20. Because a man had married, he could not attend. Surely his marriage did not happen that very day nor did it keep him from other events.

We see the same type of thing in Luke 9

Luke 9:59-62 –To another he said, “Follow me.” But he said, “Lord, let me first go and bury my father.” And Jesus said to him, “Leave the dead to bury their own dead. But as for you, go and proclaim the kingdom of God.” Yet another said, “I will follow you, Lord, but let me first say farewell to those at my home.” Jesus said to him, “No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.”

Excuse – wait until my parents are gone and then I will follow you – they are more important

Excuse – wait until my kids are gone and I am a widow and then I will – they are more important

Luke 14:25-26 – Now great crowds accompanied him, and he turned and said to them, “If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple.

Nothing can be more important than following God; not cows, crops, careers or children

What excuses are you giving God to not fully follow Him

Excuses are not acceptable to God—He knows the reason behind the excuse.

Luke 9:25 – For what does it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses or forfeits himself?

III. The Concern—vv. 21–24

A. Instruction—v. 21. “The servant returned and reported to his master what they had said. His master was angry and told him to go quickly into the streets and alleys of the city and to invite the poor, crippled, lame and blind”—

B. Incomplete—v. 22. There was still more room. Regardless of how many we may win to Christ, there is always room for more. We should never be satisfied.

Remember Mark 16:15 – And he said to them, “Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.

Matthew 18:19-20 – Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

C. Invitation—vv. 23–24.

1. Go. Go out and invite all to come—to every place—to all classes of people.

Romans 10:13 – For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

2 Peter 3:9 – The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.

2. Note the Goal. “That my house may be filled.”

God wants His church filled.

Do you make excuses?

(a) For not reading the Bible?

(b) For not praying?

(d) For not giving your money?

(e) For not fully surrendering?

(f) For not winning souls?

(g) For not discipling someone?

Remember, God knows the real reasons—excuses are lies. Never make excuses, but resolve, “I will always do my best to be faithful to God.” This will please God and help you to become a strong Christian.

My mantra – “God’s Word, God’s Will, done God’s Way,” I was recently asked “What do I gain from this?”

By believing this and living this out –

We gain being a stronger Christians

We gain being closer to God

We gain a deeper relationship with Holy Spirit

We gain a step closer to hearing “Well done good and faithful servant”

We gain living out the Gospel

Jesus is the Word – John 1:1-3 – In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made.

Jesus did God’s Will – John 6:38-40 – All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out. For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will but the will of him who sent me.

Matthew 7:21 – “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.

Jesus did it God’s Way – John 7:17 – If anyone’s will is to do God’s will, he will know whether the teaching is from God or whether I am speaking on my own authority.

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