Lesson 49L A Seat at the Banquet and the cost of Discipleship Luke 14:15- 33

I’m Reclined to say something about the Great Banquet. 14:15- 24

15 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!” 16 But he said to him, “A man once gave a great banquet and invited many. 17 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.’ 18 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.’ 19 And another said, ‘I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I go to examine them. Please have me excused.’ 20 And another said, ‘I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come.’ 21 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.’ 22 And the servant said, ‘Sir, what you commanded has been done, and still there is room.’ 23 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. 24 For I tell you, none of those men who were invited shall taste my banquet.’ ”

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), Luke 14:15–24.

Not everything that is proclaimed into the atmosphere at a spiritual or social gathering is “Amen brother!” As Jesus continues this teaching from the banquet instructions, He takes the opportunity to set the record straight for the reclined brother. It is really nothing new that is being said by the man. Plus, it is not monumental. Jesus did want to expound on this as it is in the Scripture record. We see rather than say “Amen brother, preach it.” Jesus launches into a parable. This great banquet probably would have taken several hours of prep work, and so much so, that some people in that day, would not finally go until after a second invitation. One of the urgent messages to us is don’t wait for a more convenient time to respond to the Master. Do it now. Don’t wait for a better invitation than the one from a lowly servant. Do it now. Boom! Everything is ready!

Verse 18 says: “But they all alike began to make excuses...”

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), Luke 14:18.

The excuses are listed as:

I purchased some land and I must go see it. Real Estate takes some urgency?

I just bought 5 yoke of oxen and must examine them. I would not steer you wrong!

I have married a wife and therefore I cannot come to your party.

Each one brings the excuse that actually they have better things to do than go eat food at the banquet. Jesus is teaching that the kingdom is a much larger truth than a banquet. No matter what the size, He is to be taken at His word. Their responses angered the Master of the story (capitalized for purposes of giving the guy a name). The servant is instructed to go into the streets, and lanes of the city and bring in the area outcasts who were poor, crippled, blind, and lame. Amazingly enough, this did not fill the banquet hall/tent. There is still more room! Now the servant is instructed to go out again and shake the bushes, (highways and hedges) so to speak, and fill the seats at the banquet! Compel/force/ make them to come into the banquet. The ones who turned the Master down, will not taste of the banquet. The Master is saying in part to Mr. Recliner that there is more to the kingdom of God than bread, don’t turn the Master down. Even some of the poor, crippled, bind and lame did not make it. The Lord is saying His banquet has already been prepared, turning it down will mean you will not make it in no way, no how, uh huh, see ya!

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Sitting at the Master’s table is a feast that is not easy to turn down. Here’s what one commentator said:

The Jews pictured their future kingdom as a great feast with the patriarchs as the honored guests (13:28–29; Isa. 25:6–9), and Jesus used this picture to illustrate the importance of accepting God’s invitation to “salvation’s supper.” Salvation is a feast, not a funeral; everything we need has already been provided. All we must do is accept the invitation, come, and be filled!

Warren W. Wiersbe, Wiersbe’s Expository Outlines on the New Testament (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1992), 181.

We know the fact of a coming feast, but not the hour. We must be ready to come to the Lord’s table. Are you ready. Have you been given an invitation to come into His kingdom. Accept His invitation and let the Master decide the hour.

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The Cost of Discipleship 14:25- 33

English Standard Version (Chapter 14)

25 Now great crowds accompanied him, and he turned and said to them, 26 “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. 27 Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple. 28 For which of you, desiring to build a tower, does not first sit down and count the cost, whether he has enough to complete it? 29 Otherwise, when he has laid a foundation and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him, 30 saying, ‘This man began to build and was not able to finish.’ 31 Or what king, going out to encounter another king in war, will not sit down first and deliberate whether he is able with ten thousand to meet him who comes against him with twenty thousand? 32 And if not, while the other is yet a great way off, he sends a delegation and asks for terms of peace. 33 So therefore, any one of you who does not renounce all that he has cannot be my disciple.

What happens next as Jesus travels, is that great crowds came with Him into the highways and by ways. With this captive crowd, Jesus speaks. The terms of discipleship and following the Savior means a great cost will be incurred.

The Cost verses 26 -33

A Jesus follower puts Him above even His closest family members: father, mother,wife, children, brothers, sisters, and even his own life. v. 26

You must bear your own cross. v.27

You must count the cost to see if you can finish the job. v.28

You must be willing to take the mocking and criticism. v.29, 30

You must be willing to get ready for battle and warfare. v.31

You must also be a peace maker. v.32

You must renounce all that you have. v.33

If you cannot check off this list, you cannot be a disciple of Christ’s kingdom. Discipleship has deep implications, but yet the rewards are out of this world.

Keeping your Effectiveness 14:34, 35

English Standard Version (Chapter 14)

34 “Salt is good, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? 35 It is of no use either for the soil or for the manure pile. It is thrown away. He who has ears to hear, let him hear.”

Your success and effectiveness is based on your good taste of the Life of Christ. You are the salt of the world. Others must see that your life is adding taste to this lost and dying world. Listen up and hear this invitation...”let Him Hear!” Do not lose your taste for the things of God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. This is a message to humans, even though many species have ears. Saltiness that is lost can be restored in the plan of Christ. He wants you to be used and not cast away. Put your ears on and listen for the voice of Christ to move you to your next stop in His plan.