The Great Supper

Luke 14:15–24 NKJV

Now when one of those who sat at the table with Him heard these things, he said to Him, “Blessed is he who shall eat bread in the kingdom of God!” Then He said to him, “A certain man gave a great supper and invited many, and sent his servant at supper time to say to those who were invited, ‘Come, for all things are now ready.’ But they all with one accord began to make excuses. The first said to him, ‘I have bought a piece of ground, and I must go and see it. I ask you to have me excused.’ And another said, ‘I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I am going to test them. I ask you to have me excused.’ Still another said, ‘I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come.’ So that servant came and reported these things to his master. Then the master of the house, being angry, said to his servant, ‘Go out quickly into the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in here the poor and the maimed and the lame and the blind.’ And the servant said, ‘Master, it is done as you commanded, and still there is room.’ Then the master said to the servant, ‘Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled. For I say to you that none of those men who were invited shall taste my supper.’ ”

The Father is Preparing a Great Supper

Some have equated this to the Parable of the Marriage Feast (Matthew 22:2-14)

The Invitations Have Been Sent

The invitations are sent through the preaching of the gospel.

The first invitations were sent only to those of the house of Israel.

The Supper is Ready

That time came when Jesus Christ came preaching the gospel of the kingdom

Fatal Excuses

An excuse is a lie wrapped up in a reason.

Possessions

Luke 14:18 NKJV

But they all with one accord began to make excuses. The first said to him, ‘I have bought a piece of ground, and I must go and see it. I ask you to have me excused.’

We own nothing. God owns everything. We are only stewards.

God’s gifts are never to replace our love for Him, the Giver.

Priorities

Luke 14:19 NKJV

And another said, ‘I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I am going to test them. I ask you to have me excused.’

Matthew 6:33 NKJV

But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.

People do exactly what they want to do.

Pleasures

Luke 14:20 NKJV

Still another said, ‘I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come.’

This man accepted the invitation to attend the Supper before he fell in love.

The Divine Response

Anger

New Invitations Sent

Gentiles are now included.

Individuals whom the original guests would deem unqualified and outcasts (poor, maimed, lame, blind).

1 Corinthians 1:26–28 NKJV

For you see your calling, brethren, that not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called. But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty; and the base things of the world and the things which are despised God has chosen, and the things which are not, to bring to nothing the things that are,

Determination to Fill every Seat

Luke 14:22–23 NKJV

And the servant said, ‘Master, it is done as you commanded, and still there is room.’ Then the master said to the servant, ‘Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled.

Banning the Original Invited Guests

Luke 14:24 NKJV

For I say to you that none of those men who were invited shall taste my supper.’ ”

Response to the Word

Revelation 22:17 NKJV

And the Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” And let him who hears say, “Come!” And let him who thirsts come. Whoever desires, let him take the water of life freely.