THE GREAT SUPPER (2)
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Then said he unto him, A certain man made a great supper, and bade many: And sent his servant at supper time to say to them that were bidden, Come; for all things are now ready. And they all with one consent began to make excuse. The first said unto him, I have bought a piece of ground, and I must needs go and see it: I pray thee have me excused. And another said, I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I go to prove them: I pray thee have me excused. And another said, I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come. So that servant came, and shewed his lord these things. 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 hither the poor, and the maimed, and the halt, and the blind. And the servant said, Lord, it is done as thou hast commanded, and yet there is room. And the lord said unto the servant, Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled. For I say unto you, That none of those men which were bidden shall taste of my supper.
Jesus used this parable to explain the invitation to salvation.
The Bible gives many invitations.
1. God has done His part by giving His Son.
2. Christ has done His part by dying on the cross.
3. 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, and avoid.
I. The Celebration
Then said he unto him, A certain man made a great supper, and bade many: And sent his servant at supper time to say to them that were bidden, Come; for all things are now ready.
A. Invitations sent—v. 16.
The invitations were sent in advance. Each person had enough time to prepare for the supper.
B. Invitations sought—v. 17.
It was a custom to follow up the written invitation with a personal visit.
Note some of the invitations for man today:
1. Invitation to salvation
Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.
2. Invitation to serve
And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.
3. Invitation to surrender
I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
4. Invitation to sacrifice
And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.
5. Invitation to support
How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!
II. The Complaints
And they all with one consent began to make excuse. The first said unto him, I have bought a piece of ground, and I must needs go and see it: I pray thee have me excused. And another said, I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I go to prove them: I pray thee have me excused. And another said, I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come.
Note the excuses made for not attending the supper:
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 keep him from other events.
Excuses are not acceptable to God—He knows the reason behind the excuse.
III. The Concern
So that servant came, and shewed his lord these things. 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 hither the poor, and the maimed, and the halt, and the blind. And the servant said, Lord, it is done as thou hast commanded, and yet there is room. And the lord said unto the servant, Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled. For I say unto you, That none of those men which were bidden shall taste of my supper.
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 beggars, crippled, lame and blind”—LB.
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.
C. Invitation—vv. 23–24.
1. Go. Go out and invite all to come—to every place—to all classes of people.
For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
2. Goal. Note:
“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?
(c) For not attending church?
(d) For not giving your money?
(e) For not fully surrendering?
(f) For not winning souls?
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.