Parable of the Great Feast

Read: Luke 14: 15-24 15

When one of those at the table with him heard this, he said to Jesus, “Blessed is the man who will eat at the feast in the kingdom of God.”

16 Jesus replied: “A certain man was preparing a great banquet and invited many guests. 17 At the time of the banquet he sent his servant to tell those who had been invited, ‘Come, for everything is now ready.’

18 “But they all alike began to make excuses. The first said, ‘I have just bought a field, and I must go and see it. Please excuse me.’

19 “Another said, ‘I have just bought five yoke of oxen, and I’m on my way to try them out. Please excuse me.’

20 “Still another said, ‘I just got married, so I can’t come.’

21 “The servant came back and reported this to his master. Then the owner of the house became angry and ordered his servant, ‘Go out quickly into the streets and alleys of the town and bring in the poor, the crippled, the blind and the lame.’

22 “ ‘Sir,’ the servant said, ‘what you ordered has been done, but there is still room.’

23 “Then the master told his servant, ‘Go out to the roads and country lanes and make them come in, so that my house will be full. 24 I tell you, not one of those men who were invited will get a taste of my banquet.’ ”

The Holy Bible: New International Version. (1984). (Lk 14:15–24). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan.

Considerations

What kinds of excuses do you most resent others using?

What did Jesus use to reply to the blessing He heard? (14:16)

How did the guests respond to the invitation? (14:18)

What was the master’s reaction to the excuses people made? (14:21)

Whom did the master invite to the banquet to replace the original invitees? (14:21) Why did He invite more?

Discuss

Why was the master justified in his anger at the guests who made excuses?

Apply and Pray

What is one way you can thank God this week for inviting you into His presence?

Whom can you invite to the kingdom banquet? How?