Introduction
Jesus is with the Pharisees and they may actually be amused at this parable. They were proudly and greedily promoting self. They were comfortable. They are feeling triumphant over Jesus. Many against one makes them feel this way. This story is a joke to them.
V15 – Blessed [is] he who shall eat bread in the kingdom of God! — The pharisees were familiar with this and thought they would be first in the kingdom. They thought they were “in.” – The Kingdom of God. “It’s like they are toasting” ~ John MacArthur .. Jesus was warning them they were too proud and too greedy. Telling them they need to humble themselves.
1 – the invitation excellent v 16
This is a very large supper. Many are invited. This is massive banquet. It would be an honor to be invited.
2 – The invitation excuses
This is the surprise of the story. People wouldn’t normally turn down this kind of invitation. To reject an invitation for a banquet of this magnitude would be grounds for war.
3 – Invitation without exception
The master of the house is angry. They have known about this event for some time – V21. They trivialized it and insulted the master. He then instructs the servant to go invite the poor the maimed and the blind (V22). V23 Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel [them] to come in, that my house may be filled.. – No pharisee would have invited people like this.
4 – The invitation excluded
They will not get to partake of the great banquet(v24). They forfeited their privilege. Christ say “I” say to you and “My” supper. No longer a story but reality. The implication of Him being messiah and deity here is clear. Jesus wasn’t talking about a great earthly supper. The certain man is God (Jesus is God).
Christ needs to be first. Work, family, etc if they interfere with Christ then they must be forsaken. The messianic dinner was ready, and they were denying Him.
None who reject the invitation will be saved. None who reject Christ will be saved.
Luke 14:15-24 (NKJV) 15 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!” 16 Then He said to him, “A certain man gave a great supper and invited many, 17 “and sent his servant at supper time to say to those who were invited, ‘Come, for all things are now ready.’ 18 “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.’ 19 “And another said, ‘I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I am going to test them. I ask you to have me excused.’ 20 “Still another said, ‘I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come.’ 21 “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.’ 22 “And the servant said, ‘Master, it is done as you commanded, and still there is room.’ 23 “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. 24 ‘For I say to you that none of those men who were invited shall taste my supper.’ ”