Luke 14:15-24

Luke 14:15-24

And after one of the ones who were seated to eat heard these things, he said to Him, “Whoever will eat bread in the kingdom of God is blessed!”  And He said to him, “A certain man was making a great feast and he called many.  And he sent his slave in the hour of the feast to say to the ones who were invited: come, because it is now prepared.  And they began – even from the first one – to refuse.  The first said to him, ‘I bought land and I have a need to go out and see it.  I ask you, have me excused.’  And another said, ‘I bought five yoke off oxen, and I am going to test them.  I ask you, have me excused.’  And another said, ‘I am marrying a woman and because of this I am not powerful enough to come.’  And the slave came back to tell his lord these things.  Being angry, the master of the house then said to his slave, ‘Go out quickly into the thoroughfares and streets and cities and bring here the poor, the disabled, the blind, and the lame.’  And the slave said, ‘Lord, what you commanded has been done.  Yet there is still space.  And the lord said to his slave, ‘Go into the highways and the hedgerows and compel them to come in order that my house should be full.  For I say to you that none of those men who have been called will taste my supper.’”

Thoughts for Today

First Thought:

Initially, there was a guest list to the man is Jesus’ parable.  Certainly, in Jesus’ context this would be intended to represent the Jews.  They were called to bring God’s message of grace and relationship with Him to the people.  However, we should likewise be able to see that this now extends to all of us.  God’s message has gone throughout the world – or at least a good portion of it.  We are all called to God’s side.  We all have an invitation.  The only questions that remains is whether or not we accept or reject the invitation.

How does it feel to know that the Creator of the universe has called you personally?  Why is that important to remember?

Second Thought:

Of course, some of the invited people make excuses.  They have more pressing matters.  They have obligations.  They have jobs to do.  They have life to do.  There are many things that can get in the way of our response to God’s calling.  It isn’t that God doesn’t want us to have a life.  God wants us to have a life that is focused upon Him first.

Do you ever put God on hold?  Why do human beings have the capacity to put God aside and seek more immediate, if not also temporary, goals?

Third Thought:

Jesus’ final point in this parable is that while all people have been called, that isn’t enough.  It isn’t enough to just be called to the feast.  We have to respond to the invitation.  When we reject the invitation, we will not be permitted to taste of the feast.  It’s really that simple.  God invites everyone.  Our response to that invitation in important.

Have you responded to the invitation?  How do you know?  How does God’s invitation play out in your life?

Passage for Tomorrow: Luke 14:25-33