Parable of the Great Feast

LUKE 14: V1-V24

This story of a feast is told at a feast.  Actually, prompted by it.  Serious contention is felt rather than pleasant conversation with this meal.  Jesus is dining with His mortal enemies.  They have invited Him to find some way to discredit Him before His many followers.  The Pharisees must not use force because Jesus is popular.  Jesus is able to teach in the Temple and move about Jerusalem. Here, Luke tells how Jesus teaches the Host one lesson and his guests another. And asks the group a question they refuse to answer.

This all begins on the Sabbath.

One Sabbath He went to have a meal in the house of a leading Pharisee, and they were watching Him closely.  There in front of Him, was a man suffering from

Dropsy. Jesus asked the lawyers and Pharisees, “ Is it permitted to cure people on the Sabbath or not?”  They said nothing.  So He took the man, cured him, and sent him away.  Then He turned to them and said,  “If one of you has a donkey or an ox and it falls into a well, will he hesitate to haul it up on the Sabbath day?” To this they could make no reply.

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When He noticed how the guests were trying to secure the places of honor, He

Spoke to them in a parable. “ When you are asked by someone to a wedding –feast, do not sit down in the place of honor.  It may be that some person more distinguished than yourself has been invited.  And the Host will come and say to

You,” Give this man your seat.”  Then you will look foolish as you begin to take the lowest place.  No, when you receive an invitation, go and sit down in the lowest place, so that when your Host comes he will say, “Come up higher my friend.”

Then all your fellow-guests will see the respect in which you are held.  For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.”

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Then He said to His host,  “When you are having a party for lunch or supper, do

Not invite your friends, your brothers or other relations, or your rich neighbors.  They will only ask you back again and so you will be repaid.  But when you give a party, ask the poor, the crippled, the lame, and the blind. And so find happiness.

For they have no means of repaying you.  But you will be repaid on the day when good men rise from the dead,”

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One, of the company, after hearing all this, said unto Him,” Happy the man who shall sit at the feast in the kingdom of God!”  Jesus answered,“ A man was giving

A big dinner party and had sent many invitations. At dinnertime he sent his servant with a message for his guests, “please come, everything is now ready.”

“ They began one and all to excuse themselves.  The first said, “ I have bought a piece of land, and I must go and look over it.  Please accept my apologies.”  The second said, “ I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I am on my way to try them out.  Please accept my apologies.” The next said,” I have just got married and for that reason I cannot come.”  When the servant came back he reported this to his

Master. The master of the house was angry and said to him, “ Go out quickly into the streets and alleys of the town, and bring me in the poor, the crippled, the blind, and the lame.” The servant said, ” Sir, Your orders have been carried out

And there is still room.” The master replied,” Go out on to the highways and along the hedgerows and make them come in, I want my house to be full.  I tell you that not one of those who were invited shall taste my banquet.”

(comment)

Note; there is a number of Parables with similar names about Great Banquets, Wedding Feasts, Weddings, and Suppers. These were told at different times, to different people. And found in different parts of the Bible.

Much has been said about Jesus using Parables, as He does here.  It allows Him to adapt the story to the occasion, listeners, mood and locale. It also frames His words from slander and other charges.  The Parable permits the listener to use his own vocabulary and experience to better understand complex thought.

Often, Jesus uses the parable to under-state the story for smaller minds. He has    done that here.  We will explain.  This parable uses several persons to indicate a Nation. (2 ½), Million).     A staggering Idea. These said,” Excuse us.”  But they were without excuse.  Nor were they forgiven.

Also take note that, those asked to take the place of the properly, invited guests,

Were the same outcasts; the poor, maimed, crippled, blind, outsiders (Gentiles) who were barred from The Temple proper.

(There was an outside porch for them, and another for Women.)

In this parable, and many others, The King, the Host, the Master, the Father, represents God.  The invited guests are the Chosen Ones from the beginning.  God’s special covenanted Ones.  God led them to the Promised Land and they didn’t want to go in! And, they never did go in!  All but two died in the desert.

The Messiah came to them first and they wouldn’t believe Him.

The Gospel says “To the Jew first, then to the Greek. (Gentile)

Rom. 1:V16

The Gospel is the power of God for the Salvation of everyone who

Believes, first the Jew then the Gentile”. It was promised like that. 

And that is what happened!

Most important of all, as of today, the invitation is still valid and to everyone Worldwide.  When does our loving, merciful, gracious, God say enough!?

Like the host of this feast, He is unforgiving when His Gift of Life is spurned.

  There is nothing else to save us, anywhere, at any time.

Yes, He IS coming again. But not as the Suffering Savior.

Don’t stand outside, Hungry. Attendance is Mandatory, Timely and Free.

To quote the host, “All things are ready, come to the Great, feast.”