The Parable of the Great Supper

Luke 14:15-24

Review

• Jesus was at the home of a ruler of Pharisees– He was watched closely to see if He would heal

the man with dropsy on the Sabbath– Jesus used a parable to teach the danger of

pride and the importance of humility• Jesus follows with another parable– Although similar to “The Wedding Feast” in

Matthew 22:1-3, not the same– “The Wedding Feast” was about those who

reject Christ’s invitation

Introduction• After “The Lowly Place” and a comment on

pride and humility• Jesus directs His next comment to the host– Lk 14:12-14• Instead of inviting friends, invite the poor and

downtrodden to dinner• Not saying never invite friends• But emphasizing the need for hospitality toward

those who can never repay–Only God will repay in the end

A response• Lk 14:15– His comment prompted a response– “Blessed is he who shall eat bread in the

kingdom of God!” • Understood Jesus’ comment on being repaid in

the resurrection to a literal repayment in kind• The Messiah would hold a big feast for all those

who were selflessly hospitable

The Parable• Luke 14:16-17– A man gives a great supper and invites many

• Luke 14:18-20– Those invited make absurd excuses• Bought land and must go see it• Bought oxen, must now test them• Got married, can’t come

The Parable• Luke 14:21-24– The man is angry– Invites others to the supper• First, the poor, maimed, lame and blind–All social inferiors

• Next those on highways and in hedges– The homeless (social outcasts)

– Those invited would not be allowed into the feast

The meaning of the parable• Jesus doesn’t explain the parable– Not even a follow-up remark to point us in the

right direction–We’ll have to figure it out based on• What we already know about parables• The situation and audience• The comment that prompted the parable

The meaning of the parable• The man who provides the feast is God– God usually the homeowner in His parables

• The feast would be the provisions God has made for the righteous after the resurrection– Fits the preceding comments– Fits other scripture: Rev 19:9– The provisions God has made will be wonderful• Whether described as a great feast, or golden

city (Rev 21), or paradise garden (Rev 22)

The meaning of the parable• The one’s first invited would be the Jews– Fits context and other teachings– Rom 1:16 – To the Jew first

• But the Jews would reject the invitation and be rejected by God– Rom 9:30 - 10:4–Mt 8:11-12

The meaning of the parable• Any excuse for missing out on heaven is

absurd– “I had some fun things to do, so I missed out”– “I had to work, so I missed out”– “I married someone not interested in heaven, so

I decided to miss my chance to”– “The kids had some activities they really wanted

to do, so we all missed out on heaven”

The meaning of the parable• Who gets into heaven might surprise us– The commenting Pharisee automatically

assumed they would be blessed at such a feast• But they would never eat of the feast• The socially inferior and outcasts would eat

– After Jews rejected, offered to Gentiles– After self-righteous rejected, offered to

publicans and sinners• The proud rejected for the humble

Conclusion• Heaven will be truly wonderful–Many assume they will be there• But they make excuses for not serving God• Will be surprised that God is not pleased• Will be told they can’t have any part in heaven

– The ones who do enter will be the humble who actually serve God without excusing themselves

• Will you be invited into heaven?