Once again we encounter Jesus at a dinner party – this time on a Sabbath at the home of a leading Pharisee. At the beginning of Luke 14, Jesus challenged them by healing a man on the  Sabbath. Then He told a parable regarding the value of humility, lest someone else humble you – because so many at this party were vying for status.

Encounter Jesus – Luke Week 10

The Great Banquet of God

Luke 14: 12-24

AUDIO

Lecture Handout

Luke Week 10 – The Great Banquet of God Handout

Lesson Notes

A Godly Dinner Party (Read Luke 14: 12-14)

  • This was a high status meal – for the best folks in town
  • Verse 12 – Jesus says don’t throw a lavish party for other high status people in order to win the social competition in town – they’ll just invite you back
  • Verse 13 – Instead, give a feast for the poor, crippled, lame, and blind – the lesser of society
  • Verse 14 – You’ll be blessed by that, because it isn’t transactional – they have no way of paying you back
    • Instead, reward in heaven – repaid at the resurrection of the just
    • There’s a lot of application for us – we’re in a status conscious culture as well – we need to be free and generous with those in need, knowing we’ll receive nothing back until we get to heaven
  • Once again, we see the theme of the Great Reversal and Christ’s compassion for those less fortunate

The Parable of the Great Banquet (Luke 14: 15-24)

  • Verse 15 – the intro – probably a desire to change the subject from the awkwardness of Jesus’ rebuke of the host and triggered by Jesus’ reference to the resurrection
    • One says, “Blessed is everyone who will eat bread in the kingdom of God”
    • References the Messianic Banquet – where the godly will dine with the Lord in heaven – Isaiah 25: 6-9a
    • Feels very generic – like it’s a saying about “someday” – not a real expectation, much less recognition that God’s Kingdom had already come in Jesus Christ
    • They assume it would just be for the Jews
    • So Jesus tells a parable about who will actually be eating bread in God’s Kingdom
  • Verses 16-17 – A great banquet is planned
    • The master (=GOD) invited many – those invitations went out in advance to “make reservations” – these are the “Yes” RSVPs
    • Then he sends his servant out that day of to announce the meal was ready
    • And those who had previously said “YES” refuse to come when the time arrives
    • Tremendously insulting to the  host!
    • God’s Kingdom was actually already present in Jesus Christ – that’s what He’s been preaching to this point in Luke
  • Verses 18-19 – Excuse #1: Career / Stuff
    • People needed to look after land from a real estate deal and oxen – they have no time for enjoying and being a part of God’s Kingdom
  • Verse 20 – Excuse #2: Family
    • These are respectable people of means, responsibility, dignity – and they renege on their commitment to God
    • These people sound like Northern Virginians – Career and Family are so often our priorities/idols, and we have so little left for the things of God – either in service or simply relationship with Him
  • Point is – these invitees of God, who had said “Yes” are the Jews, the covenant people of God – but too worldly to accept the invitation to enter God’s Kingdom right now
    • So what does the master do? He invites the Lessers of Society mentioned in the previous parable
    • Verse 21 – Invite the poor, crippled, blind, and lame. Those excluded from society
    • According to the Dead Sea Scrolls, these lessers were also excluded from the Messianic Banquet
    • But what was God’s actual promise to the lessers? Isaiah 35: 3-6a
    • These are the very essence of the miracles Jesus did to prove He was the Messiah, and how Jesus answered John’s disciples
  • Verse 22 – There’s still room at God’s banquet table!!! So they go to outsiders (Gentiles) – highways and hedges
  • Verse 23 – Compel = strongly urge or persuade
  • Verse 24 – For those concerned with the world, too busy for God’s Kingdom, even the Jews who accepted God’s invitation first, they won’t be at the banquet table
  • God’s banquet table still has room – He still seeks the poor and suffering, injured and wounded, sick and paralyzed, strangers and outsiders
  • The invitation is to trust in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior – to enter God’s Banquet Hall
  • If you’ve got your place reserved already, then invite others as well!

Today’s prayer: Pray for many to accept the invitation and enter into the feast of the Lord!

Next Week: Luke 16: 1-13 (The Parable of the Dishonest Manager)