Come For All Things Are Now Ready Series

“Come; for all things are now ready”

Luke 14:16-24

I. THE LOVE WHICH IS SEEN (16-17)

A. Intention which love shows

B. Invitation which love sends

II. THE LIES WHICH ARE SAID (18-20)

A. The deception with their excuses

1. I cannot because of my PURCHASED LAND

2. I cannot come because of my PRESSING LABOR

3. I cannot come because of my PRECIOUS LADY.

B. The rejection in their excuses

C. The clarification about their excuses

III. THE LOSS WHICH IS SAD (21-24)

A. Their pleas are received

B. Their places are refused

Excuses! They are a dime a dozen. They are a lot like opinions: everybody has them.

Benjamin Franklin said, “He that is good for making excuses is seldom good for anything else.” George Washington said, “It is better to offer no excuse than a bad one.”

BACK OF ANY EXCUSE IS A LACK OF DESIRE! There is no excuse for rejecting God’s offer of salvation that is found in Jesus, so men attempt to make one.

In the parable told by the Lord before us, we find people making excuses. Jesus describes the excuses that were given by certain ones when they were invited to supper.

Let’s look at the story and learn how foolish those invited were to turn down the offer that was given to them.

The love is seen in the preparations, the provisions, and the passion of the host.

We read in verses 16-17, “Then said he unto him, A certain man made a great supper, and bade many: And sent his servant at supper time to say to them that were bidden, Come; for all things are now ready.”

Jesus tells a parable of a man that invited many to come to a supper he had prepared. In this supper we have a beautiful picture of salvation and the glorious and gracious invitation that is made to all men to come and be saved.

A. Intention which love shows

Verse 16 says that a “certain man made a great supper.” This man prepared a supper. The idea behind “supper” is more than just an evening meal. It is speaking of a feast. This was a spread that this man was putting on. The purpose is for their enjoyment.

The supper in this parable is wonderful picture of salvation. There are dishes and dishes of forgiveness. There are trays of peace. There are bowls of joy.

When God invites you to come to Him, He is not inviting you to a boring and empty life. He is inviting you to a blessed and exciting life.

Jesus compares salvation to a feast. When you look at some Christians you would get the impression that the Christian life was a fast, a funeral, or a famine. I want to give you some great news. When God invites you to salvation He doesn't invite you to a funeral, He invites you to a feast.

One of the greatest myths we have to battle

with non-Christians, is the belief that somehow for Christianity faith and fun are mutually exclusive. Quite frankly, a lot of Christians give this impression, but it simply is not an accurate.

This “great supper,” or to say it another way, this great salvation, has been prepared for you by God. When God gave His Son – the Lord Jesus Christ – to die on Calvary’s cross for you and me, He prepared this “great supper.”

B. Invitation which love sends

The invitation is again so simple. “COME.”

C –is for children

O-is for the older

M-is for middle age

E- is for everybody

There is nothing you must do but come. Jesus has already paid for it all. The table is set.

It is a “great supper” and the good news is all man has to do is “come!” It will not cost you dime. This great supper is prepared by God, and He is footing the entire bill. All you have to do is come!

God has not only prepared this “great supper,” but He has also sent you a personal invitation.

“And they all with one consent began to make excuse. The first said unto him, I have bought a piece of ground, and I must needs go and see it: I pray thee have me excused,” Luke 14:18.

“with one consent” they “began to make excuse” – making excuses is an ancient art and an universal art.

Matthew says, “they would not come.” When men makes excuses for not receiving Christ, the real truth of the matter is they do not want to come. As our dear Saviour said, “…ye will not come to me, that ye might have life.”

When ye will not come, you make excuses. How foolish are the excuses they offer. There absolutely is no real excuse for rejecting God’s wonderful salvation in Christ, so men invent some excuse.