Let’s Go To Supper Series

Series: Things That Accompany Salvation

Hebrews 6:9 But, beloved, we are persuaded better things of you, and things that accompany salvation, though we thus speak.

Message 3: Let’s Go to Supper

(A Banquet Illustration Told at a Banquet)

Luke 14:15-24

INTRODUCTION:

15 And when one of them that sat at meat with him heard these things, he said unto him, Blessed is he that shall eat bread in the kingdom of God.

• Jesus then told a parable about a great banquet.

• As He tells this, He is in the home of a Pharisee who is himself hosting a great banquet.

• Many pressed in, eager to get their early to grab the chief seats. (cf. 14:7-11)

• One of the diners expressed a blessing on everyone who would eat... in the kingdom.

• This person was assuming that he and the other people present would all be present in the kingdom.

• He seems to be a man that feels it necessary to say something religious at a religious occasion.

• There is not doubt that he was insincere. (cant)

• All that is necessary to confirm this is to look at the response that his statement elicited from Christ!

• These Pharisees have done nothing but oppose the work of Christ!

• Jesus took the opportunity to use the feast motif to explain that many of the people there would not be present in God’s kingdom.

• In their places would be many outcasts and Gentiles.—Bible Knowledge Commentary

I. The Identification of This Supper (16)

16 Then said he unto him, A certain man made a great supper, and bade many:

• Wiersbe tells us that the Jews looked forward to a day when Jehovah would set up His kingdom.

• They felt that in this kingdom, there would be a continual feast!

• The Patriarchs would be the honored guests, and all the Jews would be invited.

• The Rabbis added such ridiculous notions as that God would kill behemoth and leviathan and roast them for this great banquet!

• Indeed the Bible does refer to a great future feast:

Isaiah 25:6-9 And in this mountain shall the LORD of hosts make unto all people a feast of fat things, a feast of wines on the lees, of fat things full of marrow, of wines on the lees well refined. 7 And he will destroy in this mountain the face of the covering cast over all people, and the vail that is spread over all nations. 8 He will swallow up death in victory; and the Lord GOD will wipe away tears from off all faces; and the rebuke of his people shall he take away from off all the earth: for the LORD hath spoken it. 9 And it shall be said in that day, Lo, this is our God; we have waited for him, and he will save us: this is the LORD; we have waited for him, we will be glad and rejoice in his salvation.

• The New Testament refers to this as the “Marriage Supper of the Lamb.”

Revelation 19:5-9 And a voice came out of the throne, saying, Praise our God, all ye his servants, and ye that fear him, both small and great. 6 And I heard as it were the voice of a great multitude, and as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of mighty thunderings, saying, Alleluia: for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth. 7 Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready. 8 And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints. 9 And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, These are the true sayings of God.

II. The Invitations to This Supper (17-23)

17 And sent his servant at supper time to say to them that were bidden, Come; for all things are now ready.

• There had been a general invitation earlier.

• Not one had turned down the host.

• Now, a servant is sent as a courtesy to remind that all is ready!

• This is a picture of the call under Moses and the Prophets and now a call from the Son of God!

• Jesus story alludes the great universal call of the gospel to every man!

• If ever there were a doubt about God’s desire that man be saved, this text should erase it!

• We see this in both the Old and New Testaments!

• J.C. Ryle, the last of the great Anglican preachers, put it in these words: