Can you remember times when as a child you along with other kids in your neighborhood had to pick teams in order to play a game?
Much of the time we picked the kids for what they could bring to our team. If you were selecting players for a game of basketball, you tried to pick the best shooters or the tallest kids so that they can snatch those rebounds.
However, there were the times when those you selected were hand-picked because they were your friends. There were those who were picked for a team with the hope that when it was their turn to choose, he or she would remember you.
Jesus was aware of this kind of discrimination or favoritism and lets His disciples know in in Luke chapter 14 that it was not to be so when it came to the Kingdom:
(Luke 14:12 NKJV) Then He also said to him who invited Him, "When you give a dinner or a supper, do not ask your friends, your brothers, your relatives, nor rich neighbors, lest they also invite you back, and you be repaid.
(Luke 14:13 NKJV) "But when you give a feast, invite the poor, the maimed, the lame, the blind.
(Luke 14:14 NKJV) "And you will be blessed, because they cannot repay you; for you shall be repaid at the resurrection of the just."
When I first sensed the call of God on my life to plant a church, as we organized for this new church, we would have “planning sessions” in my home.
At our first planning meeting, one of our tasks was to come up with a list of Christians we thought would be interested in helping us to plant a church. Several people came to my mind; these were people who I observed had a love for the Lord and His Word and a desire to use their spiritual gifts.
During those years people came to our church for a variety of reasons. Some came out of curiosity; others came out of their love for Debbie and me. Still others joined us simply because they wanted to be a part of something new.
It took almost six years of ministry for God to teach me a valuable lesson. He taught me that when inviting people to attend and even to join, do not target people who are the most likely to attend church.
I believe this is one of the points Jesus is making when He says, "When you give a dinner or a supper, do not ask your friends, your brothers, your relatives, nor rich neighbors, lest they also invite you back, and you be repaid.
Now don't think that Jesus is absolutely prohibiting us from inviting these kinds of people. He is warning us about having the attitude of going after a certain kind of person for a "payback".
Jesus was exposing the heart-attitude of the person who would invite a rich person to his party so that when it was the rich person’s turn to throw a party he would return the favor. In other words Jesus is sounding forth a warning to the person who sends invitations only to the kind of people who can produce for them a dividend.
“When I throw my party I'm going to invite my brother so-and-so because he is a lot of laughs and what’s a party without some cutting up?”
“Let me not forget Sister Sally because likes to sing and I can get her to provide me with some entertainment for free!”
“We definitely can’t forget Uncle Sanders, when he comes he always brings enough of his Kentucky-fried chicken to feed an army!”
When it comes to the expansion of the Kingdom, I’ve also learned that the church is not to focus its resources on reaching out to those who are already Kingdom citizens.
This is one of the major problems with the church when it comes to evangelism. What many are calling “growth” is Christians withdrawing their membership from one church to join another. "Church growth" today is nothing more than moving fish from one aquarium to another aquarium.
The question we need to ask ourselves is, “Are we going to be the kind of church that seeks to grow by enticing fish to leave their aquarium and join ours, or are we going to fulfill the Great Commission Jesus gave us to reach the lost? Are we to be "keepers of the aquarium" or "fishers of men?”
Jesus says, "When you give a feast, invite the poor, the maimed, the lame, the blind and you will be blessed, because they cannot repay you…" Jesus is telling us that if we really want a blessing, if we really want to be doing "Kingdom work," go and invite the ones who can't repay...go and invite the ones who have nothing to give in return.
Let’s continue…
(Luke 14:15 NKJV) Now when one of those who sat at the table with Him heard these things, he said to Him, "Blessed is he who shall eat bread in the kingdom of God!"
We don’t know exactly why this man made this statement but a Bible commentator says that this appears to be a pious remark made for the purpose of dulling the point of Christ's teaching…“Blessed is he who shall eat bread in the kingdom of God!”
While what the man says is true, but sometimes people say things in response to what you are saying and you wonder "where did that come from?" Once you think about what was said, you forget about the point you were making.
If you forget about the point you were making, perhaps the people you were talking to get distracted. This could be the reason why Jesus tells a parable beginning in verse 16; to underscore the original point He was making before getting rudely interrupted.
In the parable starting at verse 16, Jesus tells the story of a certain man who prepared a great supper and sent out an invitation to many guests.
(Luke 14:16 NKJV) … "A certain man gave a great supper and invited many,
(Luke 14:17 NKJV) "and sent his servant at supper time to say to those who were invited, 'Come, for all things are now ready.'
Verse one of this chapter tells us that Jesus was in the home of one of the rulers of the Pharisees. The Pulpit Commentary tells us that the kingdom of heaven, under the imagery of a great Banquet, was a picture well known to the Jews of that age.
The guests in the Pharisee’s house would at once grasp the meaning of this parable. They knew that the "supper" was heaven, and the Giver of the feast was God. The "many" invited to the banquet were Israel, the long line of generations of the chosen people.
(Luke 14:18 NKJV) "But they all with one accord began to make excuses. The first said to him, 'I have bought a piece of ground, and I must go and see it. I ask you to have me excused.'
(Luke 14:19 NKJV) "And another said, 'I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I am going to test them. I ask you to have me excused.'
(Luke 14:20 NKJV) "Still another said, 'I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come.'
AsJesus continued, a puzzled, angry look would come upon the self-satisfied faces of Pharisee, scribe, and doctor. They would begin to ask each other, "What and who is the Galilaean talking about?" “Wait a minute…He is talking about us!”
Yes, Jesus was referring to the religious leaders of the Jews, who rejected God's plan of salvation and gave a bunch of excuses for not following Him.
In the parable invitations went out and in Luke 14:18, the Bible says, "But they all with one accord began to make excuses…"
Actually, two invitations were issued. The host was saying to his servant in verse 17, “The cook said he is finished cooking and the feast is ready to be feasted upon, go and invite again those who were already invited.”
This reminds us of the finished work of redemption on the Cross of Calvary. The Gospel invitation goes out on the basis of its completion. The Bible says that Jesus cried out on the Cross, “It is finished!” He was saying to you and to me, “Redemption is ‘paid in full!’ Come and get it! The feast of salvation is ready and everyone is invited to partake!”
This is what the spreading of the Gospel is all about…it is inviting people to come to the banqueting table of salvation—to taste and see that the Lord is good!
In this parable, all were previously invited and no one ever declined so the host had assumed that they were coming. He had prepared all the food and festivities expecting them to come.
I’m pretty sure that in the first invitation they were given the day and the time but when that time came their seats were empty. When he sent his servant out the second time, they began to make excuses for their absence.
Since the excuses involved preplanned activities, the first invitation should have been declined out of courtesy but all their excuses boiled down to one thing: "I have something better to do."
Let's look for a moment at the kinds of excuses given.
Materialism.
(Luke 14:18 NKJV) “The first said to him, 'I have bought a piece of ground, and I must go and see it. I ask you to have me excused.'”
Normally when you buy a piece of land, you look at it before you purchase it. This man was putting the love of material things ahead of the invitation. It is sad how so many people do the same by waiting until Sunday to wash their car or to work around their house, rather than go to church to give God the glory for the things they have.
A love for material things often hinders men and women from accepting the Gospel invitation.
Business
(Luke 14:19 NKJV) "And another said, 'I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I am going to test them. I ask you to have me excused.'
This excuse illustrates those who put jobs, occupations or business ahead of the call of God. Whatever happened to the days when on Sunday, the Lord’s Day, most businesses were closed for service?
Years ago, if I was asked to come in on a Sunday, my employer would pay me double-time. Now, many people are made to come in on Sunday as part of their regular work hours.
A preoccupation with business has kept many people from accepting the Gospel invitation.
Social Relationships
(Luke 14:20 NKJV) “Still another said, 'I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot attend.'”
While on the surface this excuse seems to be a legitimate one, but this man, like the rest, had gotten an invitation earlier and could have declined it.
This man pictures those who let family ties and social relationships hinder them from accepting the Gospel invitation.
Perhaps his wife didn’t want him to attend the feast. Or, maybe he had to take her to the shopping mall or to her mother’s house. Maybe his wife was of a different ethnic group and didn’t feel comfortable around Jews.
There have been times when I have shared the Gospel with someone only to hear them say things like, “Our family have been Episcopalians since I can remember, I’m not going to change now…”
Are you letting materialism, your job or social relationships hinder you from accepting God’s gracious invitation to come to Christ? Perhaps you are already a Christian. If so, God is inviting you as well to commune with Him at His table. Are you making excuses too?
Let’s continue…
(Luke 14:21 NKJV) "So that servant came and reported these things to his master. Then the master of the house, being angry, said to his servant, 'Go out quickly into the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in here the poor and the maimed and the lame and the blind.'
Again, this parable is illustrating Jesus’ own invitation to the Jewish leadership…they were the one’s pictured in the parable...they were the ones who were originally invited, but declined. Most of the Scribes, Pharisees and Sadducees rejected this invitation to be a part of the Kingdom from the Son of God.
(Luke 14:22 NKJV) "And the servant said, 'Master, it is done as you commanded, and still there is room.'
Amazingly there was still no room. Even today when you offer spiritually needy people the Bread of Life and the Living Water, they don't want Him. In fact, in Jesus Days if an invalid was healed, he lost his livelihood--it was more profitable to be ame than to be whole.
For some people, their comfort zone is homelessness; their survival is made possible through panhandling. They don't want Jesus anymore than they want a job.
(Luke 14:23-24 NKJV) "Then the master said to the servant, 'Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled. 'For I say to you that none of those men who were invited shall taste my supper.'"
Notice the choice of the master's word "compel" used in verse 23. This word communicates the attitude of urgency we should possess as we evangelize our circle of family, friends and neighbors.
Some radical groups have sought to compel people by force in order to get converts—this kind of thing happened in the history of the church during what was known as the Crusades. It is happening today as radical Islamic groups use terrorism to squelch any and all opposition to the Koran.
But the Bible teaches that Christians ought to compel people to come to the Master’s house by use of reason and loving persuasion.
Reason: We use reason when we share that the Christian faith is not merely an emotional makeover, but a rational decision to trust God based on the claims of Scripture regarding the life, death and works of Jesus Christ.
Isaiah 1:18 says, ""Come now, let us reason together," says the LORD. "Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool."
Loving Persuasion: We use loving persuasion when we abstain from retaliation when wronged. We use loving persuasion when doing works of compassion and mercy to the poor and undeserving.
In Matthew 5:43-48 Jesus says, “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighborh and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you: Love your enemiesi and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect."
We are to compel people to partake of the feast of salvation by reason and loving persuasion.
Notice with me the kinds of people that were to be compelled to attend the Master’s banquet: Go out quickly into the streets and lanes of the city and bring in here the poor and the maimed, and the lame and the blind. (vs. 21)
Who are these people? Why were they invited?
The Poor
It’s obvious that poor people are poor—they do not have any money. Attending a luxurious banquet is not something they plan on doing.
I imagine that the master told his servant to invite the poor because most of the time, it is easy to convince a poor person to come and get something to eat—they are hungry and food is being offered—it’s a “no brainer.”
The original guests were not impoverished; they were not without food, clothing and shelter, so a bountiful meal would not be as appetizing to them.
The larger lesson we can take away from this parable is that while salvation and gift of eternal life is offered to everyone, only those who realize their spiritual poverty will respond.
Only those who recognize they are nothing without Jesus Christ will respond to God’s offer of eternal life; Only those who are aware that they are spiritually bankrupt will accept the free gift of salvation found in Jesus Christ.
1Corinthians 1:26 For you see your calling, brothers, that not many wise men according to the flesh are called, not many mighty, not many noble.
1Corinthians 1:27 But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God has chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty;
1Corinthians 1:28 and God has chosen the base things of the world, and things which are despised, and things which are not, in order to bring to nothing things that are;
1Corinthians 1:29 so that no flesh should glory in His presence.
We were “poor.” We were bankrupt spiritually and on our way to a Christ-less eternity and Jesus saved us. The song says, “Let the poor say ‘I am rich’ because of what Christ has done!”
The Maimed
A maim person is disfigured and marred. When Adam and Eve sinned by disobeying God and eating the forbidden fruit, they lost their glory…they lost their innocence.
Sin has a way of disfiguring a person. It will rob a person from the joy and happiness of life. You, like I have, come across people on the street who make a regular living from panhandling and begging for money. The joy is gone…the light is missing from their eyes. Life has worn them out…their countenance is dark and dreary.
This was probably the way it was for Adam and Eve after they had sinned. They no longer wanted to fellowship with God…they hid from God. Realizing they were naked, they sewed fig leaves to cover themselves and when confronted about their sin, they placed the blame on each other. Childlike innocence was gone and the darkness of sin and maimed them.
Before Jesus saves a man or woman, they are “maimed.” They are damaged goods—selfish, self-absorbed, anxious, suspicious, limping along in life.
Paul writes in Titus 3:3-5, “For we ourselves also were once foolish, disobedient, deceived, slaving for various lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, hating one another. But when the kindness and love of God our Savior toward man appeared, not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us…”
In 2 Corinthians 5:21 we are told that in Christ we are new creations; old things are passed away and all things have become new.
The Lame
This kind of person is crippled, impaired, disabled. Sometimes we call people "lame" meaning they are "out of touch."
In John chapter five we find a man who was lame for 38 years:
Now there is in Jerusalem by the sheep gate a pool, which is called in Hebrew Bethesda, having five porches. 3?In these lay a multitude of them that were sick, blind, halt, withered, waiting for the moving of the water. 4?for an angel of the Lord went down at certain seasons into the pool, and troubled the water: whosoever then first after the troubling of the waters stepped in was made whole, with whatsoever disease he was holden. 5?And a certain man was there, who had been thirty and eight years in his infirmity. 6?When Jesus saw him lying, and knew that he had been now a long time in that case, he saith unto him, Wouldest thou be made whole? 7?The sick man answered him, Sir, I have no man, when the water is troubled, to put me into the pool: but while I am coming, another steppeth down before me.
This is a description of us before salvation. We were “spiritually lame.” We were spiritually crippled and unable to walk upright before God. None of our efforts to get right availed. Jesus, like with this helpless man, had to come to our rescue.
8?Jesus saith unto him, Arise, take up thy bed, and walk. 9?And straightway the man was made whole, and took up his bed and walked.
The Blind
We were “spiritually blind” and could not see the glory of God and all the wonderful truths He wanted us to learn and all the wonderful blessings He wanted to bestow upon us.
Aren’t you glad that Jesus extended His invitation to the poor and the maimed and the lame and the blind?
In Jesus’ parable, the master gets angry (vs. 21) when the original people He has invited fail to come to the feast and the Bible says,
The Gospel invitation goes out to all but only a few respond. It is our job as the Master’s servants to go out with the second invitation and compel them to come to the feast.
We have to compel them by reason, so it behooves us to know our Bible. We are to go forth and say, "Come now, and let us reason together," Says the LORD, "Though your sins are like scarlet, They shall be as white as snow; Though they are red like crimson, They shall be as wool.” (Isaiah 1:18)
We are to compel them with loving persuasion. Demonstrations of the love of Christ will give us an audience for the hearing of the Gospel. “My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth.” (1 John 3:18)
The importance of this suggestion is seen in the following statement: "People don't care how much we know until they know how much we care!" A demonstration of love will make a person more likely to be receptive to the Gospel when it is shared (1Pe 2:12).
Our love and good works will help prepare the "soil" to be as receptive as possible when the "seed" of God's Word is planted.
Lastly, we are to compel them by going. Jesus said in His parable that the master “sent his servant at supper time to say to those who were invited, 'Come, for all things are now ready.'”
Obviously the servant knew of the master’s preparation. He had sampled the master’s delicacies and been a recipient of the master’s gracious generosity. He knew that his master spared no expense.
If you are a Christian, you know what the Lord did to purchase your salvation. You know that the Lord is merciful.
If you are a Christian, you know that you didn't deserve the Lord's blessings. You know that the Lord is gracious.
If you are a Christian, you have tasted the goodness of the Lord. You know that the Lord is good.
If you have tasted the goodness of the Lord and know that God gave His best to deliver us from sin, you need to have the attitude of a grateful servant and go and compel them to come in.
