Room at the Table
Luke 14:15-23
In out text we read a parable that Jesus told his disciples about a Great Supper. Jesus talks about ... a Certain Man who had a great supper and invited many people in the town. I think that it is safe to assume that only a certain group of people or class was initially invited to this dinner.
In other words ... this was not an invitation for just anybody. I believe that the initial invitation went out to those whom this Certain Man of our text deemed to be a part of his family or at the very least his closes friends.
After the meal was prepared, he sent his servant out to round up all of the partygoers. The servant goes around knocking on doors informing them that the meal was ready ... now I don’t know about you, but I love to hear three words “Honey Dinner’s Ready”.
Now ... one would think that these invitees would be excited about attending this great supper. Besides, it was free for them.
Turn to your neighbor and say ... Neighbor; nothing in life is free.
Oh no ... you see, what may be free to you, cost someone else something (example of taking someone to dinner).
Trust me ... I’m going somewhere with this tonight. You see ... the certain man hosting the dinner covered the cost of the dinner and all they had to do was show up and on time, on the right day.
Oh yeah ... it would do you no good to be late to this great supper or get your dates mixed up and show up a day later. The party would be over.
I suppose that is why the certain man in the parable sent his servant out to tell them that the supper was ready. Which means to me that ... the He could have called them to dinner at anytime or on any day. You see ... they did not know the day or the hour, they were just supposed to be ready.
All these invitees had to do was be ready and simply attend. I don’t know about you but the best supper I ever had was the one that I did not have to slave over in a hot kitchen ... and most of all is FREE.
This meal cost them anything ... or did it [we will discuss the cost a little later] but bear with me if you will. Can you imagine ... you try to give somebody something that would change their life for free and out of their selfish desires and pride they refuse to accept it.
Think about it ... I would have been excited. You mean to tell me that I get to go to the biggest super of my life and it doesn’t cost me anything nor do I have to bring anything.
WOW! Let me say that again backwards ... WOW! This gives a whole new meaning of come, as you are ... count me in.
Those of you familiar with this passage of scripture know that was not the response for the invitees. Those invited instead of accepting the invitation started doing what most do today when asked to attend Church or invited to come see how Christian fellowship can make difference in their lives ... you guessed it, they start making all kinds of excuses as to why they could not attend.
Use your imagination if you will. Can you imagine that you are invited, not to a supper, but the greatest supper party ever? The party of all parties but instead of going you would rather go see a piece of land you just bought.
Well ... that was the excuse of the first respondent. He said that he just bought a piece of property off of EBAY. It is located in a city in Florida called Swapville; it’s about three miles south of Alligator City. You see little servant you don’t understand, I used all the money I had, oh how, I wanted this property so bad, I know that this is the biggest supper party that this town has ever had, but sorry, go tell you Master that I’m going to have to pass.
Watch this ... the other invitee wanted to be excused because he had just bought 5 oxen and wanted to put them to the test.
Whew – wee ... just think little servant, I’ll be able to plow my field 10 times faster that the Jones, besides I have 5 oxen and they only have 3, and I heard one of them wasn’t worth the salt used to buy him. You see ... little servant you don’t understand, I just bought five oxen, and I feel like TIM THE TOOL MAN TAYLOR, with all of this power. Go tell your Master thanks, but no thanks something more important has come up, I’m going to have to pass.
Now the last respondent we might be able to sympathize with or can we? You see ... this last invitee cancelled because he had just got married.
Come on now ... that’s a good excuse isn’t it, this man was on his honeymoon. Besides, he was having his own party at the moment. What about that excuse ... that’s a good one isn’t it.
Hum ... I’m reminded here of a lesson that Jesus taught about the cost of discipleship over in Luke 14:26 (Turn there with me please)
Again nothing in life is free ... you have to give up something. In other words, on the Lord’s Day ... no excuse will do.
Can you imagine going before the Lord and saying?
- Lord ... I wanted to come but my father didn’t believe in you and would not allow me to come? Not withstanding that you are 50 years old now. EXCUSES.
- Lord I wanted to come but my mother treated me bad as a child.
- Lord ... I wanted to come but my wife refuses to come with me. EXCUSES.
- Lord ... I wanted to come but you see my high school made it all the way to the final and this was one game that I could not miss.
- Lord ... I wanted to come but my brother and sisters will be mad at me if I miss my mother’s birthday party.
Brother and sisters ... in that day, no excuse will do, not even a honeymoon, as precious as it may be. Everything in your life should pale in comparison to accepting this invitation.
Now I would like for you to put yourself in the shoes of this gracious host [the Certain Man]. The biggest feast ever and none of the chosen people wanted to attend.
Hum ... what about the cost of the invitation? What about the food that would go to waste. What about the broken bread and poured out wine; were all of my efforts for naught and in vain? You mean to tell me that I planned and I planned for this grand occasion, what do you mean none of the chosen vessels want to attend.
Can you imagine the anger of the host?
Watch this ... [verse 21] READ
We see in out text that the master got angry. You are offering your very best and the chosen vessels reject it, and their rejection of your very best is in essence ... their rejection of you.
Come on now ... wouldn’t you be angry when you consider the price that had to be paid for this great supper and your carefully selected, chosen vessels were more concerned with their own selfish needs and desires.
Now you are ready for the supper but no guess. What are you to do? Do you just postpone the supper until a later date more convenient to your attendees? Or do you just chalk it up as a lost and throw everything away or simply feed everything to the dogs. Or do you send out a second invitation to anybody who believe and is willing to come.
Watch this ... [verse 21]
“... Go out quickly...” I think Romans 13:11-12 sums things up beautifully where it says “And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than we believe. The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness and let us put on the armor of light.”
In other words, the supper is ready, don’t waste time.
Watch this ... not only does the Master tells the servant to go quickly ... but look at where he told him to go. You see ... that is the grace of the text. These people whom the servant is now to invite were not invited the first time. This is a feast that they could only dream about attending ... but now their dreams are about to become reality.
Oh yeah ... the master tells his servant to go to a particular place and invite particular people.
Watch this verse 21 says ... GO OUT QUICKLY in the particular place: streets and lanes of the city and BRING IN hither the particular people: the poor, and the maimed, and the halt, and the blind.
But I want us to stay right here for a minute. I want you to notice something. [v. 17] Notice that the first invitation was not just for anybody, but too certain chosen people. “And sent his servant at supper time to SAY TO THEM that were invited, COME; for all things are ready now.”
... But they rejected the invitation
John 1:11 says “He came unto His own and His own received Him not”
But watch this ... notice the second invitation (v.21)
GO OUT QUICKLY in the particular place: streets and lanes of the city and BRING IN hither the particular people: the poor, and the maimed, and the halt, and the blind.
I had to point this out because this is the grace of the text and I don’t want you to miss it. You see ... you and I did not come from the right sect or should I say, you and I did not have the right family lineage to be apart of the first invitation. Too be the glory for His second invitation.
Scripture says over in John 1:12-13 ... “He came unto his own, and his own received Him not. But as many as received Him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name: Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.”
Brothers and sisters that something to shout about ... why am I excited, I’m excited because I was once lock out of God’s grace and mercy but now, I’m locked in.
The hymnologiest said it best when he penned Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me. I once was lost but now I’m found, I was blind but now I see.
But ... by the grace of God go I
The first man in our text was only concerned about his land, the other was only concerned about his oxen and the last was concerned about his wife.
BUT the Master in his compassion was not only concerned about the three of them, but He was also concerned about the ordinary people of the streets and lane, who had no particular social class ... like me, a young man from little old Chattanooga, Tennessee.
In other words ... the Master instructed his servant to go get the people who the world said would not amount to anything. You know like the hobo and the bum; the drug addict and the drunkard. Go get the down trodden and the outcasted of the world and tell them to come.
And because of this second invitation, we find over in Galatians 3:28 that...
“There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female; for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.”
But wait that is not all... verse 29 says
“And if you be in Christ, then are ye Abraham’s seed [which means to me that I am a chosen vessel], and heirs according to the promise.”
Walk with me [v. 21]
I told you that I was going somewhere with this, well here it is evangelism, outreach, seeking and saving the lost...
Verse 22
“And the servant said Lord, it is done as thou hast commanded, and yet there is room.”
First, let us take a closer look at this faithful servant. I Corinthians 4:2 says “Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.”
This is a perfect example of a faithful steward.
- He was obedient and went out to offer the first invitation; then came back
- He went out to tell them that supper was ready; then came back
- He went to the particular people and the particular places; then came back
- and in verse 23 he is instructed to go out yet again
Now I don’t know about you but that is a lot of coming and going. I would have said man this is not working ... maybe you need to get a better approach. You ever thought about investing in telephone. This going back and forth is getting pretty old.
Well how does this faithful servant apply to you and I?
#1. When you get tried, just think of this faithful servant. When it seems like you are not getting anywhere with this church plant outreach effort. Be obedient to God’s will and be found faithful.
#2. Notice the servant said Lord it is done as thou hast commanded. That means... don’t go out without seeking direction from God. And most importantly when God gives the direction don’t change course and start doing things your way.
#3. Notice that once the faithful servant did what was asked of him ... there was still room. Just know that you may be able to preach like Paul or sing like an angel; you may even be the best evangelist of this day and time, but there is one thing certain. There will be people who still refuse to accept the invitation to Christian Discipleship.
There is room is a direct indication that many where told but only a few believe and accepted the invitation.
- So don’t get discouraged when people slam the door in your face.
- Don’t get discouraged when people call you crazy and say that you are wasting your time
- Just remember the servant in this passage and be found faithful.
We are told in Luke 9:5 that “And whosoever will not receive you, when ye go out of that city, shake off the very dust from your feet for a testimony against them.”
Mark 6:11: “And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear you, when ye depart thence, shake off the dust under your feet for a testimony against them. Verily I say unto you, it shall be more tolerable for Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgement, than for the city.”
So don’t be discouraged ... just be found faithful.
Walk with me [verse 23]
We see here that the servant is instructed to go to the highways. We discovered before that he was instructed to go from street to street and from lane to lane then from city to city. But here the servant is instructed to get on the highway ... let bring it to modern day time and say get on the highway and take the invitation from state to state. Talking about outreach. [Ex: I’m not from here]
Well preacher ... what if there is no street or lane or city or highway? Well ... scriptures say to go from hedge to hedge. Down south we called them sticker bushes. In other words, if you have to go from sticker bush to sticker bush all the way to Africa and back ... go and tell them to come so that my house may be filled.
This verse here tells us that God does not desire that any should be lost. In fact scripture says “... there is joy in the presence of angels of God over one sinner that repenteth.” {Luke 15:10]
Unfortunately for some ... this invitation will not always be available.
WATCH THIS ... verse 24
“For I say unto you, that none of those men which were bidden (invited) shall taste of my supper.”
So I leave you with this ... In all that you do for this church planet effort, be found faithful.
The faithful servant of this parable had direct communication with his master, which means to me that he got in. Now he may have not had the finest of apparel, in fact the scriptures refer to him as a servant. Which means he did not have the fancy title that some Christians desire. He may have not been able to even sit at the table, but thanks to God that the faithful servant got in the upper room.
You see ... you don’t have to be like James and John, the sons of thunder, and fight over who is going to be seated on Jesus right hand or left hand.
I just want to be found faithful and be there when they crown Him Lord of Lord and King of Kings. You see this servant got in because he was found faithful and did what his master commanded.
Again there will be those here in Augusta, and all over this state who flat out refuse the master’s invitation to Christian Discipleship ... don’t let that discourage you, just go forward and carry out the Great Commission.
When what you are doing seems like it is going no good, as long as what you are doing is good ... then keep on doing it.
And when you do you will here King Jesus say someday “Well done thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter into the joy of the Lord.” [Matthew 25:21]
“...Blessed is he that shall eat bread in the Kingdom of God.”
