The Great Supper Series

THE GREAT SUPPER—Luke: 14: 15-24

INTRODUCTION

In our last study, we found Jesus at the house of one of the rulers of the Pharisees... He had gone there to eat bread on the Sabbath- Luke 14:1 Watched closely by the lawyers and Pharisees who were present, Jesus healed a man with dropsy, and silenced their objections to Him healing on the Sabbath - Luke 14:2-6. Then noticing how they were choosing the best places to sit, Jesus taught the parable of "Taking The Lowest Place" to teach the importance of humility - Luke 14:7-11

It was on this same occasion that Jesus taught another parable... Known as the parable of "The Great Supper", it is recorded in Luke 14:15-24

Luke 14:15 when one of those at the table with him heard this, he said to Jesus, "Blessed is the man who will eat at the feast in the kingdom of God "16 Jesus replied: "A certain man was preparing a great banquet and invited many guests. 17 at the time of the banquet he sent his servant to tell those who had been invited, ’Come, for everything is now ready. ’18 "But they all alike began to make excuses. The first said, ’have just bought a field, and I must go and see it Please excuse Me. ’19 "Another said, ’I have just bought five yoke of oxen, and I’m on my way to try them out Please excuse Me. ’2O"Still another said, ’I just got married, so l can’t come. ’21 "The servant came back and reported this to his master. Then the owner of the house became angry and ordered his servant, ’Go out quickly into the streets and alleys of the town and bring in the poor; the crippled, the blind and the lame. ’22 Sir, ’ the servant said, ’what you ordered has been done, but there is stillroom. ’23 "Then the master told his servant, ’Go out to the roads and country lanes and make them come in, so that my house will be full. 24 I tell you, not one of those men who were invited will get a taste of my banquet’" We can immediately notice similarities between this parable and the parable of "The Wedding Feast", found in Mt 22:1-14. But these parables are not one and the same... The occasion is different, the parable of ’1The Wedding Feast" was actually told later in Jesus’ ministry, during His final week, and in the Temple

The parable of "The Great Supper" was told much earlier, and at the house of the Pharisee. The application is different. The parable of "The Wedding Feast" appears directed more to the nation of Israel as a whole, in rejecting the Son of the King - Mt 22:1-3

The parable of "The Great Supper" does not appear to have such a limited focus, thus its application may hit a little closer to home and since it "hits closer to home", we want to be careful to make whatever application of this parable we can. Let’s begin with some preliminary observations. As we analyse we must first look at the setting.

Again, Jesus is eating at the house of one of the rulers of the Pharisees, along with a number of lawyers and Pharisees - Luke 14:1-6. He had just told the parable of “Taking The Lowest Place" - Luke 14:7-6. He then tells His host that when he has a dinner or a supper, that he ought to invite those who cannot repay him- Luke 14:12-14. Jesus is not saying that we can "never have our friends, etc., over. He is in fact stressing hospitality towards those who cannot repay us in this life. In this case, spiritual food is more important than physical food. Jesus’ comments prompt a response from one who heard Him -

LukeI4: 15 "Blessed is he who shall eat bread in the kingdom of God! " It is more than likely that this saying was precipitated by Jesus’ reference to the being repaid at the resurrection of the just -LukeI4: 14. And it is this comment by the other guest that prompts Jesus to tell another parable...

"The language of Christ implied that God himself would feast those who feasted the poor, and this implication accorded with the Jewish notion that the kingdom of God would be ushered in with a great festival. Inspired by this thought, and feeling confident that he should have been part of the festivities, this guest exclaimed upon the anticipated blessedness."

(MCGARVEY)

THE PARABLE ITSELF...

A certain man gives a great supper and extends his invitation - Luke 14:16-17. However, those invited began to make excuses for there absence. One had bought a piece of ground, and said he must go and see it -Luke 14:18. Another had bought five yoke of oxen, and wanted to test them -Luke 14:19. A third said he had married, and could not come -Luke 14:20.The master, being angry, sends his servant to go out and invite others. At first, the poor, maimed, lame and blind (i.e., social outcasts) - Luke 14:21 but there is still room, so the servant is sent out again, to compel those among the highways and hedges to come - Luke 14:22-23. But those invited who made excuses would not taste of his supper - Luke 14:24. [Jesus does not explain the meaning of this parable, so we are left on our own. Here are some thoughts in regards to...