The Lord Invites Every One To Eat At His Table

THE LORD INVITES EVERY ONE TO EAT AT HIS TABLE 10-14-06

Our text is found in Lk.14:16-24 but in order to see what’s taking place lets read verses 1-6 first.

LUKE 14: 1-6 1And it came to pass, as he went into the house of one of the chief Pharisees to eat bread on the sabbath day, that they watched him. 2And, behold, there was a certain man before him which had the dropsy.

Dropsy was excessive water in the tissues and from what I understand brought on by heart disease, and this is the only mention of it in the New Testament.

This Sabbath situation was a trap set up by Jesus’ enemies. No man with this terrible dropsy disease would be invited to supper at the house of a chief Pharisee, let alone sitting right in front of Jesus. Verse 1 also indicates that they watched him.~~**vs.1-2

There surely was much pressure on this crowd of hypocrites. Just think of tenseness at this dinner? It started with the Lord Jesus healing the man with dropsy—in the face of their disapproval. Then He looked the guests straight in the eyes and corrected their manners. Then He corrected the host. Believe me, Nobody was saying a word.

This trap was laid to ensnare the Lord. This poor man with the dropsy was deliberately planted to motivate Jesus to break the Sabbath by healing him. Notice what Jesus did before healing the poor man. Jesus asked them a question first, and they were afraid to answer Him.

3And Jesus answering spake unto the lawyers and Pharisees, saying, Is it lawful to heal on the sabbath day? 4And they held their peace. And he took him, and healed him, and let him go;

5And answered them, saying, “ Which of you shall have an ass or an ox fallen into a pit, and will not straightway pull him out on the Sabbath day?”

6And they could not answer him again to these things.

Now lets read verses 16-24

16Then said he unto him,[the host] A certain man made a great supper, and bade many: 17And sent his servant at supper time to say to them that were bidden, Come; for all things are now ready. 18And 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.

19And another said, I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I go to prove [test] them: I pray thee have me excused.

20And another said, I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come.**

21So that servant came, and shewed his lord these things. 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 hither the poor, and the maimed, and the halt, and the blind.

22And the servant said, Lord, it is done as thou hast commanded, and yet there is room.

23And the lord said unto the servant, Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled.

24For I say unto you, That none of those men which were bidden shall taste of my supper.

TheSE HYPOCRITES couldn’t care less about the growth of God’s kingdom or embracing anyone different from themselves. Jesus speaks to this attitude through a parable of a great supper. This parable not only addresses the attitude of the guest but presents three truths that can be applied us today.

God’s Gracious Invitation - verses 16-17 16Then said he unto him,[the host] A certain man made a great supper, and bade many: 17And sent his servant at supper time to say to them that were bidden, Come; for all things are now ready.

We point out that the invitation was sent out to inform “many” people of the upcoming supper.

B. John 3:16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”

C. Many hear by TV, radio, preaching, witnessing believers, or by reading.

D. The initial invitation is accepted by all. Notice that the servant was sent “to them that were bidden”

E. The initial invitation called only for an acknowledgement, whereas the second invitation calls forommitmentandaction.

F. Revelation 22:17 “And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that hears say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.”

II. Man’s Callous Rejection - verses 18-20 18And 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.