1. The "Parable Of The Great Supper" contains vital lessons.

2. The setting of the parable in Luke=s gospel is a Sabbath meal in the home of a Pharisee. (Lk. 14:1).

Note: Matthew records a similar parable to this one is Luke. (Matt. 22:1-14). Matthew sounds a warning note to the Jews who would reject the Messiah.

14:15 And when one of those who were reclining {at the table} with Him heard this, he said to Him, "Blessed is everyone who shall eat bread in the kingdom of God!"

1. This may be an allusion to the Jewish hope for the time when the Messiah would come and share a great feast with Israel=s devout.

2. The word Awho shall eat bread@ denotes those who share in the blessings of the kingdom.

14:16 But He said to him, "A certain man was giving a big dinner, and he invited many;

1. The "many" represent Jews who were outwardly pious and claimed to know God.

2. It was customary to extend two invitations.

• The first (as here) was to make reservations.

• The second was to announce the banquet was beginning or about to begin.

14:17 and at the dinner hour he sent his slave to say to those who had been invited, 'Come; for everything is ready now.'

1. The day of the "dinner" would be indicated at the first invitation and the hour at the second.

2. If a man did not choose to go, he should make it known when first approached before further preparations.

3. A host was expected to give a second summons, and it was rude for a guest to refuse it, having accepted the first.

14:18 "But they all alike began to make excuses. The first one said to him, 'I have bought a piece of land and I need to go out and look at it; please consider me excused.'

1. The invited guests began to give what they likely viewed as valid reasons for declining the invitation.

2. It is significant that Jesus called each of the refusals as Aexcuses.@

3. The fact is that no excuse is acceptable to God.

4. The most important thing in the world is obeying God and absolutely nothing should hinder us from accepting God=s invitation. (Eccles. 12:1).

• It was very rude to decline the invitation of the host after he had made preparation.

• It is rude beyond words to reject the invitation of God who gave His Son on the cross that we might be saved. 

14:19 "And another one said, 'I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I am going to try them out; please consider me excused.'

1. The excuses seem rather flimsy and weak since one would not generally buy a field or an oxen without prior examination.

2. The land could have been viewed and the oxen could have been tried after supper.

14:20 "And another one said, 'I have married a wife, and for that reason I cannot come.'

1. The married man may have felt his excuse valid on the basis of implications from Deuteronomy 24:5, but he should have arranged his marriage differently having accepted the first invitation.

2. His refusal manifested his disrespect for the host, and broken promises implied by acceptance of the first invitation.

Note: These four names occur in a different order in Luke 14:13.

1. The flimsy excuse made the host very Aangry.@

2. The places where the poor would be found.

3. These (the poor, and crippled and blind and lame) stand for the Jews who were despised and rejected.

4. These are more receptive. (1 Cor. 1:26-29).

14:22 "And the slave said, 'Master, what you commanded has been done, and still there is room.'

1. "Still there is room" is a glorious statement.

2. There is room at the AGreat Supper@ for all who will humbly accept the invitation.

3. Neither the kingdom or heaven is limited in space.

14:23 "And the master said to the slave, 'Go out into the highways and along the hedges [country lanes], and compel {them} to come in, that my house may be filled.

1. The word "compel" does not mean "force," but has the idea of "strongly encourage."

2. The Bible does not approve or encourage forced conversions to Christianity.

• Obedience must be of our free-will.

• Unless obedience is our own free-will it has no value.

3. People who were in such dire circumstances would be hesitate to such an invitation.

4.This third group may symbolize non-Jews or perhaps even a lower class of Jews.

5. God=s will is not hindered or foiled by the rejection of human beings.

6. The places at the kingdom banquet will be filled despite the rejection of many.

14:24 'For I tell you, none of those men who were invited shall taste of my dinner [banquet].' "

1. The plural "you" is difficult since it appears the host was speaking to his servant.

2. Perhaps Jesus, overlapping the story and his application, addressed his audience through the words of the host.

3. It would impress the hearers if they recognized that Jesus, by using the plural, was addressing them.

1. The man [host] who made the supper represents God.

2. The Abig@ supper represents the provisions God has made for the salvation of man.

3. The kingdom is liken to a great feast.

4. The first invitation the offer God made to the Jews.

5. The second and third invitations likely represent invitations to lowly Jews and perhaps even Gentiles.

6. It is only by God's invitation that one can enter the kingdom of God.

• God does not call us by favoritism. (Acts 10:34,35).

• He calls us through His word. (Jno. 6:45; 2 Thess. 2:13,14).

7. Once the invitation is given man remains outside the kingdom by his own choice.

8. God wants all men to accept His invitation. (Mk. 16:15; Matt. 28:19,20).

• The all includes men of all nations and races.

• The all includes Athe poor and crippled and blind and lame.@

9. God is angered by the flimsy excuses men offer for not accepting His gracious invitation and the atonement of His Son.

10. Here are a few of the endless excuses men give for not accepting Christ.