EXCUSES, EXCUSES
Opening Prayer
Thank you, Holy Spirit, for teaching me through the Bible. Speak to me today; enable me to apply its truths to my life.
Read LUKE 14:15–24
The Parable of the Great Banquet
15 When one of those at the table with him heard this, he said to Jesus, “Blessed is the one 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, ‘I 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.’
20 “Still another said, ‘I just got married, so I 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 still room.’
23 “Then the master told his servant, ‘Go out to the roads and country lanes and compel them to come in, so that my house will be full. 24 I tell you, not one of those who were invited will get a taste of my banquet.’”
New International Version (NIV)Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Reflect
Do you have neighbors, friends, or relatives who are indifferent to the good news of Jesus?I’m ashamed to admit that I once booked an appointment at a specific time in order to avoid accepting an unwanted invitation. I guess that it was not unlike the characters in this punchy parable. This story is Jesus’ response to one of the guests, whose comment (v 15) probably meant that he thought only Jews would be present in God’s kingdom. Jesus subsequently turned that notion upside down!
The master in the story is God, the great banquet is the kingdom, and the invited guests represent the Jewish nation who would reject Jesus (John 1:11). The feeble excuses for declining the invitation showed total disinterest in what was on offer—for example, buying land or livestock would surely involve preliminary inspection! All the reasons given showed other priorities taking precedence—some- thing we may also need to be mindful of, perhaps?
Jesus’ response toward those who rejected his offer of salvation was to emphasize yet again that he came to save not only the Jews, but Gentiles too. It included the marginalized (people the Pharisees would have considered ‘unclean,’ vv. 21, 23). Jesus knew exactly what he was doing, and the hidden message was loud and clear for the Pharisees.
Apply
Jesus’ attitude to outcasts demonstrates the heart of God so clearly. Do we take God’s grace and mercy for granted?
Closing prayer
Loving Savior, as I thank you for your sacrifice offered for me, bring to my mind those around me who do not yet know you and inspire my prayers for them.
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