Parable of the Great Banquet
“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.” Jesus replied: “A certain man was preparing a great banquet and invited many guests. At the time of the banquet he sent his servant to tell those who had been invited, ‘Come, for everything is now ready.’ “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.’ “Another said, ‘I have just bought five yoke of oxen, and I’m on my way to try them out. Please excuse me.’ “Still another said, ‘I just got married, so I can’t come.’” Luke14:15-24(NIV)
The Common Excuses:
- Building Property
- Busy with Work
- Family Matters
These are not seemingly big offences yet God’s anger was very much on these and God said, “I tell you, not one of those who were invited will get a taste of my banquet.’ ”” Luke 14:24 (NIV)
Instead those are in the streets and cities that are poor, the crippled, blind and the lame are invited to enjoy feasts in the Kingdom of God according to this parable taught by the Lord Jesus. They may be,
- Drug addicts
- Prostitutes
- Gamblers
But these will come and enjoy the banquet. And there is much more place in the Kingdom of God to accommodate many more. ““ ‘Sir,’ the servant said, ‘what you ordered has been done, but there is still room.’ “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.” Luke 14:22-23 (NIV) So let us not be careless to miss the great opportunity that is set before us to be in the Marriage of the Lamb’s Banquet that Jesus went to heaven ahead of us to prepare. Revelation 19:7-9(NIV)
God wants His people to serve Him and bring souls to His Kingdom in all that you do or in all the relationships you have with people. Just doing your routine and taking care of your close-knit family alone is not enough in the sight of God. These are the lame excuses you can give God saying you have been busy so no time to spare for the Lord’s Work.
Jesus sends out His disciples
“After this the Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them two by two ahead of him to every town and place where he was about to go. He told them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field. Go! I am sending you out like lambs among wolves”. Luke 10:1-16(NIV). So all the time with dedication and prayer serve the Lord when the doors are still open for the Gospel.