Luke 14
When He noticed how the guests picked the places of honor at the table, He told them this parable: “When someone invites you to a wedding feast, do not take the place of honor, for a person more distinguished than you may have been invited. If so, the host who invited both of you will come and say to you, ‘Give this person your seat.’ Then, humiliated, you will have to take the least important place. But when you are invited, take the lowest place, so that when your host comes, he will say to you, ‘Friend, move up to a better place.’ Then you will be honored in the presence of all the other guests. For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.” Then Jesus said to his host, “When you give a luncheon or dinner, do not invite your friends, your brothers or sisters, your relatives, or your rich neighbors; if you do, they may invite you back and so you will be repaid. But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, and you will be blessed. Although they cannot repay you, you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.” Luke 14:7-14 NIV
Jesus is teaching us three very important lessons in this parable. 1. We should strive for humility. The easiest way to be truly humbled is to compare ourselves with Christ. In doing so, our need for forgiveness and salvation will become immediately apparent. This will lead us to the realization that we have nothing to offer Him, despite the fact that He has everything to offer us. Fully understanding that the gifts of grace and mercy are freely given to us despite our sins, will automatically lead to humble, whole-hearted gratitude and a life of ungrudging servitude to Our Savior. Having a humble heart also allows God to work through us, as we will be able to hear and follow His voice: “He guides the humble in what is right and teaches them His way” (Psalms 25:9). 2. We should want to please God, not people. Anything that the world looks at as a sign of success or high social status is utterly unimportant in the kingdom of God. “What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul?” (Matthew 16:26). What are ways that we can please God? Seek God by faith (pray and study God’s Word). Walk in the Spirit and not in the flesh (follow the Holy Spirit and not your selfish desires). Submit to the will of God (accept God’s plan for you). Love others (think of others above yourself). Although these things may seem impossible to do, remember that God wants us to please Him. He makes it possible for us to please Him by the power of His Spirit who lives in our hearts. 3. We should not be exclusive about who we invite into our lives, and who we offer help to. Jesus died for all people, and cares about everyone, regardless of who they are, where they come from, and what they have done in the past. His kingdom is open to everyone. “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by His grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus” (Romans 3:23-24). Who is God asking you to reach out to today?
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.’ 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.’ ‘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. I tell you, not one of those who were invited will get a taste of my banquet.’” Luke 14:15-24 NIV
This is a parable that tells us who will have a place in heaven with Jesus: anyone who accepts His invitation. In the parable, the invited guests were the Jews, God’s chosen people. Unfortunately, they declined Jesus’ invitation to join Him in the kingdom of God for very worldly and unimportant reasons. But now the door of salvation is open to everyone who accepts the invitation to have a relationship with the living God: “In the last days the mountain of the Lord’s temple will be established as the highest of the mountains; it will be exalted above the hills, and all nations will stream to it” (Isaiah 2:2). Despite this open door and open invitation, there are many excuses that people give for not accepting Jesus into their lives. Some claim that there isn’t enough proof to convince them to believe. Some say that they don’t have time right now. Some are afraid or embarrassed of what others will think. Some do not feel that they need a Savior. Some people are too enamored with the things that the world offers. Remember that nothing is more important than your relationship with God, and your eternal salvation: “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12).