The background of the passage of Scripture we will focus on today tells the story of Jesus being at a meal or supper that He was invited to. We will see in Luke 14:1-14 that He was invited by a man who was a leader of the Pharisee’s (the strictest of the Jewish religious leaders who followed the OT law verbatim). Jesus was the guest of honor at this meal.

Now, because of the culture and upbringing of the host and the guests, this would have made for an intense gathering. This group of people were the religious elite and while Jesus was at the party, they were watching every move He made. Ironically, He had been seated directly in front of a man who had a visible physical aliment “dropsy.”

This specific day was a Sabbath (instituted by God from creation to be a time of rest for mankind and a holy day to worship God). And these religious men were watching to see if Jesus would heal on a Sabbath, all along knowing how compassionate Jesus was. Jesus does heal this man. This makes the gathering all that much more intense.

As we read this passage, we will hear Jesus addressing not only the man who invited Him but also to the guests at the banquet. Remember, because of the status of the people in attendance this is already a tense gathering. What Jesus says to these people makes things more uncomfortable for them.

After Jesus addressed the people, there was a man who blurted out “The one who will eat bread in the Kingdom of God is blessed!” But obviously the man didn’t anticipate the answer Jesus would give to all in attendance after that. So, the story is growing more stressful for the people by the moment.

Jesus gave His answer in a parabolic form, which is a story that is told along side of a truth to make for more impact. The parables He tells in the following verses intensifies the situation even more. The parables He will tell all have the theme of “lostness.” We as Christians know Christ has forgave us of our sins and saved us. The lyrics to the song Amazing Grace “I once was lost but now I’m found, was blind but now I see” are penned by an ex slave trader who gave his life to Christ. This song is kind of an anthem for Christian people all over the world. 

The first parable Jesus began to tell these people was about the lame excuses people often give as to why they can’t follow Him.

Luke 14:16-18 (HCSB)

¹⁶ Then He told him: “A man was giving a large banquet and invited many. ¹⁷ At the time of the banquet, he sent his slave to tell those who were invited, ‘Come, because everything is now ready.’ ¹⁸ “But without exception they all began to make excuses. The first one said to him, ‘I have bought a field, and I must go out and see it. I ask you to excuse me.’

The first person gave the excuse they couldn’t come because they had just bought some land and needed to go see it first. That’s a pretty lame excuse isn’t it? Who would buy a piece of land before you have even looked it over first?

Luke 14:19 (HCSB)

¹⁹ “Another said, ‘I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I’m going to try them out. I ask you to excuse me.’

Here’s another lame excuse. Let me ask you? Would you go out today and buy a car or truck without first testing it out by driving it? That is what it seems this man was saying according to the excuse he gave.

Luke 14:20 (HCSB)

²⁰ “And another said, ‘I just got married, and therefore I’m unable to come.’

This man couldn’t come because he just got married. But the host probably told him to bring his wife along. They were both welcome. This parable that Jesus told is illustrating how that many people offer up excuses why they can’t get close to God and have a spiritual life. In today’s would we often hear “I’m just too busy,” “there’s no other day I have to spend with my family,” “I’m just so busy with family and business that I don’t have time.” “I can’t serve the Lord.”

Luke 14:21-24 (HCSB)

²¹ “So the slave came back and reported these things to his master. Then in anger, the master of the house told his slave, ‘Go out quickly into the streets and alleys of the city, and bring in here the poor, maimed, blind, and lame!’ ²² “‘Master,’ the slave said, ‘what you ordered has been done, and there’s still room.’ ²³ “Then the master told the slave, ‘Go out into the highways and lanes and make them come in, so that my house may be filled. ²⁴ For I tell you, not one of those men who were invited will enjoy my banquet!’”

The master didn’t stop inviting. He began to invite anyone who would take the invitation to come. You must know that at this time in history for this culture if you were invited to a banquet you were you were invited twice. You were invited once in advance of the banquet and then again when the meal was ready to eat.

To understand this parable of Jesus you must understand that the invited guests represent Israel or the Jewish Nation. The first invitation to them was happening all throughout the OT. Then along comes John the Baptist who says, “Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.” Basically, John was saying, “supper is ready!”

The poor and maimed people in the story represent the tax collectors and the sinners. These were people who the religious leaders looked down on. Then the people in the highways and hedges were the Gentiles. In other words, anyone and everyone who would come.

Luke 14:24 (HCSB)

²⁴ For I tell you, not one of those men who were invited will enjoy my banquet!’”

This meal was full on intense now. You must know that the compelling in verse 23 is a persuading or convincing by words. Basically, persuading people by living and speaking a lifestyle of love for Christ.

So, Jesus tells another parable in verse 25.

Luke 14:25-27 (HCSB)

²⁵ Now great crowds were traveling with Him. So He turned and said to them: ²⁶ “If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his own father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters—yes, and even his own life—he cannot be My disciple. ²⁷ Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple.

As Jesus became popular during His three- and one-half years of ministry the crowds that followed Him grew larger and larger. But not everyone who followed Him was faithful to Him as His disciple. So, what it seems that Jesus is doing as He speaks these words is thinning out the crowd. He knew that there would be people who would leave and never come back. He wanted those people who were faithful to Him not just fascinated with Him.