NO SOUP FOR YOU!!

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Parable of the Great Feast

Luke 14:16 Jesus replied with this story: "A man prepared a great feast and sent out many invitations. 17 When the banquet was ready, he sent his servant to tell the guests, ‘Come, the banquet is ready.’ 18 But they all began making excuses. One said, ‘I have just bought a field and must inspect it. Please excuse me.’ 19 Another said, ‘I have just bought five pairs of oxen, and I want to try them out. Please excuse me.’ 20 Another said, ‘I now have a wife, so I can’t come.’
21 "The servant returned and told his master what they had said. His master was furious and said, ‘Go quickly into the streets and alleys of the town and invite the poor, the crippled, the blind, and the lame.’ 22 After the servant had done this, he reported, ‘There is still room for more.’ 23 So his master said, ‘Go out into the country lanes and behind the hedges and urge anyone you find to come, so that the house will be full. 24 For none of those I first invited will get even the smallest taste of my banquet.’" New Living Translation

It is found in the context of becoming a Christ-follower, in the context of the call to discipleship.

What I find especially interesting albeit disturbing is verse 24--"For none of those I first invited will get even the smallest taste of my banquet."

Frankly the excuses given by those who were invited are pretty lame--who buys something without first inspecting it? or who will allow family and/or friends from keeping them from the Kingdom? They basically say to the Lord 'thanks but no thanks'.

I wonder how many people who fill the pews in our churches each time we gather and hear the Word proclaimed and the invitation given to come and follow Christ really have taken this verse into account.

How many invitations by the Spirit of God have been shunned by the hearer. How many times have we told God--'not right now, maybe at a more opportune time'?

Are we guilty of putting Jesus off?

peace