Sermon Notes | 3.5.23

The Parable of the Great Banquet

Luke 14:15–24

[15] When one of those who reclined at table with him heard these things, he said to him, “Blessed is everyone who will eat bread in the kingdom of God!” [16] But he said to him, “A man once gave a great banquet and invited many. [17] And at the time for the banquet he sent his servant to say to those who had been invited, ‘Come, for everything is now ready.’ [18] But they all alike began to make excuses. The first said to him, ‘I have bought a field, and I must go out and see it. Please have me excused.’ [19] And another said, ‘I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I go to examine them. Please have me excused.’ [20] And another said, ‘I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come.’ [21] So the servant came and reported these things to his master. Then the master of the house became angry and said to his servant, ‘Go out quickly to the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in the poor and crippled and blind and lame.’ [22] And the servant said, ‘Sir, what you commanded has been done, and still there is room.’ [23] And the master said to the servant, ‘Go out to the highways and hedges and compel people to come in, that my house may be filled. [24] For I tell you, none of those men who were invited shall taste my banquet.’” (ESV)

THE PARTY THAT AWAITS

[6] On this mountain the LORD of hosts will make for all peoples a feast of rich food, a feast of well-aged wine, of rich food full of marrow, of aged wine well refined. [7] And he will swallow up on this mountain the covering that is cast over all peoples, the veil that is spread over all nations. [8] He will swallow up death forever; and the Lord GOD will wipe away tears from all faces, and the reproach of his people he will take away from all the earth, for the LORD has spoken. – Isaiah 25:6-8

[1] “Come, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and he who has no money,come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. [2] Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread, and your labor for that which does not satisfy? Listen diligently to me, and eat what is good, and delight yourselves in rich food. – Isaiah 55:1-2

THE PROBLEM OF PRESUMING

Luke 14:15-21a

[15] When one of those who reclined at table with him heard these things, he said to him, “Blessed is everyone who will eat bread in the kingdom of God!” 

Are you being presumptuous?

But they all alike began to make excuses…

Possessions & Affections

How’s your appetite?

Make no mistake, the real reason people turn away from the eternal feast is that they do not want to be there. They have no appetite for higher things. – Kent Hughes

THE POVERTY WE NEED

Luke 14:21b-24

[21] So the servant came and reported these things to his master. Then the master of the house became angry and said to his servant, ‘Go out quickly to the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in the poor and crippled and blind and lame.’ 

[23] And the master said to the servant, ‘Go out to the highways and hedges and compel people to come in, that my house may be filled. 

Compel?

[20] And he lifted up his eyes on his disciples, and said: “Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God. [21] “Blessed are you who are hungry now, for you shall be satisfied. – Luke 6:20-21

[6] For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. [7] For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die—[8] but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. – Romans 5:6-8

The only way we could be brought into the household of God, the only way we could be brought into God’s table, is if Jesus Christ was thrown out. His Father forsook him on the cross. He was homeless. He was excluded. He was sent out of the family so we could be brought in so our sins could be forgiven. All hospitality is expensive. It hurts, but Jesus’ radical hospitality is the most expensive in history and it’s the most radical in history because he was thrown out so we could be brought into the household of God. – Tim Keller

from party guests to party hosts

A Prayer for Salvation

“Heavenly Father, I admit that I am weaker and more sinful than I ever before believed, but through your Son Jesus I can be more loved and accepted than I ever dared hope. I thank you that he lived the life I should have lived and paid the debt and punishment I owed. Receive me now for his sake. I turn from my sins and receive him as Savior. Amen.”