Luke 14:18

New International Version (NIV)

“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.’

Meditation

Anybody who has put together a guest list for a wedding party can bear witness here. There is Cousin Sam and his annoying wife to invite; your best friend Fifi and the others; classmate Dinah, who reminds you of your ignorant days; colleague Anto you don’t really care for, but can’t ignore; customer Diop with whom you would have never shared a meal, had he not been the premier buyer of your products; and the list goes on. Yes, you got it right. It’s a nightmare, struggling and arguing to fit families and friends from both sides into a single list. You also have the table arrangements and seating to work through. Who sits where and whether they will be comfortable with the other on their table. After all that trouble, can you imagine each invitation coming back with excuses and apologies? You bet you would be angry!

That’s exactly how the host of the Parable of the Great Banquet felt – angry (Lk. 14:21)! If none of his invited guests cared to come, he didn’t mind filling the seats with “the poor, the crippled, the blind, and the lame” (21b). The conversation would be lighter and unrehearsed, and the atmosphere would be delightful anyway. The new guests would be more appreciative because they know they are undeserving. Listening to their life stories would be a treat for the host; but those invited guests who failed to come would be sorry they denied themselves the opportunity (24).

If the Jews had listened carefully, they would have known what Jesus was implying. Only those who respond to the Gospel invitation would occupy the seats in the kingdom of God. Even though the invitation has gone to the nation of Israel, those who think they have good excuses to deny Jesus would be shut out of it. Eventually, those seats would be filled by the outcasts in the nation, and those outside the covenant family – the gentiles – who positively respond to the Gospel (21-23).

1. Are you too busy for Jesus?
2. Have you responded to His invitation to come with Him into the kingdom of God (Jn. 3:16; Matt. 11:28)?
3. Why are you busy with other things when the Banquet Hall is filling up?
4. Do you find no benefit in coming to Jesus?
5. Is that why you’ve immersed yourself in work and other philosophies so much that you can’t come to Him?

I pray you tarry no more, because the Master will soon sit at the head of the table, the door to the kingdom would be shut, and the feast would begin.

So: May you not give yourself any excuse for not responding to Jesus, but rather trade all that you have for the best seat in eternity with Jesus.

The invitation is still open to whosoever will come.

Shalom