Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner?
God has more grace than we have sin. - Pastor Charlie Dates
Luke 14:16-24
But He said to him, “A man was giving a big dinner, and he invited many; and at the dinner hour he sent his slave to tell those who had been invited, ‘Come, because everything is ready now.’ And yet they all alike began to make excuses. The first one said to him, ‘I purchased a field and I need to go out to look at it; please consider me excused.’ And another one said, ‘I bought five yoke of oxen, and I am going to try them out; please consider me excused.’ And another one said, ‘I took a woman as my wife, and for that reason I cannot come.’ And the slave came back and reported this to his master. Then the head of the household became angry and said to his slave, ‘Go out at once into the streets and lanes of the city and bring in here those who are poor, those with disabilities, those who are blind, and those who are limping.’ And later the slave said, ‘Master, what you commanded has been done, and still there is room.’ And the master said to the slave, ‘Go out into the roads and the hedges and press upon them to come in, so that my house will be filled. For I tell you, none of those men who were invited shall taste my dinner.’ ”
In Luke 13 and 14, we see the issues the religious establishment had with Jesus.
They were upset that He healed on the Sabbath (Luke 13:10-17 and Luke 14:1-6).
Jesus ate and drank with sinners. The Pharisees called him a winebibber (drunkard) and glutton.
Pharisees were people who rigidly interpreted the law of God. They imposed their interpretation of God’s will on other people. Pharisee-like behavior still exists in people of all ages.
Pharisees want to control other people and tell them how to live. Usually because of jealousy.
We shouldn’t be jealous of other people who God is blessing because God has enough to bless all of us.
USING PARABLES
Jesus uses the parables throughout Luke to deconstruct the religious system. He's doing this to teach the real way of God.
Parables are earthly illustrations used to show a heavenly reality.
He is attending a dinner at a Pharisees' house. His first parable shows why the guests at the dinner shouldn’t vie for a seat of honor at the table. To do that is pride. v 7-11
Next, he told the host that he should invite the poor and disabled. Then, he would be like God who gives to people who can’t pay him back. v 12-15
In verses 16-24, Jesus is talking to a man who’s assuming he will have a seat at heaven’s banquet. So Jesus tells him a story…
THE PARABLE OF THE GREAT BANQUET
A man giving a big dinner let the invited guests know dinner was ready. And they all began to give excuses about why they couldn’t come. Their excuses were lies.
God is the great host.
Some of us are the servants.
Some are the guests.
Some people don't accept God‘s gracious invitation immediately. That's because they want their personal lives with Jesus. They want Jesus and money, Jesus and personal pleasure.
If you follow Jesus, it will cost you something. If you follow Jesus, you will have to reject some things. You have to reject what he rejects to accept what he offers.
The invitation to this table is a picture of the grace of God. The people didn’t get invited because they were respected or had something to bring to the table. They got invited because of the generosity of the host.
We didn’t bring anything to God but our sin.
God’s response is to extend his grace to a broader community. God will fill your seat with someone who will appreciate the grace he’s given if you feel like you can do without him.
When the servant brings in more people, there is still more room. This shows that God has more grace than we have sin.
Verse 23 shows that we have to compel people to come in. We have to urge others.
Some people would give anything to know what you know about God.
God commands that we share our faith and helps us get it done.
REFLECTION QUESTIONS
Are you prioritizing personal desires over following Jesus? What can you change to align with His will?
What excuses hinder your acceptance of God's grace? How can you overcome them to deepen your faith?
How can you actively share God's grace with those around you? Who in your life needs an invitation to His table?