Another parable of Jesus is recorded in Luke 14:16-24 where He tells the story of a host that was giving a great banquet; the custom was that the invitations would be sent out in advance and when the feast was ready a notice would be sent out. His friends had received the invitation, apparently accepted it, but when the notice arrived they began to make excuses why they could not come. The host became angry and sent his servant out to the streets and lanes to bring in the poor, the lame, the needy, and whoever he could find so the house would be filled. The parable relates immediately to Israel who God had invited to be His people; they accepted the invitation through Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and the prophets, and now the time of fulfillment had come as Jesus appears on the scene fulfilling God’s banquet bringing redemption, but as a nation they rejected Him and refused to come to His salvation and so were cut off at that time, while the door of salvation was opened wide to the Gentiles. Today the parable relates to all of us, the invitation is still going out to those in the streets and lanes of this world, “whosoever will” Revelation 22:17, both Jew and Gentile, “Come to Me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest” Matthew 11:28 NLT. Are you saying in your heart I want this redemption, and the joy, peace, hope, and ultimately heaven itself? All this and more is on the banquet table prepared by God for you; Jesus has come and all you must do is come to Him and partake of Him and His provision. The only alternative is to reject Him like Israel and be cut off; however Israel as a nation will eventually see their mistake and have opportunity to return, but all that reject Jesus will be cut off from God’s presence and blessings eternally!
The great invitation
By Rose Hill
A great invitation went out far and wide,
Many were invited to be Christ’s bride.
Some asked excused to be,
Of this occasion they wanted free.
Then the master of the house very angry became,
And said go out and invite the blind and the lame.
The first invitation came to the Jews,
But the Gentiles were eager to receive the good news.
Unless otherwise indicated Scripture quotations are from the New King James Version copyright …1982 by Thomas Nelson Co used by permission