Volume 43   Number 12                                                                                     August 2001

Last month we began a discussion of the parable of the Great Supper in Luke 14:16-24. We looked at how this feast is hosted by God Almighty and all are invited through His word. We saw that, by accepting His invitation to the feast, our burden of sin is lifted, we are offered sonship to the Father, we accept the friendship of God and we bear fruit for future generations to accept their invitations as well.

I would like to begin this month’s discussion with one more benefit of this feast. The invitation to this feast carries with it the promise of future blessings. “If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men the most pitiable.” (1 Corinthians 15:19) Jesus brings much joy and happiness into our lives during the present. He defined the purpose of His coming in such terms. “I have come that they may have life and that they may have it more abundantly.” (John 10:10). But Christians have happiness now and eternally. Do you ever wonder about the state of the saved who have gone on to be with the Lord? John was permitted to hear the voice from heaven describe their condition very briefly. “Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord...that they may rest from their labors.” (Revelations 14:13) This thrilling truth should make us less fearful of death and feel joy for those that have gone before us.

According to the parable, instead of being grateful for the invitation, “they all with one accord began to make excuses.” Man is a natural born excuse maker. He has been from the very beginning of time when Adam and Eve made excuses for their sin even to the point of trying to blame God for their mistake. There is a vast difference between an excuse and a reason. The people in this parable did not offer reasons for declining the invitation, they made excuses.

One man declined the invitation to the feast because of financial matters. “I have bought a piece of ground, and I must go and see it.” He permitted his wealth to keep him away from the feast prepared and many others have been kept back from the Lord’s feast for the same. Granted, business is important and lawful and must have proper attention, but when material things come between man and God they are sinful. Money cannot reconcile us to God. He who has been living for things should reflect on these truths and respond to the invitation to the feast.

A second intended guest offered feelings of uncertainty as his excuse for not coming. “I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I am going to test them.” He needed to go and prove something. There are many today who decline to come to God for the same reason. They declare that they do not feel certain about the Bible or about this or that doctrine or about the church. They confess their feeling of uncertainty about their ability to live a faithful Christian life. These are evading the call of God and are only making foolish excuses. They should attempt to succeed, not accept failure.

The third man who was invited used family affairs as his excuse. “I have married a wife.” He was the greatest fool of the three, and his excuse is the most unnecessary, for he might have attended the feast and taken his wife with him. Marriage is part of God’s good and perfect will for us. It is His desire that both the husband and the wife will be members of His family. In spite of this, many husbands excuse their lack of faith and faithfulness by blaming their wives in some manner. Some wives try to evade the call of God by saying that they are waiting for their husbands.

The bottom line is that there is no excuse for a man or woman turning down the invitation of God to come to the gospel feast. It would be wise if you cease trying to evade your opportunity by offering foolish excuses.

There is a fearful fate for those who decline the invitation. “For I say to you that none of those men who were invited shall taste my supper.” This verdict states that when people decline the invitation of a gracious Lord to come and sit down at the feast of the kingdom, they deny themselves the benefits of the feast. There is no other Savior than Jesus. There is no other gospel than that which is proclaimed in His word. There is absolutely no hope for the sinner outside of Christ. Final rejection of His invitation will be followed by final ruin for your soul.

After hearing the excuses, the host gave another order: “Go out quickly into the streets and lanes of the city and bring in here the poor and the maimed and the lame and the blind.” No one is below the notice of the Lord. All people are invited to be saved. It may be that you feel too sinful or unworthy of the invitation. You are invited. You are invited to come to Him today, for all things are now ready. God is ready. The church is ready. Your loved ones are ready. Come to God through faith in baptism today.