The internet is truly helpful when we are looking for instructions, educational information, ideas, networking tools, etc. If you have a question, you can usually find some kind of an answer on the internet. Recently, I was surprised to find a plethora of sample excuses a person could use to call in sick for work. Granted the topic was an odd search on my part! lol! However, the Bible is the best place to search for answers and Jesus does address telling the Truth, as well as the pitfalls of making dishonest excuses (Ex 20:16).
During the sermon time on Sunday, our Luken passage was about honor and the actions of true believers (14:7-14). Jesus uses a dinner banquet he is attending as an example of what NOT to do. Believers are not to seek the seats of honor when going to a banquet gathering. Instead, Jesus’ disciples are to sit as servants waiting for the master to assign their seats. Then, Jesus tells the host of the banquet not to invite people who can reciprocate with a blessing; instead he is encouraged to invite the poor, blind, deaf, and crippled because then he will be blessed by God (14:13). Throughout his example, Jesus is teaching about humility, as well as honor, and he finishes that teaching with, “For those who exalt themselves will be humbled and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”
In our continuous passage today from Luke’s gospel, Jesus shares a parable about a great dinner banquet, but is really referencing the end of the age Great Kingdom Feast with Messiah. This time Jesus’ teaching exposes the dishonor of making unacceptable excuses for not attending the banquet or entering the Kingdom for the Feast. No excuse is going to be acceptable. Humanity has been invited to Messiah’s banquet Feast; when we hear the salvation invitation [Christ’s sacrifice to die for the forgiveness of our sin] it is our day of visitation and we must respond by seeking Christ’s Kingdom and serving in a righteous lifestyle. Scripture reminds us one day it will be too late to accept the invitation. But for now, there is room in Christ’s Kingdom for all…
Luke 14:15-24 NLT Parable of the Great Feast
15 Hearing this, a man sitting at the table with Jesus exclaimed, “What a blessing it will be to attend a banquet [eat bread] in the Kingdom of God!”
16 Jesus replied with this story: “A man prepared a great feast and sent out many invitations. 17 When the banquet was ready, he sent his servant to tell the guests, ‘Come, the banquet is ready.’ 18 But they all began making excuses. One said, ‘I have just bought a field and must inspect it. Please excuse me.’ 19 Another said, ‘I have just bought five pairs of oxen, and I want to try them out. Please excuse me.’ 20 Another said, ‘I just got married, so I can’t come.’
21 “The servant returned and told his master what they had said. His master was furious and said, ‘Go quickly into the streets and alleys of the town and invite the poor, the crippled, the blind, and the lame.’ 22 After the servant had done this, he reported, ‘There is still room for more.’ 23 So his master said, ‘Go out into the country lanes and behind the hedges and urge anyone you find to come, so that the house will be full. 24 For none of those I first invited will get even the smallest taste of my banquet.’”
Prayer: Lord, thank you for modeling a servant’s heart for us as your children. As your family, please teach us to honor one another and to approach all that we say and do with an abundance of gratitude and respect, because we represent you. We have no excuse to approach life any other way. May you be glorified in our lives, today. In Jesus’ name. Amen.