The Highways and Hedges
Luke 14:15-24
I. The First Invitation - They Won’t Come (vv. 15-20)
A. The invitation, “Dinner is ready”
B. The indifference, “Too busy”
II. The Second Invitation - You Must Go (vv. 21-24)
A. Everyone is welcome
B. There’s always room
More to Consider It was the custom to send out invitations to such a dinner a long time in advance, but as the actual day for the dinner arrived, a personal invitation was extended. God has issued an invitation. What is man going to do with it? God’s invitation is for salvation. You cannot buy your way in to this feast. You cannot elbow your way in. You come to this dinner by the grace of God. “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast” (Eph. 2:8–9). You get into this dinner by receiving a gift. The only thing that will exclude any human being from heaven is a refusal to accept the invitation. J. Vernon McGee
In His story, Jesus is rebuking those people who are making excuses. Instead of simply admitting they don’t want to come, they have to justify their lack of response. Most excuses are phony. The excuses Jesus describes here are no exception. In those days, when giving a banquet, it was the custom to send out the servants twice. The first time, in advance of the party, the guests were told the date. “Save Thursday, January 18.” When January 18 came, the servants went out again announcing the time. In this parable, when the householders sent out the servants setting the date, all of the guests accepted. When the day actually came, they declined—all with elaborate excuses. One was tied up with a real estate investment. Another had a business deal and a third was newly married. All three were occupied with legitimate concerns, but unfortunately, they gave those concerns priority over God and His kingdom. Bruce Larson