The Parable of the Great Supper
Mike Johnson
The “Parable of the Great Supper” is in Luke 14:16-24. Jesus taught this parable in the house of one of the chief Pharisees. Verse 1 indicates that Jesus had gone there on the Sabbath day to eat bread. While there, Jesus healed a man and taught about humility. In verse 15, a man dining with Jesus responded after hearing the teaching, “Blessed is he who shall eat bread in the kingdom of God!” This statement prompted the parable. It is similar to the “Parable of the Marriage Feast” (Mt. 22), but it is evident that they are separate and distinct parables.
The First Invitation
In verses 16-17, we see that a certain man prepared a great supper and invited many to come. He sent his servant at suppertime to say to those invited, “Come, for all things are now ready.”
At this time, two invitations might be sent for such an event. Neil R. Lightfoot, in his book, Lessons from the Parables, points out:
First, in keeping with oriental customs, a general announcement was sent out to inform everybody of the coming event. The date was specified, but the exact hour was not. On the stated day, when all the preparations had been made and everything was in order, the man sent out his servant to tell his invited friends that the hour had arrived for the supper.
The invitation offered in verse 17 appears to be this second invitation. The supper was now ready. The guests should come at once.
The Excuses
Based on the responses, it seems evident that the people simply did not want to come. Verse 18 points out, “But they all with one accord (“all alike” NASB) began to make excuses.”
The first man responded, “I have bought a piece of ground, and I must go and see it. I ask you to have me excused.” This man must have felt his land was more important and that he had a suitable excuse for not attending the feast.
The second man responded, “I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I am going to test them. I ask you to have me excused.” This person wanted to test the oxen he had bought. The excuse did not have the urgency of the first excuse, yet both seemed final.
The third man explained, “I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come.” This excuse was the bluntest of the three. This man did not say, “I ask you to have me excused,” but bluntly stated, “I cannot come.” Rather than bringing his wife with him to the feast or leaving her at home, he just refused to attend.
Others Invited
The servant reported these things to the master, who was angered by what he heard. He exclaimed, “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.”
After doing this, there was room still left. The master then told the servants, “Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled.”
Application
What is the specific application of this parable? It seems that the excuse-makers represent the Jews. They had rejected Jesus and would not “sit at His table.” The others who were offered the invitations were the Gentiles. They would receive the blessings extended previously to the Jews.
There are other lessons to draw from this parable. Consider that the first two men offered excuses that pertained to business. These men put specific business interests before the feast. Many, being materialistic, are like this today as they are more interested in money and business than spiritual things. Jesus declared, “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Mt. 6:19-21).
The third man put his family before his attendance at the feast. Similarly, many today put their family before spiritual things. Some have even refused to obey the gospel or be faithful Christians because family members have influenced them in that direction. In Matthew 10:37, Jesus emphasized, “He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me.” (Note also Luke 14:26.) No family relationship is more important than serving God.
You have received an invitation to God’s “feast.” Are you willing to attend — to accept God’s call — or are there matters you put ahead of serving Him?