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Parable: The Great Supper Luke 14:15-24

Landmark Publications, Inc., 1045 Maynor Avenue, Nashville, TN 37216, U.S.A., John C. Sewell, Ph.D., Editor.

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The Great Supper Text: Luke 14:15-24, 15. And when one of them that sat at meat with him heard these things, he said unto him, Blessed is he that shall eat bread in the kingdom of God. 16. Then said he unto him, A certain man made a great supper, and bade many: 17. And sent his servant at supper time to say to them that were bidden, Come; for all things are now ready. 18. And they all with one consent began to make excuse. The first said unto him, I have bought a piece of ground, and I must needs go and see it: I pray thee have me excused. 19. And another said, I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I go to prove them: I pray thee have me excused. 20. And another said, I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come. 21. So that servant came, and showed his lord these things. Then the master of the house being angry said to his servant, Go out quickly into the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in hither the poor, and the maimed, and the halt, and the blind. 22. And the servant said, Lord, it is done as thou hast commanded, and yet there is room. 23. And the Lord said unto the servant, Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled. 24. For I say unto you, That none of those men which were bidden shall taste of my supper.

Landmark Publications, Inc., 1045 Maynor Avenue, Nashville, TN 37216, U.S.A., John C. Sewell, Ph.D., Editor.

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Commentary: Luke 14:15, And when one of them that sat at meat with him heard these things, he said unto him, Blessed is he that shall eat bread in the kingdom of God. I. When one who sat at dinner with Jesus heard the teachings of Jesus about disciples inviting the poor, maimed, lame and blind to dinner he was greatly impressed and concluded: A. “Blessed is he that shall eat bread in the kingdom of God.” B. This man, having an earthly view of the kingdom of God, thought the kingdom would be an ongoing glorious festival. C. Jews thought they would participate in all these blessings to the exclusion of the Gentiles. II. In the parable of the Great Supper Jesus corrected these misconceptions. Luke 14:16, Then said he unto him, A certain man made a great supper, and bade many: I. A certain man made a great supper and invited many to attend. II. Representations: A. Certain man – God. B. Great supper – God’s kingdom. C. Bade many – Israelites.

Landmark Publications, Inc., 1045 Maynor Avenue, Nashville, TN 37216, U.S.A., John C. Sewell, Ph.D., Editor.

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Luke 14:17, And sent his servant at supper time to say to them that were bidden, Come; for all things are now ready. I. As was customary for such occasions, the man giving the supper sent his servant at dinner time to remind the guests that dinner was served, ready, and that they should now come to the festivity. II. Representations: A. The servants – twelve apostles, the seventy, other early faithful disciples. B. Supper time – the advent of the Messiah. III. To refuse the second invitation after accepting the first invitation was regarded as an ultimate insult. Luke 14:28-20, And they all with one consent began to make excuse. The first said unto him, I have bought a piece of ground, and I must needs go and see it: I pray thee have me excused. And another said, I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I go to prove them: I pray thee have me excused. And another said, I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come. I. All began with one voice to make excuse for now refusing the invitation to dinner they had earlier accepted. A. “I have bought a field and I must go see it. I pray thee have me excused.” (Real Estate). Didn’t he see it before he bought it?

Landmark Publications, Inc., 1045 Maynor Avenue, Nashville, TN 37216, U.S.A., John C. Sewell, Ph.D., Editor.

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B. “I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I go to prove them. I pray thee have me excused.” (Livestock). Hadn’t he checked out these animals before he bought them? C. “I have married a wife and therefore I cannot come.” No “Please excuse me. I won’t be there!” (Family). Maybe the bride would have loved a really big party. II. The carnal man would see these excuses as justifiable. To the spiritual person putting earthly concerns above spiritual concerns was a grave mistake, error! A. Selfish interests were placed above spiritual obligations. B. The refusals were progressive from, “I pray thee have me excused” to “I cannot come.” Luke 14:21, So that servant came, and showed his lord these things. Then the master of the house being angry said to his servant, Go out quickly into the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in hither the poor, and the maimed, and the halt, and the blind. I. The servant reported these matters to his Lord who, upon hearing the report, became very angry. II. The master of the house ordered his servants to go quickly, supper being ready, to the streets and lanes of the city and bring the poor, maimed, lame and blind to dinner. A. Publicans, harlots and other outcasts were invited to the dinner. B. Religious leaders, Pharisees, Sadducees, Scribes and High Priests had refused the invitation to dinner.

Landmark Publications, Inc., 1045 Maynor Avenue, Nashville, TN 37216, U.S.A., John C. Sewell, Ph.D., Editor.

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C. God was angered by the rejection of Jesus by the Jewish leaders. 1. Matthew 22:7, But when the king heard thereof, he was wroth and he sent forth his armies, and destroyed those murderers, and burned up their city. Luke 14:22, And the servant said, Lord, it is done as thou hast commanded, and yet there is room. I. The servant, having obeyed his Lord, reported that he had invited the poor, maimed, blind and lame and still there was room for more guests. Luke 14:23, And the lord said unto the servant, Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled. I. The Lord of the house then told his servant to go outside the city into the highways and hedges and constrain them to come to the feast that the house may be full. A. This invitation includes Gentiles, those outside the city (Israel). B. Constrain them, compel them in some versions. Jesus orders the use of full, all out effort to persuade these to come to the feast. C. A full house is possible only through worldwide redemption. D. There is room at the dinner for you and me and all others who wish to accept the Lord’s invitation

Landmark Publications, Inc., 1045 Maynor Avenue, Nashville, TN 37216, U.S.A., John C. Sewell, Ph.D., Editor.

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Luke 14:24, For I say unto you, That none of those men which were bidden shall taste of my supper. I. None of those who had refused the dinner invitation would be welcome at the great supper. II. Jesus said, “I say unto you.” A. None who rejected Jesus will participate in the kingdom and receive its blessings.” B. Those of all ages who place personal, selfish desires and interests above spiritual concerns will never enjoy the blessings of the kingdom of God. Note: The man who initially said, “Blessed is he who shall eat bread in the kingdom of God” was correct. Those who refused Jesus’ invitation to dinner regrettably did not share this man’s enthusiasm (albeit superficial) for the kingdom of God and its blessings.

Landmark Publications, Inc., 1045 Maynor Avenue, Nashville, TN 37216, U.S.A., John C. Sewell, Ph.D., Editor.

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The Great Supper Questions 1. One of the guests stated his opinion: “Blessed is he that shall _______________ _______________ in the _______________ of _______________.” 2. Jesus responded to this opinion with a parable: “A certain _______________ made a _______________ _______________, and _______________ _______________. He sent his _______________ at _______________ _______________ to say to them that were _______________, _______________; for all things are now _______________.” 3. Those who were invited began to excuse themselves. What three excuses did they make? _______________________________________ __________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________ 4. What excuses do people make today for not serving Jesus? ________ __________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________ 5. The Master of the house then directed his servants to “Go out _______________ into the _______________ and _______________ of

Landmark Publications, Inc., 1045 Maynor Avenue, Nashville, TN 37216, U.S.A., John C. Sewell, Ph.D., Editor.

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the _______________, and bring in hither the _______________, _______________, _______________ and _______________.” 6. The table still had room for additional guests. The servants were ordered, “Go out into the _______________ and _______________, and _______________ them to come in, that my _______________ may be _______________.” 7. What does this teach us in regard to evangelism? ________________ __________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________ 8. “None of those _______________ which were _______________ shall _______________ of my _______________.” 9. It is a grave mistake to decline the Lord’s invitation. Why is this true? __________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________ 10. The servant said, “We have done as you have commanded.” Can we say this today? If not, in what areas are we not in compliance with God’s commands? ___________________________________________ __________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________

Landmark Publications, Inc., 1045 Maynor Avenue, Nashville, TN 37216, U.S.A., John C. Sewell, Ph.D., Editor.