-Devotion by Tom Siderius (MI)
When we read the Parable of the Great Feast in Luke chapter 14 it does not have the same points in our culture that it did in the Jewish culture of that time. Read together from the NLT version. There are 3 excuses that Jesus shows us in the parable where people excuse themselves from the invitation of the great feast.
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 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.’
When we read this section, it is in the overall context of Jesus’ conflict with the leaders there they refuse to tell him whether healing someone on the Sabbath day is godly or sinful. They are judging Jesus to accuse him of not following their law to diminish his influence on the people and raise up their standing as the religious leaders. The excuses that are brought to the parable are all religious in nature and are not what God intends but traditions of the Jews had set up.
18 But they all began making excuses. One said, ‘I have just bought a field and must inspect it. Please excuse me.’
In Leviticus 27 we find a whole series of instructions about how to dedicate a field or property when it is transferred from owner to owner, and when the Jubilee returns it to the original family. The implication that Jesus gives in this excuse is that the man cannot come to the feast of the master because he is doing something very religious and good.
19 Another said, ‘I have just bought five pairs of oxen, and I want to try them out. Please excuse me.’
You would think that this man could just go try out his new oxen anytime or would have done it before he bought them. And that this would not interfere with his going to a great supper feast. It isn’t that he is going to see if the oxen are any good, but rather the Jews had set up an elaborate system of dedicating animals to the special purpose of honoring God. Especially oxen which were the tractors of their day. The man was planning to go out and dedicate these animals to be a blessing of strength with God watching over them. Very religious but not a good excuse to miss the feast.
20 Another said, ‘I just got married, so I can’t come.’
Another religious excuse comes from the year after being married being dedicated to making the new wife happy and settled. Traditionally they would not take any invitations to dinner or events outside of their family. Read from Deuteronomy 24:5.
Deuteronomy 24:5(NLT) A newly married man must not be drafted into the army or be given any other official responsibilities. He must be free to spend one year at home, bringing happiness to the wife he has married.
Another great religious excuse but not for the invitation of God to come to a great spiritual feast in the Kingdom.
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.’”
We then read who comes to this great feast in the Kingdom of God in the future. God calls those that lame, blind, deaf, or poor in spirit, the outcasts of the religious society that the Pharisee and Sadducees had constructed. Thei religion was a construct of man based maybe originally on good purpose, but where the regulations they imposed were not truly Godly. God cares for all those that will turn to Him and accept His Son as the Messiah. God is the author of salvation He has decided to this for us. Jesus Christ is the way that God give us as the pathway to Him. Not religious regulation but the true relationships of faith with our Father God and His Son.
REflection Questions
So, what are the lessons for us today to help us in our walks of believing?
Why is religion always so against the true purposes of God?
What deceives us to make religious regulations instead of the compassion of God for people?
Prayer
Our great Father God, we praise You for Your great mercy and kindness to call us to Your purposes. Help us this day to find Your path and walk it with You and Your Son. Thank you for the care that You give to us in every situation of life. Father, we look so forward to the great banquets of the Kingdom of God to come. Give us today the bread of our need so that we are able to do Your will. We pray in the wonderful name of Jesus Christ this day.
