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Author: Stephen Weller
660 words, 3 minutes read time

Who Finally Came

Scripture: Luke 14:21-24

In the previous lesson we learned of the lack of interest on the part of those invited to the banquet in coming. In this lesson we will learn what happens as a result of the invitees not coming.

^{Lk 14:21} “So the servant came and reported these things to his master. Then the master of the house became angry and said to his servant, ‘Go out quickly to the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in the poor and crippled and blind and lame.’ ²² And the servant said, ‘Sir, what you commanded has been done, and still there is room.’ _²³ And the master said to the servant, ‘Go out to the highways and hedges and compel people to come in, that my house may be filled. _²⁴ For I tell you, none of those men who were invited shall taste my banquet.’”

The servant returns to his master and reported the lack of interest on the part of those invited. This report upset his master causing him to become angry. He then sends his servant out a second time to the streets and lanes of the city where the outcasts of Israelite (the poor, crippled and lame) would be found. It appears that the first invitation list included his friends, brothers and sisters, relatives, and rich neighbors (verse 12). Those that are now invited follow the instruction of Jesus, found in verse 13, to invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind.”

The servant reports that the request was already done and there is still room for more. The master instructs his servant to go out to the highways and hedges (which would be outside the city) and find more people and compel them to come. The servant was to urge them, to press them earnestly, and not accept their excuses on account of their poverty and low position of life. The servant was to urge them to overcome their objections and lead them to the feast. This is God’s request today to the one who feels unworthy to come because of their great sin, but to all, God says, “Come!”

The master then declares that none of those who were originally invited and didn’t come shall taste his banquet. That statement points back to Luke 13:22 – 30 and was covered in Sec137.

How many has God invited that have resisted the invitation and spent their life perusing what the world has to offer? How many “have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, and have shared in the Holy Spirit,” (Hebrews 6:4) and then walked away from following Jesus? “Recall the former days when, after you were enlightened, you endured a hard struggle with sufferings (Hebrews 10:13) and you knew of the “gift of God, and who it [was] that is saying to you, ‘Give me a drink,’ you would have asked him, and he would have given you living water” (John 4:10) but you didn’t ask.

If it is possible to experience that much and not have eternal life and then to walk away from following Jesus, then it would be impossible “to restore them again to repentance, since they are crucifying once again the Son of God to their own harm and holding him up to contempt” (Hebrews 6:6).

Most would reject that possibility, but I personally know a person well that clearly illustrates Hebrews 6:4 – 6. I know his situation so well that I am convinced he is one who will not return again to repentance.

Conclusion

In the parable of the great banquet all kinds of people were finally invited just as all are invited by God to come. Be sure and accept his invitation and come before you find the door closed and you are left on the outside for an eternity wishing you had come while there was opportunity.