What other scriptures emphasize God's desire for His house to be filled? A fuller look at Luke 14:22 “‘Sir,’ the servant replied, ‘what you ordered has been done, and there is still room.’” (Luke 14:22) Old Testament echoes of an open house • Isaiah 56:7 — “I will bring them to My holy mountain and make them joyful in My house of prayer… for My house will be called a house of prayer for all the nations.” • Isaiah 2:2 — “In the last days the mountain of the house of the LORD will be established… and all nations will stream to it.” • Psalm 67:3–4 — “May the peoples praise You, O God; may all the peoples praise You. Let the nations be glad and sing for joy…” • Ezekiel 47:9 — “Every living creature that swarms where the river flows will live… and there will be many fish, because this water flows there and makes the salt waters fresh.” Jesus keeps the invitation wide open • Matthew 22:9–10 — “Go therefore to the crossroads and invite to the banquet as many as you can find… and the wedding hall was filled with guests.” • John 10:16 — “I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them in as well, and they will listen to My voice.” • John 14:2 — “In My Father’s house are many rooms… I am going there to prepare a place for you.” • Matthew 21:13 — “‘My house will be called a house of prayer,’ but you are making it ‘a den of robbers.’” (quoting Isaiah 56:7, underlining its reach to all nations) The apostles carry the same heartbeat • Acts 2:39 — “The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call.” • Ephesians 2:19 — “Therefore you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of God’s household.” • 1 Timothy 2:3–4 — “God our Savior… desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.” • 2 Peter 3:9 — “The Lord… is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish but everyone to come to repentance.” • Romans 10:12–13 — “For there is no difference between Jew and Greek… everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” The final picture: a packed, joyful house • Revelation 7:9 — “After this I looked and saw a multitude too large to count, from every nation, tribe, people and tongue, standing before the throne and before the Lamb.” • Revelation 19:6–7 — “Hallelujah! For the Lord our God the Almighty reigns. Let us rejoice and be glad and give Him the glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come.” • Revelation 21:3 — “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man, and He will dwell with them. They will be His people…” Putting it together From the prophets to the parables, from the early church to the closing scenes of Revelation, Scripture consistently reveals God’s eager intention to fill His house with people from everywhere. The command “go out” in Luke 14 flows from the heart of a Father who has prepared a place and refuses to rest until every seat at His table is taken. |
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