The parable of the men bidden to a feast is one of the many parables taught by Jesus Christ, illustrating the kingdom of God and the response of individuals to God's invitation. This parable is found in the Gospel of Luke, specifically in Luke 14:15-24.

Context and Setting

The setting of this parable is a meal at the house of a prominent Pharisee, where Jesus is dining on the Sabbath. During the meal, Jesus observes the behavior of the guests and offers teachings on humility and hospitality. It is in this context that one of the guests remarks, "Blessed is everyone who will eat at the feast in the kingdom of God" (Luke 14:15). This statement prompts Jesus to share the parable of the great banquet.

The Parable

In the parable, a man prepares a great banquet and extends invitations to many guests. When the banquet is ready, he sends his servant to tell those who were invited, "Come, for everything is now ready" (Luke 14:17). However, the invited guests begin to make excuses. One has bought a field and must go see it, another has purchased oxen and needs to try them out, and a third has just married and cannot come.

The servant returns and reports these excuses to his master. In response, the master becomes angry and instructs his servant to go out quickly into the streets and alleys of the town and bring in the poor, the crippled, the blind, and the lame. After doing so, the servant reports that there is still room. The master then commands the servant to go out to the roads and country lanes and compel people to come in, so that his house will be full. The parable concludes with the master declaring, "For I tell you, not one of those men who were invited will taste my banquet" (Luke 14:24).

Interpretation and Themes

The parable of the men bidden to a feast is rich with themes and lessons. It serves as a metaphor for the kingdom of God and the invitation extended to all humanity to partake in the divine banquet. The initial guests represent those who were first invited—often interpreted as the Jewish people or religious leaders—who, despite their privileged position, reject the invitation due to worldly concerns and priorities.

The subsequent invitation to the marginalized and the outcasts symbolizes the extension of God's grace to the Gentiles and those considered unworthy by societal standards. This reflects the inclusive nature of the Gospel and God's desire for all to come to repentance and salvation.

The urgency and insistence of the master to fill his house underscore the generosity and persistence of God's invitation. The parable highlights the consequences of rejecting this invitation, as those who refuse to prioritize the kingdom of God ultimately forfeit their place at the banquet.

Application

For believers, this parable serves as a reminder to prioritize the kingdom of God above earthly distractions and to respond to God's call with readiness and willingness. It challenges individuals to examine their own excuses and to embrace the inclusivity of the Gospel by reaching out to those who are often overlooked or marginalized. The parable encourages a heart of humility and gratitude for the invitation to partake in the divine feast, urging believers to live in anticipation of the heavenly banquet prepared by God.Luke 14:7-11
And he put forth a parable to those which were bidden, when he marked how they chose out the chief rooms; saying to them.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

The Three Parables of Warning: to the Individual, to the Nation ...
... Each of the three Parables is set in an historical frame ... say unto you, that none
of those men which were ... table, and to all such perversion of Christ's Words and ...
/.../the life and times of jesus the messiah/chapter xvi the three parables.htm

The Three Parables of the Gospel: of the Recovery of the Lost - of ...
... general propriety of Christ in all men, and the ... and the contrast in spirit, of analogous
Rabbinic Parables. ... regard to the high place which Christ assigned to ...
/.../the life and times of jesus the messiah/chapter xvii the three parables.htm

Parable of the Marriage Feast of the King's Son. (Matt. , xxii. ...
... have done in other cases, that the allied parables are alike ... given by the King (God)
to his Son (Christ). ... to the invitation; corresponding to those men who are ...
/.../section 255 parable of the.htm

The Parables of the Kingdom.
... He will miserably destroy those wicked men, and will ... Two other Parables of "The Kingdom
of Heaven" remain to be ... to all who profess the faith of Christ and have ...
/.../burbidge/the kingdom of heaven what is it/chapter iii the parables of.htm

The Third Day in Pasion-Week - the Last Series of Parables: to the ...
... form a characteristic feature of these Parables, showing that ... made for the great
evening-meal (Christ's Reign ... into the crossways to invite all men, alike Jews ...
/.../edersheim/the life and times of jesus the messiah/chapter v the third day.htm

New Teaching in Parables' - the Parables to the People by the Lake ...
... But in the time that men sleep came his enemy and ... critics admit to have really formed
part of Christ's own original ... Undoubtedly, these Parables were un-Jewish. ...
/.../the life and times of jesus the messiah/chapter xxiii new teaching in.htm

Christ Teaching Humility
... then we have another of our Saviour's parables in which ... persons learning to imitate
the humility of Christ, than is ... These good men had heard the story of the ...
/.../newton/the life of jesus christ for the young/christ teaching humility.htm

The Lessons of a Feast
... The miracle and the two parables are aimed straight at ... to have been no outward act
on Christ's beyond 'taking ... directions for conduct in regard to men, He was ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture e/the lessons of a feast.htm

Christ's Discourses in Per??a - Close of the Per??an Ministry
... two latter points being illustrated by brief Parables' (in the ... that, as outward
separation, consequent upon men's antagonism to Christ, was before ...
/.../the life and times of jesus the messiah/chapter xx christs discourses in.htm

The Excuses.
The Parables of Our Lord. ... they refuse to comply: the condition of men, ultimately,
turns ... now ready;" all preceding dispensations were a preparation for Christ. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/arnot/the parables of our lord/xxi the excuses.htm

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