THE SLIGHTED INVITATION: AN INVITATION THAT CALLS
(Message by Tanny Keng)
1. The Slighted Invitation
a) The Parable of the Slighted Invitation (Luke 14:15-24) is about people invited to a dinner. When they refused the invitation, other people were rounded up and compelled to attend. What is this saying about grace and choice?
Luke 14:15-24
“15 When one of those who reclined at table with Jesus heard these things, he said to Jesus, 'Blessed are all who will eat bread in the kingdom of God!' 16 But Jesus said to him, "A man once gave a great banquet and invited many. 17 And at the time for the banquet he sent his slave to say to those who had been invited, 'Come, for everything is now ready.'”
“ 18 But they all alike began to make excuses. The first said to him, 'I have bought a field, and I must go out and inspect it. Please have me excused.' 19 And another said, 'I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I am going to examine them. Please have me excused.' 20 And another said, 'I have married a wife, and so I can't come.' 21 So the slave came and reported these things to his master. Then the master of the house became angry and said to his slave, 'Go out quickly to the streets and lane ways of the city, and bring in the poor and crippled and blind and lame.'”
“22 And the slave said, 'Sir, what you commanded has been done, and still there is room.' 23 And the master said to the slave, 'Go out to the highways and hedges and compel people to come in, to fill my house. 24 For I tell you, none of those men who were invited shall taste my banquet.'"” (Luke 14:15-24).
a) This parable illustrates the rejection of Jesus by many of his own Jewish countrymen, contrasted with the acceptance of Jesus by Gentiles (Acts 13:46-49). As John says, "He came to his own, and those who were his own did not receive him. But as many as received him, to them he gave the right to become children of God — to those who believe" (John 1:11-12).
b) John goes on to say that people receive grace from God without reference to their bloodline or fleshly genealogy. It's God who decides who receives grace and who doesn't (John 1:13). The parable is about what God wills.
c) Now some may teach that the people in Luke 14:17 who were invited had “total inability” to accept, whilst those in Luke 14:23 were compelled by “irresistable grace” with no ability to refuse. The main issue here is not freedom of choice. The main issue is whether everyone is blessed with an invitation from God that God wishes them to accept (Acts 17:30-31).
2. An Invitation That Calls
a) One of the most important descriptions of the gospel invitation is “calling”. As Peter says, "Give diligence to make your calling and election sure" (2 Peter 1:10). Peter on the day of Pentecost said that God’s promise was to "as many as the Lord our God shall call" (Acts 2:38-39). Paul assures us, "Faithful is he who calls you" (1 Thessalonians 5:24).
b) When God calls, we can say, “I come!” or we can be utter fools and say otherwise — for which there will be terrible consequences.
The End ...
1. The Slighted Invitation a) The Parable of the Slighted Invitation (Luke 14:15-24) is about people invited to a dinner. When they refused the invitation, other people were rounded up and compelled to attend. What is this saying about grace and choice?
Luke 14:15-24
“15 When one of those who reclined at table with Jesus heard these things, he said to Jesus, 'Blessed are all who will eat bread in the kingdom of God!' 16 But Jesus said to him, "A man once gave a great banquet and invited many. 17 And at the time for the banquet he sent his slave to say to those who had been invited, 'Come, for everything is now ready.'”
“ 18 But they all alike began to make excuses. The first said to him, 'I have bought a field, and I must go out and inspect it. Please have me excused.' 19 And another said, 'I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I am going to examine them. Please have me excused.' 20 And another said, 'I have married a wife, and so I can't come.' 21 So the slave came and reported these things to his master. Then the master of the house became angry and said to his slave, 'Go out quickly to the streets and lane ways of the city, and bring in the poor and crippled and blind and lame.'”
“22 And the slave said, 'Sir, what you commanded has been done, and still there is room.' 23 And the master said to the slave, 'Go out to the highways and hedges and compel people to come in, to fill my house. 24 For I tell you, none of those men who were invited shall taste my banquet.'"” (Luke 14:15-24).
a) This parable illustrates the rejection of Jesus by many of his own Jewish countrymen, contrasted with the acceptance of Jesus by Gentiles (Acts 13:46-49). As John says, "He came to his own, and those who were his own did not receive him. But as many as received him, to them he gave the right to become children of God — to those who believe" (John 1:11-12).
b) John goes on to say that people receive grace from God without reference to their bloodline or fleshly genealogy. It's God who decides who receives grace and who doesn't (John 1:13). The parable is about what God wills.
c) Now some may teach that the people in Luke 14:17 who were invited had “total inability” to accept, whilst those in Luke 14:23 were compelled by “irresistable grace” with no ability to refuse. The main issue here is not freedom of choice. The main issue is whether everyone is blessed with an invitation from God that God wishes them to accept (Acts 17:30-31).
2. An Invitation That Calls
a) One of the most important descriptions of the gospel invitation is “calling”. As Peter says, "Give diligence to make your calling and election sure" (2 Peter 1:10). Peter on the day of Pentecost said that God’s promise was to "as many as the Lord our God shall call" (Acts 2:38-39). Paul assures us, "Faithful is he who calls you" (1 Thessalonians 5:24).
b) When God calls, we can say, “I come!” or we can be utter fools and say otherwise — for which there will be terrible consequences.
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