ADULTS STS LESSON PARABLE OF THE GREAT SUPER
MEMORY VERSE: “Then said he unto him, A certain man made a great supper, and bade many: And sent his servant at supper time to say to them that were bidden, Come; for all things are now ready” (Luke 14:16,17).
TEXT: Luke 14:1-24
Lord Jesus Christ frequently used parables in His teaching, preaching and healing ministry to drive home great spiritual truths. In the simplest sense, parables are earthly stories with heavenly meanings. They could be used to wrap up truth so that, not only can it be kept safe but also hidden from the imprudent, but uncovered and brought to light by the spiritually- minded (Matthew 13:11,13). In His earthly ministry, Christ interacted with people of different status in life. He met the poor, the rich, the Pharisees, the publicans, the unlearned and even beggars. Such interactions exposed the utter depravity of the human heart as they drew forth reactions reflective of the truc condition of humanity. They also provided opportunities for Him to teach the truth and correct long established wrong notions and corrupt traditions often clothed in a cloak of religion.
Our text opens with Christ’s visit to one of the chief Pharisees “...to eat bread on the sabbath day…”. These people could have been highly desirous and honoured to sit at His feet, hear His precious word and receive the one thing needful the salvation of their souls. Unfortunately, they turned the dinner into a trap to advance their conspiracy against Christ. Like these listen to the word of God and repent but to look for Pharisees, some people attend church services not to faults and occasion to perpetrate evil teach on the subject of the Sabbath. He points out the The occasion in our text gave Christ the avenue to importance of humility as a virtue and the precedence of the gospel over every human pursuit and ambition.
1.CHRIST TEACHES AND HEALS ON THE SABBATH
Luke 14:1-14; Matthew 9:9-13; 12:1,2,10-12; 1 Corinthians 9:19-23; Deuteronomy 15:7,8.
Our Lord Jesus moved from city to city and village to village endued with the Holy Ghost, preaching, teaching and…doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him” (Acts 10:38). While in the house of a chief Pharisee, He healed a man with dropsy, a disease of abnormal accumulation of fluid in body tissue or cavity, on a sabbath day. Before the miracle, He posed a question to the lawyers and Pharisees present: “…Is it lawful to heal on the sabbath day?” (Luke 14:3). They could not answer yes or no because they knew there was no law against doing good on the sabbath day. Rather, they wanted an opportunity to accuse Him of breaking the law. Besides, the Pharisees were in the habit of misinterpreting the law and making life miserable for people and difficult to obey the law, which God intended to be a guide to the Saviour (Matthew 23:4, 16-19,23; Galatians 3:24,25). But He knew their intentions and was prepared for them. The Lord’s healings on the sabbath day were intended to make the Jewish leaders look beyond their rules to the true purpose of honouring God by helping people in need.
“And he put forth a parable to those which were bidden, when he marked how they chose out the chief rooms…” (Luke 14:7). The record of Christ’s teachings on humility and rewarding charity is unique to the book of Luke. In those days, where labels and cards were used for seating guests, the host could regulate the guests’ positions after they were seated. The chief place was always allotted to the highest rank of persons present. When the Lord observed how the guests strove for seats of honour, He counselled them not to strive for personal honour but to be clothed with humility. This is a virtue every true believer must possess. However, humility is not self-degradation but a realistic assessment and commitment to serve others. Service is more honourable in God’s house than status or title (1 Peter 5:5,6).
The teaching on humility is best appreciated as we imagine our Lord stoop low to wash His disciples’ feet. Pride has no place in a Christian life and ministry. True believers are ever conscious of their actions and do not usurp authority or position. They are obedient and submissive to whoever has authority over them; they do not strive for recognition or popularity.
“Then said he also to him that bade him, When thou makest a dinner or a supper, call not thy friends, nor thy brethren, neither thy kinsmen, nor thy rich neighbours; lest they also bid thee again, and a recompence be made thee” (Luke 14:12). An acceptable charity is that done without expecting recompense from the recipients. The poor cannot pay back but the Lord compensates the person who cares for the hopeless and the helpless. It also makes the believers to be like their Father in heaven who gives rain to both the poor as well as the rich. Heavenly reward is promised to them on the day of judgment and reward (Matthew 25:35-45).
2.THE CALL AND INVITATION TO THE GREAT SUPPER
Luke 14:15-23; Matthew 22:2-10: Revelation 3:20; Matthew 11:28,29; Isaiah 1:16-18; Revelation 19:7-9
“Then said he unto him, A certain man made a great supper, and bade many: And sent his servant at supper time to say to them that were bidden, Come; for all things are now ready” (Luke 14:16,17).
Jesus used this parable to reply a fellow guest who expressed his admiration of the glory and blessedness of eating “…bread in the kingdom of God” (Luke 14:15). This anonymous guest was confident that he would, Jacob and the prophets. Jesus responded with a parable one day, be at the Kingdom feast with Abraham, Isaac, The parable aptly describes the situation of people who that reveals the sad consequence of false confidence. had the privilege of partaking in the Kingdom but “And they all with one consent began to make despise it in preference to mundane things of this world. excuse…” (Luke 14:18). The first invitee excused himself a real estate he had because he needed to see purchased. This means his reason was not genuine. The second guest had made a purchase of ten oxen that he was anxious to prove. Again, one wonders why someone would take up such high risk without prior testing before purchase. The third guest who knew he was going to get married should not have accepted the invitation at all. Having prepared a great dinner for many guests, the host did not want to waste the food. Therefore, he sent his servant out to gather a crowd and bring them to the banquet hall.
The great supper where “all things are now ready” is typical of the kingdom of God, which Jesus has gone to prepare for all who heed His invitation. The parable is true of the Jews who had the oracle of God but through negligence, hardness of heart and religious bigotry failed to identify with their Messiah. Second, it affects Gentile sinners, especially churchgoers, who hear the gospel but neglect to act and consecrate wholly to God. Third, it speaks of backsliders who once accepted the gospel but were overwhelmed with worldly possessions. Fourth, it points to leaders and people of honour who receive invitation to Christ but prefer the pursuit of more worldly acquisition to the salvation of their souls. Their value for earthly things replaced their love for Christ and His kingdom. Such shall miss the great supper and its eternal joy at the marriage supper of the Lamb (Revelation 19:7-9).
However, believers who need to organise or attend feasts like wedding, naming or burial ceremonies should be guided by the Scripture and be moderate in all things. They should be conscious of their heavenly citizenship, be Christ-centred and decent without invitations to feasts that are sin-based, demonic in superfluity. Christians should deliberately refuse setting or that will affect their scriptural convictions negatively.
- CONSEQUENCES OF REJECTING THE GREAT INVITATION
Luke 14:21-24; John 9:39-41; Hebrews 2:3; 12:16,17
Those who feel they have no time for Christ and His work will be replaced by people who seem to be insignificant and irrelevant in this present world. Many today do not set their affections on things above but on things on the earth. Whoever accepts Christ’s invitation – rich or poor, healthy or sickly is welcome to His kingdom at His coming. Those negligent invitees and indeed all who excuse themselves from His invitation to “Come unto me,” or to His service, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men”, will not partake in His kingdom.
The excuses of those who failed to honour the invitation in this parable are not justified because they,
one, were invited before the time of the supper;
two, were close and accessible to the venue;
three, understood what the invitation was meant for;
four, were reminded when it was time for the supper;
five, knew that “all things are now ready”;
Six, knew that there was going to be no lack at the supper;
seven, had a choice to make according to their priority;
eight, seemed to have conspired together “with one consent“, to frustrate the supper;
nine, knew that “all things” at the supper would be wasted if they did not attend; and
ten, knew their excuses were carnal, bothering on things that could wait for another day without damage. Their ungodly actions deserve indignation especially where people who do so know the evil effects of their negligence. The Lord will be angry with them on the last day as they will not find a second chance to repent. They shall be eternally barred from Christ’s kingdom: “none of those men which were bidden shall taste of my supper” (Luke 14:24) Their portion of blessings shall be given to others.
to his servant, Go out quickly into the streets and “...Then the master of the house being angry said lanes of the city, and bring in hither the poor, and There are clear differences between the holy indignation the maimed, and the halt, and the blind” (Luke 14:21). and fleshly anger expressed against the human person. hardness of heart and deliberate rejection of truth by Godly rebuke is directed at vices. The Lord hates sin, people who project falsehood and errors to deceive others who want to embrace the truth. Anger packaged with bitterness against neighbours is ungodly. Like the Lord, no believer should delight in sin but should rebuke it in the strongest terms to make the sinner see the danger of persistence. He is angry against evil, yet He prays for the salvation of the evil doer. The anger symbolised in this parable is the final wrath of indignation when God will cast sinners into the lake of fire when their cup of iniquity is full and He will show no mercy as in the case of Sodom and Gomorrah.
The servant was sent to those originally bidden in gentle appeal but after they excused themselves, the master became more authoritative and commanded his servant to “Go out quickly“. It was a last minute opportunity else his great supper would waste. At first, it was to the immediate neighbourhood, “streets and lanes of the city“. When there was still “room“, the second command was to the “highways and hedges“, implying that he should get to other towns and villages and the corners of the city. This time the servant must “compel” them to come. This explains why believers should do everything possible to bring sinners into the Kingdom because “the time is short” (1 Corinthians 7:29).
The faithful servant’s obedience ensured that the hall for supper was filled with people. He was readily available at the master’s call and instruction, prompt at discharging his errands, very faithful and reported his findings to his master without delay, very hardworking and understood his master’s wishes, which he carried out without complaints. As disciples of Christ, we must to bring to Christ through prayers, doggedness and going emulate the attitude of this servant. There are millions to the streets and lanes... highways and hedges” of our towns and villages. The supper is now “ready” and the Lord is waiting for us to call and bring the invitees last days, the Master urges every believer to hurry and souls through evangelism into His house. In these Gentiles and sinners shall find last-minute opportunity compel sinners to repent and come to Him. Many into the Kingdom, which the self-righteous Jews and writer, The Christian life is a feast and not a funeral, careless backsliders despised. In the words of a Christian and all are invited to come’. Each of us as believers must herald abroad the message, “come for all things are now ready”. God wants to see His house filled with converted souls. He wants us to go into the streets, lanes, highways and hedges; indeed into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature (Mark 16:15).
QUESTIONS FOR REVIEW:
- What can we learn from the Lord’s act of healing and teachings on sabbath days?
- How did Christ expose the hypocrisy of the scribes and Pharisees who frowned at healing on the sabbat day?
- What are the benefits of having supper in Christ’s kingdom?
- Why are the excuses of the invitees not acceptable? 5. Mention some actions that deserve rebuke in the church of God and how they can be handled?
- What can believers learn from the faithfulness of the servant in this parable?
- What are some of the challenges we must overcome to ensure the gospel is preached to every creature?