Sunday Sermons
Excuse Me
Excuse Me
On one very special occasion, Jesus was invited into the home of one of the leaders of the Pharisees for a meal where those present were watching Him quite closely (Luke 14:1). Jesus was, of course, watching them even more closely, and had observed prior to the meal how they carefully plotted to sit in the most honorable seats (14:7). He then tried to teach them an invaluable lesson on the need for humility and thus wait for God to do all exalting (14:7-12). He then encouraged them to show their hospitality to people who could not invite them over in return (14:12-14), and thus to simply allow God to reward them at the resurrection. At this point someone at the table with Jesus proclaimed, "Blessed is everyone who will eat bread in the kingdom of God" (Luke 14:15). According to common Jewish thinking of the time, a great and long-continued feast would be held when the Messianic kingdom was established on earth after the resurrection. The man who blurted out the above words seemed to believe that he and all his respectable cohorts would take part in this Messianic celebration.
Won't It Be Great "Then?"
It could be that Jesus was getting too close to home with His teaching and that this man wanted to change the subject. Or, it could be that he was trying to say, "Well, we don't have anything to worry about, for won't it be great when we are all enjoying our heavenly reward?" In the verses that follow, Jesus warns him and the others present, that there is a danger that they will miss the blessings of the real kingdom of God, for only those who accept the actual invitation will be there.
Luke 14:16 "But He said to him"
Jesus is here specifically addressing the man who had just spoken. The word "but" is a strong contrast. Jesus seems to be saying not just to him, but also to the rest of us:
"Just don't assume you are on the right path". "Just don't assume you are automatically in". "Just don't assume you are a Christian or that you are saved". "Before you talk about how great it will be 'then' – have you even accepted the invitation?" In other words, have you obeyed the gospel? (1 Peter 4:17). Have you repented and been baptized for the remission of your sins? (Acts 2:38).
The Big Dinner
Here God is offering an invitation to a "great feast", that symbolizes the kingdom of God. The many that will be invited includes both Jews and Gentiles (Mark 16:15). Other verses tell us that God invites men through the gospel (Romans 1:16; 2 Thessalonians 2:14). Observe there are two invitations in this illustration. The custom of sending a second invitation at the supper hour is a very old one. The first invitation may refer to the many promises of the Old Testament, while the Messenger who offers the final invitation is Jesus Himself. The Jews certainly would claim they had accepted the invitation offered by the prophets. When did Jesus say, “everything is ready”? He made this very announcement when He said, “Repent for the kingdom of heaven is at hand” (Matthew 4:17).
The Excuses: Luke 14:18-20
“These three excuses show: 1. That the guests had made their engagements, either for business or pleasure, without the least regard for the banquet that they already knew about. 2. That they set little value upon either the friendship or the feast of the one who had invited them. Viewing the excuses spiritually, we note that each on contains an element of newness – new field, new oxen, and new wife. Thus the things of the earth seem new and sweet in comparison with the gospel invitation. Again, all the excuses are trifling, for the parable is intended to teach that men forego their rights to heaven for trifles” (McGarvey, pp. 495-496).
Consider how foolish these excuses look, for one does not first buy a piece of ground and only afterwards goes to see what it looks like. And if one has already bought a yoke of oxen, it is useless to go out and try them, for the sale is completed. The fact that one has just been married is certainly not a sound reason why he should not go to the supper to which he has been invited, for even if he could not have invited his new bride, surely as his other half, she would be happy he had be included in such a grand event!
In Light of Eternity
These excuses look even more foolish in light of what the invitees were ignoring. At death one must give up whatever property they own, and when Jesus comes the entire planet is going to be destroyed. In addition, what person in their right mind would rather go out and plow with oxen than attend a grand banquet? Is plowing with a new team of oxen any more enjoyable than plowing with the previous set? In Luke 16 we find a man who has died apart from God and is suffering in torment. How many of our current excuses look absolutely ridiculous from the standpoint of eternity? What if Abraham had told the rich man, "You can leave torment, but you must be baptized for the remission of your sins": Do you think he would have argued that baptism was not necessary? Do you think he would have said, "Hum, let me think about it?" Crazy.
"Please Consider Me Excused": Luke 14:19
What is really deceptive about all this is that none of the things used as excuses were sinful in and of themselves, rather they only became sinful when they were placed in priority above God and His kingdom (Matthew 6:33). We here learn this invaluable lesson: a person can end up lost, not for engaging in sinful activity, but for merely placing the things of this world ahead of God’s kingdom.
The men in this story actually thought that their excuses were reasonable. How many times do we think that "our excuse" is valid or far more valid that the excuses offered by others? We think that surely God understands my situation, when in fact He has great reason to be highly offended by it.
Also, do not miss that the people making these excuses would be considered "good, responsible" people – in fact they are people who claim to be believers. They are pictured as industrious, they are making investments, working hard, making improvements on their farms and getting married. Have we bought into the idea that there are many times in life that it is okay to put God in second place with justifications that sound something like: "God, please consider me excused, I am trying to get ahead?" or "I just got married?" or "I am really busy in school?" or "I am really busy trying to get my career going?"
"The Head of the Household Became Angry': Luke 14:21
Clearly, none of the excuses were accepted. God is angry when people spurn Him “The master of the house is justly angry at the attitude of those invited, because they have treated Him with so much indifference, contempt, and deceitfulness” (Geldenhuys, p. 394).
“Go out at once into the streets and lanes of the city and bring in here the poor and crippled and blind and lame”: 14:21
The first group called appears to be the Jews who considered themselves saved, like the Pharisees, scribes, and other rulers. This second group appears to be Jews that the Pharisees would not have considered right with God, that is, people like the Jewish tax-gatherers and the “multitudes” whom the Pharisees felt themselves superior (John 7:49).
“Go out into the highways and along the hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled”: 14:23
This would apparently be the preaching of the gospel to the Gentiles. The word “compel” obviously speaks to being convicted by moral and spiritual means and not physical means. In his preaching, Paul was constantly trying to “persuade” men (Acts 17:2-3; 2 Corinthians 5:10-11). Let's determine to be as compelling in our presentation of the gospel as we can be. Let's allow ourselves to sense the urgency for people to obey the gospel (Acts 2:40). How beautiful that there is plenty of room in the kingdom and that God desires that His house be filled (2 Peter 3:9). God deeply desires all to be invited and for all to accept this generous invitation. The gospel invitation is not an invitation to a deprived life, but rather, the invitation to become a Christian is an invite to a incomparably delicious feast. Truly Jesus "…came so that they might have life and have it more abundantly" (John 10:10).
"None of those men shall taste of my dinner": 14:24
There are no second chances here. To reject the gospel is to consign oneself to a place outside the kingdom. Those originally invited, though they might attempt entrance into the kingdom at the judgment day (Luke 13:25), will be rejected. Our plea is that without delay you would accept His invitation and put Him first today and every day.
Mark Dunagan | mdunagan@frontier.net
Beaverton Church of Christ | 503-644-9017
www.beavertonchurchofchrist.net
