Bring Them In
Luke 14:1-24
Key Verse 21
“Then the owner of the house became angry and ordered his servants, “Go out quickly into the streets and alleys of the town and bring in the poor, the crippled, the blind and the lame.”
Thank God for blessing us to start the year 2024 with the words of God. “Have Faith in God.” In this year 2024, by faith in God Almighty, we may challenge disciple-making through 1:1 Bible Study ; By faith in God Almighty, we may pray for salvation for lost sinners; By faith in God Almighty, we may forgive others and serve God’ world mission together. By faith in God Almighty, we may pray “God, give us 7000 Bible Teachers.”
We are resuming the Luke’s gospel Bible from this week. I just want to remind that Jesus had been on the way to Jerusalem, since he resolutely set out for the city to give his life as a ransom for our sins in ch9. On the way, wherever he went; whoever he met; whatever he did, he did all with his best – with his utmost dedication and effort. He served the sick, the weak, and all kinds of sinners with all his hearts; he trained his disciples to be shepherds for God’s flock; he taught the words of God with all his strength, even in the face of opposition from the religious leaders who wanted to kill him. Still, Jesus never gave up hope for them.
In today’s passage, Jesus teaches the religious leaders very challenging lessons such compassion, humility, and true greatness. Especially through the parable of the great banquet, Jesus helps them to understand God’s heart of compassion for the weak and the needy. It is because when anyone shares God’s heart, they become compassionate toward others, humble to exalt others, and selfless to serve others. Through this bible study, let’s learn God’s heart for sinners, so that we may go out and bring those who need Jesus persuasively and persistently.
I. Jesus reveals God’s heart in action (1-14)
Look at verse 1. One Sabbath, Jesus was invited to the house of a prominent Pharisee for dinner. His house was filled with his friend Pharisees, teachers of the law, his relatives, and also his rich neighbors. Then, what might be his intention in inviting Jesus? They were watching Jesus carefully and there in front of him was a man suffering from abnormal swelling of his body.
To describe the man’s condition, Luke used the word “hydropikos.” It meant the excess fluid had filled the tissues of the body, caused by cancer or by liver and kidney problems. As a result, one of their body parts might be much bigger than usual.
Is it a coincidence that this man is seated in front of Jesus? No. Intentionally they put this man in front of Jesus, and watched Jesus carefully. The religious leaders were really evil. They ignored all amazing work Jesus had done. Moreover, they cared nothing for a suffering person, and only made use of him for their plot to find something to accuse Jesus. Jesus knew all their evil intention and plot. Then, Jesus asked them, “Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath or not?” Jesus’ question cut to their hearts, So they cannot but remain silent.
Then, what did Jesus do? Look at verse 4. Jesus reached out with his heart of compassion and healed the man immediately, and sent him away. It was immediate the act of rescue. It was an amazing moment that revealed that Jesus was a compassionated shepherd who was willing to heal the sick and risk his own life for the sake of one man. If he could rescue one lost soul, he did not mind being accused, insulted, or even crucified. That is what it means to love a sinner with God’s compassion. On the centrally, it also revealed heartlessness and hypocrisy of the religious leaders.
So, Jesus asked them again in verse 5. “If one of you has a child or an ox that falls into a well on the Sabbath day, will you not immediately pull it out?” They had nothing to say. Though they wanted to find something to accuse Jesus, instead Jesus exposed their evilness and heartlessness. At the same time, Jesus taught God’s heart. To the religious leaders, this man might be nobody. But to God, this man, regardless his sickness or weakness, belonged to him as his precious child. God loved him and valued him. Understanding God’s heart, Jesus immediately pulled this suffering son out of well of despair and suffering, risking his life. Compassion is the expression of God’s love for sinners.
Once we were in the pits of dark sins. But, Jesus reached out his hands and rescued us to have a new life. Our God is the God of compassion. God scarified his one and only son to save sinners from their miseries and ultimately from their sins. Sharing God’s heart for sinners, Jesus was willing to give his life on the cross. In the same way, God wants us to share his heart, burning with love for the lost. There are so many people who are crying in their souls because they need a shepherd, especially on our campuses. Many have fallen into pits of anxiety, fear, despair, and fatalism, depression, meaninglessness. They are desperate. People talk about the rising incident of school shootings, drug addicts, and depression. But actually these bear the witness to this. They are dying in their sins under Satan’s torment. They need rescue right away. They need shepherds. Who can be a shepherd for them? Not Bible scholars or religious men, but those who understand and share God’s heart for the lost. Others easily ignore the week or the needy. We may grow to be people after God’s own heart, like David.(1Sa13:14) Let’s pray to have God’s heart – His shepherd heart – as we begin 2024 spring semester, so that we may be part of God’s rescue mission for the lost sheep in the campus.
Look at verses 7-11. Jesus noticed that the guests at the dinner were choosing respected places around the table, near the host’s seat. At the dinner, their great concern was where they would sit. It was because they thought that the honorable position makes them honorable or great.
They might think that where they sit, what brand clothes they wear, what car they drive, or how big houses they possess make them who they were. The place of honor at the table was nothing but a seat. They did not know the true meaning of honor and where it comes.
Look at verses 8-10. Jesus advised them not to choose the honorable seats for themselves but to take the least important place. If they do so, they would be honored in the presence of all the guests. If not, they would be humiliated. To be honest, is there anyone who does not want honor? We are compelled to exalt ourselves. We want to brag about what we have done for we love to receive honor and recognition. Then, why should we do what Jesus said? What if no one notice or recognize us? We should know the true meaning of honor. The true honor does not come from a position, title or social status. Self-exaltation or self-promotion does not give us honor or respect. The true honor comes from God.
Let’s listen what Jesus said. Look at verse 11. “For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.” James 4:10 says, “Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.” Genuine honor comes from God to those who are humble because God exalts them. There are many examples of this in the Bible. Once Moses was so proud as a prince of Egypt that he expected that people of Israel would respect him and follow his leading. But, God could not use him. So, God humbled him through over 40 years of wilderness training. Finally when Moses became the humblest man on the face of the earth, God used him to set 600,000 Israelites free from the slavery Egypt. God exalted him to lead them to cross the Red sea and to enter the Promised Land.
Humility is the emblem of God’s people. The greatest example of humbling oneself is Jesus. Thought Jesus is God, he humbled himself and became a servant of all. He became obedient to death – even death on the cross. Then, God exalted him to the highest place and give him the name that is above every name. (Ph2:5-11) Though we know this, it is hard to practice for we are naturally proud; we are ready to exalt ourselves at any opportunity. We may remember that God exalts the humble. We may learn Jesus’ humbleness by making every effort to deny ourselves. Let us pray that we may not spend time and energy to exalt ourselves before men, but we may have the same mindset as Christ Jesus. We may seek true honor and recognition from God.
Look at verses 12 -14. When Jesus looked around, he found out that most of guests were friends of the Pharisee, his brothers and relatives, and his rich neighbors. Only VIPs were invited.
Then, what did Jesus say to the host? Look at verse 13-14. “But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, and you will be blessed. Although they cannot repay you, you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.” Jesus pointed out something that we often do: we give gifts and invitations, expecting to get something back later. In fact, that is not practicing God’s generous love, but a kind of business deal. We love to make deals “give and take.” But God’s love is not “give and take,” It is “give and give and give.”
Jesus really wanted them to be blessed people, commanding them to invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, and the blind. They are regarded as useless, and are so easily overlooked. However, Jesus wants us to be aware of the agonies of needy people and serve them. To do this requires a shepherd heart, willingness to sacrifice without any return. Why should we do that? Because that is how God loves us. God loves us unconditionally and gave his one and only Son.
As Jesus served us free of charge, we are obligated to serve the needy free of charge. It is also because God sees and God will repay. God knows our sacrifices and our tears on behalf of his lost sheep. He will repay it at the resurrection of the righteous. God is the God who rewards those who earnestly seek him. (Heb11:6) At the Resurrection day, at the day Jesus, our Lord come again. That day, Jesus will reward his with the best. He will clothe his people with the robes of righteousness and also crowd them with the crown of eternal life. (Rev 4:4) God may purify our hearts from worldly benefit-seeking, and help us to seek his reward and repayment at the resurrection of the righteous.
II. The great banquet in the kingdom of God.(15-24)
One of those at the table was inspired by Jesus’ words. So, he blurted out, “Blessed is the one who will eat at the feast in the kingdom of God.” He expected to enjoy the feast in the kingdom of God, simply because he was an Israel. However, Jesus told a parable to explain who will actually enjoy God’s banquet and to reveal God’s heart desires.
Look at verses 16-17. “Jesus replied: ‘A certain man was preparing a great banquet and invited many guests. At the time of the banquet he sent his servant to tell those who had been invited, “Come, for everything is now ready.”‘” Here a certain man refers to God and those who had been invited to his chosen people. This banquet refers to the Heavenly Banquet of salvation.(Mt22:2) According to Jewish custom, such banquet invitation were sent in advance without specifying the days. When everything was ready, the host sent the final invitation. “Come, for everything is ready!”
What were people’s respond to the final invitation? All rejected the invitation. One of them said, “I have just bought a field, and I must go and see it” (18b). He can go and see his field after the banquet. But He did not do so, for he valued his field more important than God’s invitation. Another said, “I have just bought five yoke of oxen, and I’m on my way to try them out. Please excuse me” (19). He cared his business more than the banquet. Still another said, “I just got married, so I can’t come” (20). No one say anything against it. In fact, all their excuses are understandable. With those excuse, you could even receive the 6 menthe leave of absence benefits from US Federal government. Rejecting the king’s invitation was not only act of disrespect but also rebellion against His authority. Even these excuses were not acceptable because it actually despised or disvalued the authority of the king.
Have you ever been invited to such banquet? This is much more than any wedding banquet on the earth. Last year, we had prepared the wedding banquet for M. Emmanuel and Sh. Angela Ogbonna. It was truly wonderful and blessed wedding with much delicious food. But the banquet in the kingdom of God is much more than wedding banquet. This is the banquet of salvation what satisfy all our hunger and thirst of our souls; restore us to be holy children of God.
Amazingly this banquet of salvation is fully ready. Verse 17 says, “Come, for everything is now ready.” Everything is ready. God prepared his salvation plan and sent his one and only Son to save men from the power of sin and death. Jesus, through his death on the cross and resurrection from dead, completed the God’s salvation and prepared the kingdom of God. Through his death on across and resurrection from the death, He prepared everything for the heavenly banquet. There is nothing lack. Even we do not need wedding robes. The master already prepares the wedding robes for us.
“Come, for everything is ready.” God is calling everyone to come into his kingdom because– it is a place of happiness and eternal life. All they have to do is to come just as they are and join the celebration. Then, what is your excuse? The people in this passage were just like us. Their hearts were preoccupied with business, wealth, family, and pleasures of the world. They were proud and unthankful. They all regarded God’s invitation optional, not mandatory. In reality, when Jesus came and announced the coming of the kingdom, the Israel refused him out their pride and self-righteousness.
Then, how did God respond when his people rejected his invitation? Did God cancel or delay the banquet? No. The owner of the house became angry. He did not cancel or delay his banquet. Look at verse 21, “Go out quickly into the streets and alleys of the town and bring in the poor, the crippled, the blind and the lame.’” God extended his invitation to the poor, the crippled, the blind and the lame. They were undeserving people. They represent sinners. But, they were humble and poor in spirit. When they were invited, they were surprised that they were invited. They accepted the invitation with great joy.
For the more, his invitation was extended even to the Gentiles. Look at verse 23. “Then the master told his servant, ‘Go out to the roads and country lanes and make them come in, so that my house will be full.” God really wants to have a full banquet hall in his kingdom with all kinds of thankful people. So, God commanded his servants, “Go out quickly and bring in” “Go out… and make them come in… so that my house will be full” This is God’s heart and love for sinners. Our Father God in heaven earnestly desires that the kingdom of God be filled with his precious children. This is also God’s amazing grace. The marginalized and the Gentiles did not deserve to be invited to the kingdom, but they were; It was by the grace of God.
We are all Gentiles. Also, we were dead in our transgressions and sins. We gratified the cravings of our flesh and followed its desires and thoughts. We were, by nature, deserving of wrath. We were without hope and without God in the world (Eph 2:1-3,12). But while we were in this condition, God sent Jesus to us to invite us to his kingdom. Jesus announced, “The time has come. The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news!” (Mk 1:15) Jesus fulfilled God’s salvation work through his death and resurrection. After that, repentance for the forgiveness of sins was proclaimed to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.
In fact, this parable of the Great banquet is for the religious leaders and the Israelites who actually rejected Jesus and the gospel of Jesus. It was intended to lead them to repentance. As Jesus taught in previous passage, Jesus revealed all their sins such as their evilness and heartlessness toward the weak, their hypocrisy which misused the law to satisfy their self-righteousness, their desires for honor and recognition from men, their hypocritical life which rejected the word of God and rebelled against the word of God, their double life not living by God’s teaching, but living by their ambition, eventually their rejections of Jesus the lamb of God. Eventually their sins led them to kill Jesus on the cross. In the Kingdom of God, there would be no place for the such people. Jesus clearly told them in verse 25 “I tell you, not one of those who were invited will get a taste of my banquet.”
Based on Jesus’ teaching, they should look back and exam their own lives – how they had lived the year 2023 and repent of their sins. Jesus led them and invited them to repentance. This message of God’s judgment was good news for the sinners. The message of God’s love for sinners is good News. The message of Jesus’ life of shepherd for us is good News. Jesus’ suffering for our sins and his Resurrection from the dead is also good News. But also, the message of God’s Judgment is Good News for his people. The messages of judgment in Jeremiah, in Ezekiel, in Isaiah, and in Daniel were God’s great love for his people to lead them repentance and bring them back to His Kingdom. This parable of the great banquet is also for us to repent of our hypocritical heart and attitude toward the word of God and our sins.
Thank God for the mothers of prayer who faithfully go out streets to invite sheep. I am sure that most of students will make excuses; “I am busy. I have exams. I have appointment.” Though they were rejected many times, they did not give up inviting people because they knew the love of God. In this way, God has blessed them to be the witness of Jesus in this generation. We should not stop going out campus. Sheep will not come unless we go out and get them. Let’s make this week -“Week of Going out” It is not for Dating, but for reaching out. We may go out College Ave, Douglas campus, Bush campus, and Princeton campus and invite students to the banquet in the kingdom of God.
This invitation still stands. Now is the day of salvation (2Co 6:2). Praise God who invites us to the heavenly banquet (Rev 19:9). None of us deserve this invitation. It has come to us from the riches of God’s love and by his grace alone. All we need to do is accept it and rejoice. Whoever responds to God’s invitation can enter his kingdom. All we have to do is accept the invitation by faith. Let’s accept this gracious invitation. Let’s learn God’s heart and invite those who need Jesus persuasively and persistently.
Let us repent of our pride, self-righteousness, self-glory-seeking. Coming spring semester, Go out quickly and fill this house of God – with those who need Jesus!