We are looking at the parable that Jesus shared in In Luke 14:16-24 this week. Jesus said, "A man once gave a great banquet and invited many. 17 And at the time for the banquet he sent his servant 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 see it. Please have me excused.' 19 And another said, 'I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I go to examine them. Please have me excused.' 20 And another said, 'I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come.' 21 So the servant came and reported these things to his master. Then the master of the house became angry and said to his servant, 'Go out quickly to the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in the poor and crippled and blind and lame.' 22 And the servant said, 'Sir, what you commanded has been done, and still there is room.' 23 And the master said to the servant, 'Go out to the highways and hedges and compel people to come in, that my house may be filled. 24 For I tell you, none of those men who were invited shall taste my banquet.'"
We have already been reminded that our words are not adequate to save us. We also have been reminded that our excuses are not acceptable to the thrice holy God of all creation. Today, we will see some good news: our Sin is not taken into account. Listen to the rest of the parable in verses 21-23, So the servant came and reported these things to his master. Then the master of the house became angry and said to his servant, 'Go out quickly to the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in the poor and crippled and blind and lame.' 22 And the servant said, 'Sir, what you commanded has been done, and still there is room.' 23 And the master said to the servant, 'Go out to the highways and hedges and compel people to come in, that my house may be filled.
We have a problem now. We have a massive banquet prepared and nobody to come. The celebration will go on, however. Every seat will be filled, but it's going to be fulfilled by the most unlikely people: the poor, the crippled, the blind, and the lame. We're talking about the beggars and the outcasts who live in the slums. We're talking about the outcasts, the untouchables. They were all invited and yet the servant tells the master that there is still room! The master then tells the servant to go over to the highways and along the hedges to fill up his house. This is referring to the Gentiles, the heathen, the really depraved and irreligious. He was to compel them to come in. In other words, the slave was not to take 'no' for an answer. The idea of the word compel here is a very strong word. This type of individual would take a lot of convincing that they were really wanted at a banquet in the city. You're going to have to compel these people because of their sense of unworthiness, but their unworthiness was no match for the grace of the master.
There may be those of you who think that God could never save you. He could never include you in the Kingdom of God. You have been too wicked and sinful and ungodly. Your sin is not so great that it cannot be forgiven. Why? Because of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Christ died to pay the price for your sin and mine and his blood is sufficient to cover a multitude of sins. Our inadequacies are insufficient because God's blood and grace is sufficient.
Mic 7:19 He will again have compassion on us; he will tread our iniquities under foot. It is as though, we lay our sin, iniquities, and transgressions at his feet and he just grinds them into the ground. He could then be pictured as picking up those crushed sins and throwing them over his shoulder behind his back. According to Isa 38:17 In love you have delivered my life from the pit of destruction, for you have cast all my sins behind your back. Those sins, iniquities, and transgressions then roll downhill into the very depths of the sea, where they are taken out with the tide as far as the east is from the west. Mic 7:19 says, You will cast all our sins into the depths of the sea and Ps 103:12 as far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us. Needless to say, if we repent and turn to Christ, our sins will be remembered no more. According to Heb 10:17 I will remember their sins and their lawless deeds no more.
He is inviting you. He is calling you. Before you attempt to respond though, remember, your words are not adequate. You must respond with your life and with your will. Your excuses are not accepted. It doesn't matter if they are valid or invalid. No excuse is acceptable with God. You sin is not taken into account. If you will respond to his call in repentance and faith, your sin will be remembered no more. I want to encourage you to repent, turn away from you sin, iniquity, and transgression. Turn away from your old affections, attitudes, and actions. Deny yourself. Repent. I want to encourage you to turn away from your sin and self and turn to Christ alone. Do not trust in a sinner's prayer. Do not trust in a baptism or a church membership. Do not trust in your good works. Trust in the sacrificial death, burial, and resurrection of Christ alone to make you right with God. Take up your cross daily and follow him. Respond to the invitation. It is the most important move you will ever make.
Listen to how he concludes his parable in verse 24. For I tell you, none of those men who were invited shall taste my banquet. How dangerous it is to refuse the invitation of God. If God has spoken clearly to you and you have rejected his call, you are treading on dangerous ground. Today is the day of salvation. While the Spirit calls, you respond. Repent and place your faith in Christ alone.
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