The Parable of the Great Supper It is a teaching that Jesus recounted announcing the call that God makes to enter his salvation, and that the people come to repentance. Where it refers to the privileges and blessings obtained by being invited to the great dinner with the Lord.
The power of the teachings of the parables are a reason for study, and this story is not far behind, there are nine verses that contain various meanings, that develop the grace of God and how many reject that invitation to the great dinner of the Lamb.
The parable goes like this:
And at dinner time he sent his servant to say to the guests: Come, everything is ready. And everyone began to apologize. The first said: I have bought a farm, and I need to go see it; I beg you to excuse me.
Another said: I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I am going to test them; I beg you to excuse me. And another said: I just got married and therefore I can’t go. When the servant returned, he made these things known to his master. Then the father of the family, angry, said to his servant: Go quickly through the squares and streets of the city, and bring here the poor, the crippled, the lame, and the blind.
And the servant said, Lord, it has been done as you commanded, and there is still room. The lord said to the servant: Go into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled. For I tell you that none of those men who were invited will taste my dinner” (Luke 14: 15-24)
Contextualizing the Parable of the Great Supper
Jesus, motivated to spread the message of the kingdom of Heaven, was characterized by receiving invitations to dinners where he met with his disciples and followers to talk about the message of salvation.
But this time he received the invitation of a Pharisee, who was looking for a way to discredit his message, and even more so when he saw that on the Sabbath he had healed a sick person.
Jesus took it upon himself at this time to teach them about the procedures for invitations and the rules for being present at the dinner venue, explaining the following:
“When you are invited by someone to a wedding, do not sit in the first place, lest another more distinguished than you be invited by him, and the one who invited you and him comes and says to you: Give place to this one, and then you have to take the last place in shame. Rather, when you are invited, go and sit in the last place, so that when the one who invited you comes, he says to you: Friend, go to this place of more category. Then you will have the recognition of those who sit with you at the table” (Luke 14: 8-10)
From this it follows the importance that Jesus gave to humility, and that they should be less pretentious in wanting to be exalted. Well, at that time dinners were given at tables that were categorized by the authority they represented.
The tables had 4 top places, they sat on mats around her, and the guests reclined at the table. At the head were the places of honor and the central one was the most important. Around the table were located the places of minor importance.
When Jesus saw this custom in which only the same people were invited, and they were categorized, he taught the following:
That teaching was the one that motivated a man who was in that place to exclaim:
“Blessed is he who eats bread in the kingdom of God” (Luke 14:15)
producing Jesus’ narration of the Parable of the Great Supper, inciting the openness and hospitality of those who really need and who have no way to return the treat. Something that God will provide through this great dinner that he prepares.
Symbology of the Parable of the Great Supper
The weight of the teachings left by Jesus They are related to aspects of the kingdom of heaven, and they reach the depth they have for the listener. In this aspect, this parable is fragmented into several moments and in the first this situation occurs:
“When one of those who sat with him at table heard this, he said to him: Blessed is he who eats bread in the kingdom of God. Then Jesus said to him: A man made a great dinner, and invited many. And at supper time he sent his servant to tell the guests: Come, everything is ready.”
The invitation
“and invited many” At that time, when a banquet was given, the date of the dinner was announced, and the attendance of the guest was confirmed, being the guest committed to attend.
This type of event was a day where a great feast with food and entertainment was prepared for the attendees, and they had to prepare themselves with the best for that great day.
In the spiritual aspect this invitation is It refers to God’s call to repentance and the path to your salvation. At that time, he was referring to the Jewish people who came to understand the call that God asked of his children: to regret and enter their great dinner.
Today it is said that everyone is invited and can attend with their best suit. Saying invited many is a large number of people who are being given the message so that they can attend this party of eternal life that God wants to give.
sent the servant
“he sent his servant to tell the guests: Come, everything is ready” When everything is ready, it says that the banquet is ready, that the space is arranged in the best gala to receive your guests. And it is that servant who reminds them of the dinner commitment.
At that time Jesus was that servant who announced that everything was ready, prepared so that everyone who accepts his invitation will enjoy being free from condemnation. That those people could understand that through Him, they would enter that great dinner. “I am the door; whoever enters through me will be saved” (John 10: 9)
Today that servant is the one who preaches the Word, who is willing to remind him of God’s invitation and the great dinner he has promised to share. Making known the spiritual blessings that are waiting for those who accept this invitation to follow Christ, to enjoy that delicacy that he promises in his eternal home.
This invitation that God makes to humanity continues to be extended, you should not buy to attend, the invitation is a gift, delivered by the grace and mercy of God. Which is not obtained when it is denied by the guest.
Continuing the story given by Jesus, in this parable, the servant, as was customary, goes out to inform the guests of the beginning of the banquet, everything unfolds as stipulated until the guests refuse to attend, breaking the commitment made:
“And everyone began to apologize. The first said: I have bought a farm, and I need to go see it; I beg you to excuse me. Another said: I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I am going to test them; I beg you to excuse me. And another said: I just got married and therefore I can’t go»
Three excuses for not attending
When Jesus narrated these three excuses, he caused his listeners to jump, because the guests’ refusal became an insult and public humiliation of the host, which had been prepared with the best for dinner. Something that for the time was something very inappropriate.
Today, this excerpt comes to represent the types of guests who refuse to follow Christ and accept his salvation.
The first is the one You need to see other things that you consider most important: “I have bought a farm, and I need to go and see it; please excuse me”
The banality, the pleasures, that the human being acquires, those physical possessions that give him security to understand earthly inheritance, but that reject the inheritance and the pleasure of the glory of God.
The second is the one that has than prove something for your business, “I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I am going to try them” business, work, studies become the owner of the time of this type of guest.
These people do not allow themselves to be occupied by anything else, their time is limited for what they consider “important”. They spend their lives working and busy at it, without giving a glance to God’s call, causing that eternal life to vanish.
The third is the one you have to enjoy your moment with your partner or family “I just got married, and therefore I can’t go” All relationships, whether married, family or work, have a great influence on this type of guest.
He refuses to receive God’s invitation for not failing his partner, in some commitment made or for continuing in his daily routine with these affections of the heart, demonstrating that this is who occupies the first place and God is not a priority.
It is evident how the wisdom of Jesus reflects a tangible reality, possessions, business, affectionate relationships are the most common excusesof this type of person that God has invited to accept salvation, and can enjoy the banquet of eternal blessings.
For the time Jesus he was referring to the Pharisees directly, who refused to accept it and fulfill the repentance that guaranteed him the entrance to heaven. They excused themselves for being scholars of the Word and not having time to listen to a blasphemer, as they referred to Jesus.
Continuing the teaching, Jesus details the attitude of the dishonored host:
When the servant returned, he made these things known to his master. Then the father of the family, angry, said to his servant: Go quickly through the squares and streets of the city, and bring here the poor, the crippled, the lame, and the blind. And the servant said, Lord, it has been done as you commanded, and there is still room. The lord said to the servant: Go into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled. Because I tell you that none of those men who were invited will taste my dinner.”
making a decision
Understanding that for the time it was a dishonor the fact that his guests did not attend his banquet. This man could have threatened them with some lawsuit for public dishonor.
However, he broke all the law and asked his servant to fill his house with all kinds of people who accepted his invitation.
It is known that at the time they had to be of the same category or social extract, and that the owner decided to invite “to the poor, the crippled, the lame and the blind” reinforcing Jesus how valuable inclusion in the kingdom of God is.
In addition, referring to the fact that this extract from society was the one who most easily received the invitation of salvation, which Jesus preached throughout his ministry.
But in carrying them there was still room: “Lord, it has been done as you commanded, and there is still room. The lord said to the servant: Go into the highways and hedges, and compel them to enter.”
This alludes to God is taking his invitation to everyone because there is a lot of room in his kingdomand you want everyone to be there, enjoy everything you have prepared.
when he talks about “force them in” He was referring to the fact that the people of the time, if they were not from the same social class, and had received a prior invitation, were required by law not to accept it. So that…