The Parable of the Banquet
Message by Terry Wiens — September 26, 2021
Jesus replied with this story: “A man prepared a great feast and sent out many invitations. When the banquet was ready, he sent his servant to tell the guests, ‘Come, the banquet is ready.’ But they all began making excuses. One said, ‘I have just bought a field and must inspect it. Please excuse me.’ Another said, ‘I have just bought five pairs of oxen, and I want to try them out. Please excuse me.’ Another said, ‘I just got married, so I can’t come.’
“The servant returned and told his master what they had said. His master was furious and said, ‘Go quickly into the streets and alleys of the town and invite the poor, the crippled, the blind, and the lame.’ After the servant had done this, he reported, ‘There is still room for more.’ So his master said, ‘Go out into the country lanes and behind the hedges and urge anyone you find to come, so that the house will be full. For none of those I first invited will get even the smallest taste of my banquet.’”
Many of the Parables of Jesus should make us feel uncomfortable
The Parable of the Banquet was both challenging and offensive to the original audience
Application
Everyone is welcome
- The Kingdom of God is not the same as heaven
- A fact not well understood in the time of Jesus: God actually loves us
Which group do you belong to?
- The invited
- The unexpected
- The outsider
What is keeping you from showing up?
How can we show up?
- Coming to Church does not make us a follower of Jesus
- Examples of showing up:
- Offering peace and rest to others
- Loving people as they are
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