Luke 14:15-24

How happy are those. This is the happiness which God gives. It is a great honor to be "rescued from the power of darkness and brought safe into the Kingdom of Christ" (see Colossians 1:13). But many are not ready and willing for this! Matthew gives a similar parable in Matthew 22:1-14. Come, everything is ready. It was the custom to give the second invitation just as the feast was to begin. John the Baptist gave the first invitation to the Jewish people, Jesus is giving the second. The feast began on Pentecost, The Good News of Christ continues to say: "Come, everything is ready." To make excuses. The excuses show they really didn't want to be guests. The first one told the servant. The excuses are silly! The first claims to have bought a field sight unseen! The second claims to have bought five pairs [yoke = pair] of oxen without testing them out! The third has just gotten married and claims his wife doesn't want to attend! Hurry out to the streets and alleys. The Jewish leaders had "turned down" the invitation. Now another class of people are called. The poor, the crippled, the blind, and the lame. The outcasts of society. There were many of them in that part of the world, as there are everywhere. Go out to the country roads and lanes. To the Gentile nations! Make people come In. By using the power of the Good News (Romans 1:16-17). I tell you that none of those. Those who refuse to come, shut themselves out by their own act.