Luke 14:1–24

1.         Whether the event of healing a man on the Sabbath, which the Pharisees thought was work thus not allowed on a Sabbath, was arranged by the Pharisees or not, is unclear.

2.         Jesus made it clear that ‘work’ would be done if a son or an ox needed rescue on a Sabbath, of course this work would be done. And the healing of a person fits this category.

3.         The wedding feast parable highlights the tendency to put on a show by guests who are proud of themselves due to their exalted status. The consequences of this are significant and point to a time of judgment in the future. It points out the self-importance common to Pharisees.

4.         In the parable of the great banquet, Jesus brings up something common in that culture, that by means of inviting others to a ‘great’ banquet, this favor would customarily be returned. The rich and powerful treated each other this way.

5.         In response to one of those present who spoke of a banquet, “eat bread” signifies such a banquet, Jesus talked of three persons who declined an invitation to a banquet given by a servant of the host.

6.         The “master of the house” became angry at the rejections to his invitation and ordered his servant to go out to the surrounding area and invite those who were poor and otherwise physically disabled. This would be unthinkable.

7.         But even this was not enough, the master ordered the servant to go outside the city and invite in foreigners, meaning Gentiles. The servant was even ordered to “compel people” to come in.

8.         Tragically however, those who rejected the summons to the banquet will not ever taste it. Here Jesus speaks of a judgment to come and likely He said this with great sorrow in His heart.