Now great crowds were traveling with him. So he turned and said to them, Luke 14:25 CSB Often when Jesus had large crowds of people following Him, He would teach something that some of them would find unacceptable. This caused His crowd to shrink on many occasions. Studying this we have sometimes concluded that in…

For I tell you, not one of those people who were invited will enjoy my banquet. Luke 14:24 CSB This conclusion was for the benefit of those at the banquet Jesus was attending. He wanted them to understand that some of them might not make it. This was not intended as an attack, but as…

Then the master told the servant, ‘Go out into the highways and hedges and make them come in, so that my house may be filled. Luke 14:23 CSB In this wonderful age of grace we are to go out to the highways and hedges. The Lord is calling to Himself a people, and from every…

Master,’ the servant said, ‘what you ordered has been done, and there’s still room.’ Luke 14:22 CSB There is still room! What a wonderful thing! There is still room to enter in at the straight gate! There is still a chance to be admitted to the kingdom of God. The age in which we live…

So the servant came back and reported these things to his master. Then in anger, the master of the house told his servant, ‘Go out quickly into the streets and alleys of the city, and bring in here the poor, maimed, blind, and lame.’ Luke 14:21 CSB The man giving the banquet was angry. Those…

And another said, ‘I just got married, and therefore I’m unable to come.’ Luke 14:20 CSB This is the excuse for which we tend to have the most sympathy. This individual understandably did not want to miss his honeymoon. But, remember two things. First, Jewish marriage customs were different, and so the impact was not…

Another said, ‘I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I’m going to try them out. I ask you to excuse me.’ Luke 14:19 CSB Imagine missing out on the marriage supper of the Lamb because you bought a new car and wanted to take it for a spin instead! Ah, but for so many,…

But without exception they all began to make excuses. The first one said to him, ‘I have bought a field, and I must go out and see it. I ask you to excuse me.’ Luke 14:18 CSB Some of these excuses may sound to us ‘good’ excuses. In this case, this landowner wanted to be…

At the time of the banquet, he sent his servant to tell those who were invited, ‘Come, because everything is now ready.’ Luke 14:17 CSB One day that heavenly banquet will be ready. One day those who belong to the Lord will sit down together with Him to a great feast of fellowship. It will…

Then he told him, ‘A man was giving a large banquet and invited many.’ Luke 14:16 CSB Jesus used lots of different illustrations and stories in His teaching. He wants to be sure that people have the opportunity to learn if they give it an effort. Heavenly Father, thank You for Your care for us.…