WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:04.000 Read down through verse 24 where the Bible says this, 00:00:30.000 --> 00:00:35.240 The first one said unto him, I have bought a piece of ground, and I must needs go see it. 00:00:35.579 --> 00:00:37.920 I pray thee, have me excused. 00:00:38.960 --> 00:00:43.060 And another said, I have bought five yoke of oxen, and go to prove them. 00:00:43.140 --> 00:00:45.179 I pray thee, have me excused. 00:00:46.019 --> 00:00:50.100 Verse 20, And another said, I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come. 00:00:51.379 --> 00:00:53.519 I don't know why that verse makes me chuckle every time. 00:00:54.340 --> 00:00:56.799 You get married, you just can't do anything anymore, apparently. 00:00:56.799 --> 00:00:58.339 Verse 21, 00:01:26.799 --> 00:01:43.579 Jesus is giving an invitation, really, to this group of men at the table who thought they were in, 00:01:44.179 --> 00:01:48.140 who thought they were a shoo-in for the kingdom of God, and yet they're outsiders. 00:01:48.140 --> 00:01:52.980 And Jesus wants everybody to understand that this is the invitation of a lifetime. 00:01:53.640 --> 00:01:57.780 This is not one of those where you say, well, I'm busy, and I'm going to have to, maybe next time. 00:01:58.359 --> 00:02:00.379 Listen, there's no rain check when it comes to eternity. 00:02:00.960 --> 00:02:02.260 There's no next time. 00:02:02.719 --> 00:02:05.740 And so Jesus makes it very clear that all are invited, 00:02:06.359 --> 00:02:09.620 but the question we have to answer is, have we accepted the invitation? 00:02:09.860 --> 00:02:12.120 So let's go to the Lord in prayer and ask him to help us this morning. 00:02:12.120 --> 00:02:13.219 Father, thank you for this time. 00:02:13.319 --> 00:02:17.140 Thank you for the songs that have reminded us of how good you are to us. 00:02:17.200 --> 00:02:20.259 Lord, I pray you would help us, even in this sermon, to fix our eyes on you. 00:02:20.900 --> 00:02:26.219 And that we would be able to look at you and to understand the truth of your word here this morning. 00:02:26.300 --> 00:02:31.819 I pray that you would just use it to speak to hearts, Lord, to encourage, to challenge, to convict. 00:02:32.700 --> 00:02:37.300 Lord, I pray if there is somebody here that does not know you as their Savior, Lord, that today would be that day. 00:02:37.300 --> 00:02:40.620 Lord, I pray you would be with me, that you would just clear my mind and my thoughts, 00:02:40.719 --> 00:02:44.880 that they would be only what you would have, that my words would be a help to the people here this morning. 00:02:45.340 --> 00:02:47.640 Lord, would you cleanse me of self, empty me of sin. 00:02:47.719 --> 00:02:48.740 Lord, fill me with your Spirit. 00:02:49.240 --> 00:02:51.820 Lord, I need you, and Lord, we all need you right now. 00:02:51.880 --> 00:02:53.020 We ask it in Christ's name. 00:02:53.540 --> 00:02:53.820 Amen. 00:02:53.980 --> 00:02:54.420 Thank you for standing. 00:02:54.480 --> 00:02:54.900 May be seated. 00:02:57.660 --> 00:03:04.240 I mean, I'm sure all of us in here have received an invitation at some point that we were genuinely excited to be a part of. 00:03:04.939 --> 00:03:06.300 Somebody said, hey, you want to go here? 00:03:06.300 --> 00:03:07.180 You want to do this? 00:03:07.300 --> 00:03:09.540 I mean, we just jump at the fact. 00:03:10.000 --> 00:03:11.060 I mean, maybe it's a wedding. 00:03:11.500 --> 00:03:13.960 Generally, I've said this before, I go to weddings for cake. 00:03:15.099 --> 00:03:18.099 So if I know there's going to be good food, it's like, what's on the menu? 00:03:18.500 --> 00:03:20.080 Then I may be excited about it. 00:03:20.099 --> 00:03:23.980 It may be a special event, a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. 00:03:24.840 --> 00:03:29.760 In 2015, somebody called me, and they said, hey, would you like to go to the Masters Golf Tournament? 00:03:30.460 --> 00:03:31.819 Let me check my calendar. 00:03:32.379 --> 00:03:35.680 Listen, if I was getting married that day, I still would have went to the Masters. 00:03:35.680 --> 00:03:40.099 I mean, it's a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that I wouldn't want to miss. 00:03:40.099 --> 00:03:42.299 Listen, I think we've all received something like that. 00:03:42.379 --> 00:03:44.159 We couldn't just wait to accept it. 00:03:44.500 --> 00:03:45.680 And then maybe when you're little, too. 00:03:45.719 --> 00:03:49.019 It seems like when you're little and you know something's coming, it's years away. 00:03:49.659 --> 00:03:53.799 You know, that's why we don't tell our kids, well, especially Maddie, we don't tell her when we're going somewhere. 00:03:53.800 --> 00:03:57.200 Because as soon as we tell her, every day she's going to ask, is it today? 00:03:57.640 --> 00:03:59.280 And it could be six months from now. 00:03:59.340 --> 00:04:00.100 But here's the idea. 00:04:00.260 --> 00:04:01.640 She's excited about it. 00:04:02.180 --> 00:04:06.580 Now, I'm sure we've also received an invitation that you were super excited to decline. 00:04:08.580 --> 00:04:09.680 Sometimes we get stuff in the mail. 00:04:09.719 --> 00:04:11.820 I look at my wife like, do we have to go to this? 00:04:12.500 --> 00:04:13.900 Like, do they really need me there? 00:04:14.340 --> 00:04:16.439 Like, why don't you just go and represent our family? 00:04:16.519 --> 00:04:18.800 Because that does not sound fun to me. 00:04:19.060 --> 00:04:22.420 And really, sometimes it's because maybe something else seems more important. 00:04:23.100 --> 00:04:26.680 Maybe we had something we wanted to do that day and now this is conflicting with it. 00:04:27.000 --> 00:04:29.500 Like, man, I didn't want to go and be a part of that. 00:04:30.420 --> 00:04:35.399 And as we come to our text today here in Luke chapter number 14, Jesus gives a parable. 00:04:35.399 --> 00:04:38.920 He gives this story about an invitation that's being sent out. 00:04:39.319 --> 00:04:43.540 And it's not just a normal invitation for just a small meal. 00:04:43.540 --> 00:04:47.540 No, he makes it very clear in the opening verses that this is a great banquet. 00:04:48.260 --> 00:04:55.939 I mean, this is a feast that would be so significant that nobody in their right mind would want to miss it. 00:04:56.600 --> 00:04:59.540 And yet we read that that's exactly what happens. 00:05:00.280 --> 00:05:02.200 The invitation has been sent out. 00:05:02.379 --> 00:05:04.040 The meal has been prepared. 00:05:04.460 --> 00:05:05.500 Everything is ready. 00:05:05.820 --> 00:05:11.000 And yet the people who are invited begin to make excuse after excuse after excuse. 00:05:11.000 --> 00:05:15.819 And through this parable, Jesus is going to help us answer a very important question. 00:05:16.620 --> 00:05:20.100 Why do so many people miss the kingdom of God? 00:05:20.699 --> 00:05:24.839 Why do so many people reject the invitation that Jesus has given? 00:05:25.040 --> 00:05:29.279 Because he's given it multiple times here in Luke chapter 13 and Luke chapter number 14. 00:05:29.899 --> 00:05:35.319 Now, before we really jump into the parable, this is really a continuation of the sermon that we looked at last week. 00:05:35.819 --> 00:05:39.139 And we kind of need to have some context to make sure that we understand what's going on. 00:05:39.139 --> 00:05:42.639 Jesus is here in the first 14 verses. 00:05:42.899 --> 00:05:44.839 Jesus was invited to a dinner. 00:05:45.479 --> 00:05:49.719 He was invited to a dinner at a chief Pharisee's house in verse number one. 00:05:50.159 --> 00:05:53.879 And it seems like a good invitation, but it was not sincere. 00:05:54.519 --> 00:05:56.479 It was a complete setup from the beginning. 00:05:57.139 --> 00:05:58.639 The Pharisees did not like Jesus. 00:05:58.759 --> 00:06:01.139 They were looking for opportunities to trap him. 00:06:01.139 --> 00:06:04.839 And not only was he invited, but they invited him on the Sabbath day. 00:06:05.439 --> 00:06:12.599 Not because they wanted him to have a good meal, because they were putting him in a situation where he would violate the law of the Sabbath. 00:06:13.259 --> 00:06:18.539 So what they did, and you see in verse number two, that there was a man which had the dropsy. 00:06:19.259 --> 00:06:20.800 He would have been edema. 00:06:20.899 --> 00:06:22.479 He would have been swollen probably. 00:06:22.560 --> 00:06:24.740 It would have been very obvious this man was sick. 00:06:24.740 --> 00:06:27.660 And they knew Jesus loved people. 00:06:28.280 --> 00:06:29.360 And he would have seen this man. 00:06:29.439 --> 00:06:31.000 He would have had compassion on him. 00:06:31.120 --> 00:06:32.460 And he would have healed him on the Sabbath. 00:06:32.720 --> 00:06:34.000 And boom, they nail him right there. 00:06:34.480 --> 00:06:35.220 They trap him. 00:06:35.259 --> 00:06:37.920 They have him exactly where they want him. 00:06:38.840 --> 00:06:41.460 But Jesus obviously knew what was taking place. 00:06:42.000 --> 00:06:43.680 He asked the question there in verse number three. 00:06:43.900 --> 00:06:44.600 Hey guys, I got a question. 00:06:44.800 --> 00:06:48.280 Is it lawful to do good to heal on the Sabbath day? 00:06:48.900 --> 00:06:50.160 Who's going to say no to that? 00:06:50.860 --> 00:06:53.180 Because he understood and they understood the truth. 00:06:53.300 --> 00:06:58.960 But they were so worried about the law and the rigidity of it that they didn't care and have compassion for people. 00:06:59.840 --> 00:07:00.700 Well, they didn't have an answer. 00:07:00.840 --> 00:07:09.520 So what Jesus does is he heals the man, exposes their hypocrisy, and really gives a master class on what it looks like to live for the kingdom. 00:07:10.300 --> 00:07:11.440 See, because they thought they were in. 00:07:11.940 --> 00:07:15.520 But he's reminding them, listen, that's not how people in the kingdom live. 00:07:15.760 --> 00:07:18.000 They were all about exalting themselves. 00:07:18.000 --> 00:07:24.839 When they would show up to the feast, they would find the best room, the highest seat, the most prominent position, and they would take that. 00:07:25.519 --> 00:07:27.100 But Jesus reminds us in verse 11, 00:07:27.439 --> 00:07:33.000 For whoso exalteth himself shall be abased, and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted. 00:07:34.180 --> 00:07:37.899 And so he's kind of, Jesus has put a damper on the crowd. 00:07:38.000 --> 00:07:41.040 I mean, on this dinner party, it's kind of like real dreary right now. 00:07:41.480 --> 00:07:46.420 By the time we come to our text in verse number 15, this dinner party is hanging on by a thread. 00:07:46.420 --> 00:07:49.180 You ever been in a situation like this? 00:07:49.259 --> 00:07:52.800 Maybe it wasn't obviously like this, but you were maybe in trouble growing up. 00:07:53.640 --> 00:07:57.300 You know, when I was in trouble growing up, dinner wasn't an exciting thing. 00:07:57.900 --> 00:08:03.720 I was so interested in the food on my plate, and I just, that's kind of how I picture this dinner. 00:08:04.240 --> 00:08:05.759 They were just staring down. 00:08:05.939 --> 00:08:09.680 Everybody was so fascinated with the food, nobody wanted to make eye contact. 00:08:09.680 --> 00:08:16.360 I mean, because Jesus is just, every time they try to say something or don't say something, Jesus just kind of just lets them have it. 00:08:16.860 --> 00:08:18.100 Because they were missing the point. 00:08:18.220 --> 00:08:20.180 He wasn't, he wasn't trying to bury them. 00:08:20.360 --> 00:08:21.840 No, he's going after their soul. 00:08:22.300 --> 00:08:24.319 Because he wants them in the kingdom. 00:08:24.920 --> 00:08:28.439 But, but they're there, and nobody dared ask another question. 00:08:29.259 --> 00:08:32.019 I mean, nobody wanted to become the next sermon illustration. 00:08:32.700 --> 00:08:34.100 That's kind of what's taking place here. 00:08:34.100 --> 00:08:38.779 But there's always one person that's going to stand up and say something. 00:08:39.279 --> 00:08:41.659 You know, you need to have somebody that's just going to break the silence. 00:08:41.940 --> 00:08:43.940 And, I mean, Peter was the disciple that did that. 00:08:44.139 --> 00:08:49.800 And we come to verse number 15, and in an attempt to try to get the crowd moving and get the dinner party rolling again, 00:08:50.040 --> 00:08:51.500 this man stands up and says, 00:08:51.680 --> 00:08:55.920 Blessed is he that shall eat bread in the kingdom of God. 00:08:56.700 --> 00:08:57.580 I mean, that sounds good. 00:08:58.259 --> 00:09:01.840 I mean, who, what would Jesus disagree with that? 00:09:01.840 --> 00:09:05.620 Because on the surface, it seems spiritual. 00:09:06.360 --> 00:09:07.680 And that sounds like a spiritual thing to say. 00:09:07.780 --> 00:09:09.000 It seems encouraging. 00:09:09.300 --> 00:09:10.940 It sounds like something you might hear in church. 00:09:11.100 --> 00:09:13.940 Like, hey, blessed be God that we're going to all be together one day. 00:09:14.220 --> 00:09:15.639 What a day that will be in heaven. 00:09:16.399 --> 00:09:18.600 And then there's a great thought behind that. 00:09:18.899 --> 00:09:19.800 But here's the problem. 00:09:20.500 --> 00:09:22.280 This man wasn't expressing humility. 00:09:22.580 --> 00:09:25.259 He was expressing confidence in himself. 00:09:25.780 --> 00:09:27.940 And the men that were gathered around this table, 00:09:28.320 --> 00:09:30.840 these Pharisees, these religious establishments, 00:09:30.840 --> 00:09:36.320 establishment, he assumed his seat in the kingdom of God was already reserved. 00:09:36.940 --> 00:09:38.280 Here's what he's really saying. 00:09:38.660 --> 00:09:43.899 Hey, Jesus, we all know people like us, people around this table right now, 00:09:44.019 --> 00:09:46.120 we're going to be eating that feast with you one day. 00:09:46.540 --> 00:09:49.200 I'm glad I'm going to be there, am I right? 00:09:49.480 --> 00:09:50.420 That's kind of what he's saying. 00:09:51.139 --> 00:09:52.879 He's looking for some confirmation. 00:09:53.620 --> 00:09:56.780 But his confidence was placed in the wrong things. 00:09:56.779 --> 00:10:00.379 And because Jesus loved these men too much, 00:10:01.120 --> 00:10:04.500 because he cared for their soul, he cared for their eternity, 00:10:04.740 --> 00:10:08.779 he wasn't just going to leave them in that misplaced confidence. 00:10:09.819 --> 00:10:13.819 And so what he does here in the rest of the text that we read is he gives this parable. 00:10:13.820 --> 00:10:19.720 It's a story that has a heavenly meaning and it has a theological depth to it, 00:10:19.879 --> 00:10:21.600 but it's something they would understand. 00:10:21.700 --> 00:10:22.700 It's a great illustration. 00:10:24.020 --> 00:10:26.120 And so as we walk through this text, we're going to see this idea 00:10:26.120 --> 00:10:30.680 that God's invitation to salvation is freely offered. 00:10:31.360 --> 00:10:32.640 It's offered to everyone. 00:10:32.639 --> 00:10:40.240 But yet so many miss the kingdom because they value other things more than they value Christ. 00:10:41.000 --> 00:10:42.460 And that was the problem with the men around the table. 00:10:43.080 --> 00:10:44.039 They value their appearances. 00:10:44.199 --> 00:10:48.139 They value their position, their influence, their wealth, their religion. 00:10:48.240 --> 00:10:51.379 They valued all of these things more than Christ. 00:10:52.100 --> 00:10:54.399 So as we move through this text, we'll ask this question. 00:10:54.799 --> 00:10:57.840 What keeps people from entering God's kingdom? 00:10:58.379 --> 00:11:01.120 What keeps people from entering God's kingdom? 00:11:01.120 --> 00:11:04.960 The first thing I think Jesus wants us to see is found in verse number 16 and 17. 00:11:05.080 --> 00:11:08.740 We see the danger of presuming on the invitation. 00:11:09.620 --> 00:11:12.120 The danger of presuming on the invitation. 00:11:13.179 --> 00:11:19.200 I think we can see very quickly in verse 16 and 17 that we mentioned already this is no ordinary meal. 00:11:20.000 --> 00:11:21.759 This is not just, hey, find something. 00:11:22.080 --> 00:11:24.039 You know, Sunday nights at my house, it's like, what are we having? 00:11:24.220 --> 00:11:25.220 Whatever you can find. 00:11:25.840 --> 00:11:27.580 Anybody else operate that way too? 00:11:27.659 --> 00:11:28.980 It's just like, well, there's nothing. 00:11:29.259 --> 00:11:29.860 Make something. 00:11:30.299 --> 00:11:31.060 Figure it out. 00:11:31.120 --> 00:11:32.320 I mean, cereal is my go-to. 00:11:32.460 --> 00:11:33.740 It's very easy to make. 00:11:33.860 --> 00:11:35.159 And that's not what this is. 00:11:36.120 --> 00:11:38.580 This is a magnificent banquet. 00:11:39.060 --> 00:11:41.919 This feast right here, and they're kind of sitting there. 00:11:42.240 --> 00:11:44.320 I mean, you kind of see the picture of what Jesus is doing. 00:11:45.179 --> 00:11:49.940 These feasts, this one that Jesus would have been invited to, it was a social event of the year. 00:11:50.500 --> 00:11:52.120 I mean, TMZ would have been here. 00:11:52.560 --> 00:11:55.940 Who's who is going to be in this dinner party? 00:11:55.940 --> 00:11:57.760 And they're like, oh, so-and-so Pharisee's here. 00:11:57.840 --> 00:12:00.260 Oh, man, look at this new outfit that he's wearing. 00:12:00.480 --> 00:12:03.160 I mean, they wanted to be at these events to be seen. 00:12:03.840 --> 00:12:05.460 And you would not miss it. 00:12:05.640 --> 00:12:10.200 And the invitation would have came out, and they would have said, man, I can't miss this. 00:12:10.740 --> 00:12:12.740 I mean, my reputation's riding on this party. 00:12:13.020 --> 00:12:13.760 I need to be there. 00:12:13.759 --> 00:12:16.419 I need people to let them know how awesome that I am. 00:12:17.580 --> 00:12:25.100 We may read over a little bit, but in these first couple verses, there's an important cultural detail that really helps us understand what Jesus is saying. 00:12:25.659 --> 00:12:29.840 Because in the ancient world, formal banquets would have involved two invitations. 00:12:30.319 --> 00:12:36.240 So there would have been the initial invitation sent out to the guests informing them that they were invited. 00:12:36.740 --> 00:12:39.120 We kind of do this today when somebody's getting married. 00:12:39.399 --> 00:12:41.120 We send out a save the date. 00:12:41.120 --> 00:12:45.220 And then you leave it on your fridge, and you forget to save the date, and you're like, oh, man. 00:12:45.440 --> 00:12:46.360 You know, one of those things. 00:12:46.840 --> 00:12:47.899 That's kind of what it would have been. 00:12:47.940 --> 00:12:49.379 It would have been a save the date. 00:12:49.600 --> 00:12:56.799 And understandable in these days, the complexity of putting a party together like this, the amount of food that would have been there. 00:12:57.000 --> 00:12:57.879 There wasn't a Walmart. 00:12:58.360 --> 00:12:59.820 They couldn't door dash it to them. 00:12:59.879 --> 00:13:05.560 I mean, it would have taken some serious moving around to figure it all out. 00:13:05.559 --> 00:13:12.959 And so what would happen is they would send this invitation out, and then those invited would essentially RSVP in advance. 00:13:13.579 --> 00:13:15.479 They'd say, okay, yeah, we're going to be there. 00:13:15.759 --> 00:13:18.699 But the thing is, is many times the date wasn't on there. 00:13:19.279 --> 00:13:19.939 Because they didn't know. 00:13:20.039 --> 00:13:21.399 It's kind of whenever they could get the food. 00:13:21.799 --> 00:13:23.419 Whenever they could get it all together. 00:13:23.599 --> 00:13:24.759 But they wanted to know this. 00:13:24.939 --> 00:13:25.819 Just be ready. 00:13:26.459 --> 00:13:27.500 The feast is coming. 00:13:27.659 --> 00:13:30.959 Hey, I want you to know, and you're going to get another invitation, and you'll be ready to go. 00:13:30.960 --> 00:13:32.040 And that's the second invitation. 00:13:32.580 --> 00:13:40.360 That when everything was finally ready, a second invite would be sent out to those that had already accepted the invitation. 00:13:40.900 --> 00:13:45.000 So that's what we see there in verse 16, that a great supper had been made, and he bade many. 00:13:45.080 --> 00:13:45.960 So that's the first one. 00:13:46.240 --> 00:13:49.759 And then he sent his servant at supper time saying, hey, it's ready. 00:13:50.320 --> 00:13:50.660 Come. 00:13:51.080 --> 00:13:52.280 So that's what's taking place. 00:13:52.940 --> 00:13:54.940 That there in verse number 17, the meal's prepared. 00:13:55.180 --> 00:13:56.180 The table is set. 00:13:56.379 --> 00:13:57.180 The food is ready. 00:13:57.420 --> 00:13:58.220 The feast is waiting. 00:13:58.220 --> 00:14:00.940 The only thing left is for the guests to come. 00:14:01.620 --> 00:14:03.220 It's for them to show up. 00:14:04.259 --> 00:14:07.259 So when they come here in verse number 18, we're going to see this. 00:14:07.860 --> 00:14:11.180 That they are not rejecting an unexpected invitation. 00:14:11.900 --> 00:14:13.820 It wasn't like, whoa, we weren't ready for this. 00:14:14.300 --> 00:14:15.480 We weren't prepared. 00:14:16.019 --> 00:14:20.759 No, they are rejecting an invitation they had already said they would be there for. 00:14:21.240 --> 00:14:22.900 That the meal would already be prepared. 00:14:22.900 --> 00:14:27.519 And now at the moment of fulfillment, they say, hey, sorry, can't make it anymore. 00:14:28.060 --> 00:14:29.080 Last minute changes. 00:14:29.080 --> 00:14:32.020 You think, what is Jesus doing here? 00:14:33.120 --> 00:14:39.759 He's painting a picture that these men especially sitting around this table would have understood very, very clearly. 00:14:39.759 --> 00:14:45.159 Because you go back to the Old Testament and you realize this, that Israel had received the first invitation. 00:14:46.059 --> 00:14:48.220 That the Jews were God's chosen people. 00:14:48.460 --> 00:14:52.120 And when he called Abraham out of the earth, the Chaldees, and he had set all this up. 00:14:52.419 --> 00:14:55.379 And for centuries, God had spoken through the prophets. 00:14:55.639 --> 00:14:59.819 He had spoken through men like Abraham and Moses and David and Isaiah and Jeremiah and Zekiel. 00:14:59.960 --> 00:15:01.580 And the list goes on and on and on. 00:15:01.700 --> 00:15:02.480 And here's what they said. 00:15:02.480 --> 00:15:03.700 There's a Messiah coming. 00:15:04.200 --> 00:15:05.340 There's a Savior coming. 00:15:05.340 --> 00:15:12.300 And he's going to pay the payment that it wasn't always supposed to be the law and the tabernacle and the sacrifices. 00:15:12.639 --> 00:15:15.300 No, there's coming a day that there's going to be a perfect lamb. 00:15:15.460 --> 00:15:19.039 And he's going to lay his life down for all Israel. 00:15:19.500 --> 00:15:21.000 They knew that was coming. 00:15:21.500 --> 00:15:22.720 They were looking for it. 00:15:22.940 --> 00:15:26.960 And generation after generation, they had anticipated the coming of the kingdom. 00:15:27.460 --> 00:15:29.019 I mean, we've seen it already with the disciples. 00:15:29.440 --> 00:15:31.539 They kept saying, Lord, Lord, is your kingdom coming now? 00:15:31.539 --> 00:15:33.719 I mean, they knew something was about to happen. 00:15:34.439 --> 00:15:38.839 For generation after generation, they had claimed they were waiting for the Messiah. 00:15:39.939 --> 00:15:41.860 And now the Messiah is sitting at their table. 00:15:43.099 --> 00:15:44.159 The feast is ready. 00:15:44.740 --> 00:15:46.539 The invitation is being extended. 00:15:46.879 --> 00:15:50.500 And they said, well, this isn't really the Messiah we were looking for. 00:15:51.319 --> 00:15:53.059 We got big problems like Rome. 00:15:53.539 --> 00:15:54.519 We got bigger problems. 00:15:54.620 --> 00:15:56.459 We need to do some things around here. 00:15:56.719 --> 00:15:58.199 We don't like this Messiah. 00:15:58.439 --> 00:15:59.980 He doesn't pat us on the back. 00:15:59.980 --> 00:16:05.039 That's what the religious group thought they were when Jesus showed up and said, man, y'all are doing such a great job. 00:16:05.759 --> 00:16:07.920 Man, why don't y'all just keep just burying these people in laws? 00:16:08.019 --> 00:16:09.060 Man, it's really working for you. 00:16:09.680 --> 00:16:13.000 No, Jesus came to free them from that, to give them a relationship. 00:16:14.300 --> 00:16:17.159 And I just want to remind us what these couple verses mean for us today. 00:16:17.800 --> 00:16:19.019 Because, yes, we're not Israel. 00:16:19.019 --> 00:16:21.360 But it does reveal some things about God. 00:16:21.639 --> 00:16:23.840 That God is not reluctant to save people. 00:16:25.439 --> 00:16:27.220 Salvation is not a new concept. 00:16:28.079 --> 00:16:28.639 No, no. 00:16:28.840 --> 00:16:31.559 God is not hiding salvation from anyone. 00:16:32.480 --> 00:16:34.059 It's been that way from the beginning. 00:16:34.600 --> 00:16:37.220 That He has desired to redeem His people. 00:16:37.360 --> 00:16:38.899 To bring them back into relationship. 00:16:39.159 --> 00:16:40.519 Since the Garden of Eden. 00:16:41.220 --> 00:16:43.799 God has always been on this pursuit after sinners. 00:16:44.100 --> 00:16:47.779 And God is not waiting for sinners to somehow stumble in to find Him. 00:16:47.939 --> 00:16:49.620 No, He is pursuing them. 00:16:49.740 --> 00:16:51.480 And He is offering the invitation. 00:16:51.840 --> 00:16:55.360 The entire Bible is a story about a God who initiates. 00:16:56.259 --> 00:16:59.139 I know we say it, and I've said it too, that, oh, we found God. 00:16:59.220 --> 00:16:59.399 No, no. 00:16:59.519 --> 00:17:00.179 Here's the reality. 00:17:00.379 --> 00:17:01.299 God found us. 00:17:01.840 --> 00:17:03.019 He found us in the pit. 00:17:03.079 --> 00:17:04.480 He found us in the mud and the clay. 00:17:04.480 --> 00:17:06.019 And we had no hope. 00:17:06.339 --> 00:17:06.900 And it's a God. 00:17:06.900 --> 00:17:10.000 The Bible is about a God who seeks and calls and invites. 00:17:11.080 --> 00:17:15.480 Long before any of us ever thought about God, He was already reaching towards us. 00:17:16.040 --> 00:17:19.860 The Bible says that there was a lamb that was slain before the foundation of the world. 00:17:20.259 --> 00:17:22.660 Even before Adam and Eve sinned, God knew this. 00:17:22.800 --> 00:17:23.720 He's coming for us. 00:17:24.360 --> 00:17:25.759 Talk about how much God loves you. 00:17:26.000 --> 00:17:27.940 Just get a hold of that truth for just a second. 00:17:27.940 --> 00:17:32.660 And salvation was prepared before we ever came looking for it. 00:17:34.560 --> 00:17:35.800 I mean, think about the gospel. 00:17:35.799 --> 00:17:38.980 Jesus lived a life we could never live. 00:17:39.680 --> 00:17:42.159 He died a death that we all deserved. 00:17:43.000 --> 00:17:45.659 And He rose victorious over sin and death. 00:17:46.539 --> 00:17:51.259 And because all of that is true, the message of the gospel is not work harder. 00:17:51.500 --> 00:17:52.460 Here's the message of the gospel. 00:17:52.700 --> 00:17:53.099 Come. 00:17:54.159 --> 00:17:55.119 It's paid for. 00:17:55.500 --> 00:17:56.319 It's done. 00:17:56.500 --> 00:17:57.319 It's finished. 00:17:57.319 --> 00:18:01.039 The message of the gospel is that all are invited. 00:18:01.039 --> 00:18:06.700 And maybe there's some here this morning who have convinced themselves that God would never want them. 00:18:07.039 --> 00:18:10.839 Friend, I just want to remind you, the invitation that Jesus gives proves otherwise. 00:18:12.399 --> 00:18:14.399 He's willing to extend it to anybody. 00:18:14.799 --> 00:18:16.619 We're going to see that as we move through this text. 00:18:16.980 --> 00:18:19.480 That it wasn't reserved just for the religious Jews. 00:18:19.819 --> 00:18:19.980 No. 00:18:19.980 --> 00:18:22.380 For God so loved the world. 00:18:23.140 --> 00:18:24.420 That's the heart of the message. 00:18:24.980 --> 00:18:28.120 God's heart is revealed just by this invitation. 00:18:29.420 --> 00:18:30.720 The invitation was gracious. 00:18:31.539 --> 00:18:32.519 The feast was ready. 00:18:32.660 --> 00:18:33.740 Everything had been prepared. 00:18:34.200 --> 00:18:37.960 And the master is just waiting for the guests to come. 00:18:37.960 --> 00:18:41.019 But that's where the story kind of takes an unexpected turn. 00:18:41.960 --> 00:18:43.200 Instead of gratitude. 00:18:44.140 --> 00:18:46.019 Instead of excitement about the invitation. 00:18:46.299 --> 00:18:48.720 And instead of anticipation for the coming feast. 00:18:49.059 --> 00:18:51.400 The excuses begin to roll in. 00:18:52.059 --> 00:18:53.079 And we see this, number two. 00:18:53.700 --> 00:18:57.120 We see the danger of misplaced priorities. 00:18:58.220 --> 00:19:00.200 The danger of misplaced priorities. 00:19:01.019 --> 00:19:02.720 Look at that first part of verse 18. 00:19:02.720 --> 00:19:10.319 And they all with one consent began to make excuse. 00:19:11.539 --> 00:19:13.819 These were people that had received the first invitation saying, 00:19:14.120 --> 00:19:15.440 Hey, there's a feast coming. 00:19:16.100 --> 00:19:17.299 There's a Messiah coming. 00:19:17.380 --> 00:19:18.960 They said, We're on board for that. 00:19:19.519 --> 00:19:21.160 Hey, you just, we're ready. 00:19:21.279 --> 00:19:23.039 When he shows up, we're going to accept him. 00:19:24.200 --> 00:19:26.120 But we see the excuse comes. 00:19:26.220 --> 00:19:28.700 The first says, I have bought a piece of ground. 00:19:28.700 --> 00:19:30.259 And I must needs go and see it. 00:19:30.259 --> 00:19:33.480 And I pray thee, have me excuse. 00:19:35.359 --> 00:19:36.079 Now let's be honest. 00:19:36.180 --> 00:19:37.900 Who buys property without looking at it? 00:19:38.660 --> 00:19:40.359 I guess maybe really rich people are like, 00:19:40.420 --> 00:19:41.259 Oh yeah, we'll buy it. 00:19:41.279 --> 00:19:42.039 We'll figure it out later. 00:19:43.160 --> 00:19:46.599 Normal people, when they're going to make an extensive purchase, 00:19:46.819 --> 00:19:47.819 they're going to go look at it. 00:19:48.220 --> 00:19:49.400 They're going to look at it multiple times. 00:19:49.440 --> 00:19:50.099 They're going to figure it out. 00:19:50.160 --> 00:19:52.299 They're going to survey the situation. 00:19:53.220 --> 00:19:53.879 Here's the thought. 00:19:54.039 --> 00:19:55.599 The issue isn't the land. 00:19:56.079 --> 00:19:59.160 No, it's that he values the land more than he values the banquet. 00:20:00.019 --> 00:20:01.220 This maybe would have been his business. 00:20:01.320 --> 00:20:02.500 It would have been certain things in his life. 00:20:02.540 --> 00:20:05.080 And he said, Well, you know, this is my priority right now. 00:20:05.740 --> 00:20:06.920 And listen, God's not against working. 00:20:07.019 --> 00:20:07.720 He's not against business. 00:20:07.800 --> 00:20:11.960 He's not about getting land and a property maybe to live on or whatever it may be. 00:20:12.019 --> 00:20:13.920 But it's not the most important thing. 00:20:14.800 --> 00:20:15.900 But that, it was to him. 00:20:16.380 --> 00:20:19.220 He said, Listen, I know it's going to be the feast of a lifetime. 00:20:20.060 --> 00:20:21.000 But I bought some land. 00:20:21.040 --> 00:20:21.940 I really need to check it out. 00:20:21.940 --> 00:20:23.160 Just let me go do that. 00:20:23.980 --> 00:20:25.700 Verse 19, we see the second excuse come in. 00:20:25.700 --> 00:20:29.080 And another said, I have bought five yoke of oxen and go to prove them. 00:20:29.299 --> 00:20:31.120 I pray thee, hath me excused? 00:20:31.920 --> 00:20:34.259 I mean, this would have represented some considerable wealth. 00:20:35.059 --> 00:20:39.819 This man apparently had spent a significant amount of money, and now he claims he has to inspect him. 00:20:40.019 --> 00:20:41.120 Kind of like the people buying the land. 00:20:41.259 --> 00:20:42.100 What are you doing, man? 00:20:42.600 --> 00:20:43.900 Like, I think you're doing this backwards. 00:20:44.559 --> 00:20:47.740 Like, you're supposed to look at it and then make a bargain with him and try to buy it. 00:20:48.299 --> 00:20:51.700 No, but he buys this and buys this expensive livestock. 00:20:51.700 --> 00:20:53.880 And really, it's the same thing. 00:20:54.039 --> 00:20:56.059 He's valuing something more than the banquet. 00:20:56.960 --> 00:20:59.000 The banquet sounded really good when he didn't have the livestock. 00:20:59.720 --> 00:21:01.380 But now he's got other things that take up his time. 00:21:01.840 --> 00:21:03.519 He's got some other things that fill up his calendar. 00:21:04.279 --> 00:21:06.420 And then the third man there in verse number 20, we already read it. 00:21:06.600 --> 00:21:09.740 And another said, I have married a wife, therefore I cannot come. 00:21:11.799 --> 00:21:14.740 I mean, this man, he just believed marriage exempted him from anything. 00:21:15.559 --> 00:21:16.920 And the issue wasn't his wife. 00:21:17.019 --> 00:21:18.100 That's not where we're going with this. 00:21:18.640 --> 00:21:20.120 The issue is not marriage. 00:21:20.119 --> 00:21:20.159 Marriage. 00:21:20.559 --> 00:21:21.819 The issue is not the relationship. 00:21:22.039 --> 00:21:24.299 I mean, God designed marriage. 00:21:24.599 --> 00:21:25.659 He instituted it. 00:21:26.879 --> 00:21:28.259 But his affections were elsewhere. 00:21:29.319 --> 00:21:35.159 Maybe he thought he was doing the good biblical thing and he's going back to Deuteronomy where they could exempt. 00:21:35.259 --> 00:21:36.439 But that was from military service. 00:21:36.500 --> 00:21:37.859 That wasn't from going to a dinner party. 00:21:38.519 --> 00:21:41.599 He's saying, well, you know, I'm just going to follow the Bible and I can't do anything for the first year. 00:21:41.739 --> 00:21:43.059 That's not what is going on here. 00:21:44.599 --> 00:21:45.919 But I think we see a pattern. 00:21:47.159 --> 00:21:49.579 Different excuses, same heart. 00:21:50.119 --> 00:21:53.379 Different priorities, same problem. 00:21:54.120 --> 00:22:00.440 All of these people here in this story Jesus is telling, they all valued something more than the banquet. 00:22:01.680 --> 00:22:04.620 And the tragedy is not that they chose bad things. 00:22:04.900 --> 00:22:07.920 It's not that they were living in just awful, wicked sin. 00:22:08.100 --> 00:22:11.620 No, the tragedy is they chose good things over the best thing. 00:22:12.920 --> 00:22:14.300 Yes, they had to take care of their family. 00:22:14.520 --> 00:22:16.260 They had to make sure their business was real. 00:22:16.380 --> 00:22:18.980 They had to make sure their livestock, which would have been their livelihood. 00:22:18.980 --> 00:22:20.680 They had to take care of their family. 00:22:20.880 --> 00:22:22.440 These are good things. 00:22:23.319 --> 00:22:25.620 But sometimes good things replace the best thing. 00:22:26.319 --> 00:22:28.140 And our priorities get out of line. 00:22:28.680 --> 00:22:32.860 No, we're to love the Lord our God with all our heart, all our soul, all our mind, all our strength. 00:22:33.019 --> 00:22:34.240 That's the first and great commandment. 00:22:34.240 --> 00:22:34.859 Great commandment. 00:22:35.519 --> 00:22:39.700 But a lot of times in our life we know that commandment, but certain priorities get above that. 00:22:40.240 --> 00:22:42.220 And then life gets out of whack. 00:22:42.599 --> 00:22:43.859 And that's what's taking place here. 00:22:44.259 --> 00:22:46.539 And I think we can still see that in our world today. 00:22:46.539 --> 00:22:51.680 Because very few people just openly say, I don't want anything to do with God. 00:22:52.599 --> 00:22:54.420 No, they understand maybe the importance of it. 00:22:55.019 --> 00:22:58.619 They understand that there's probably some things and we'll go to church when it's convenient. 00:22:59.019 --> 00:23:00.579 But many people, here's what they do. 00:23:00.720 --> 00:23:03.799 They just simply value something else more than God. 00:23:04.899 --> 00:23:05.839 It might be a career. 00:23:06.460 --> 00:23:07.559 It might be possessions. 00:23:07.700 --> 00:23:09.000 We see it here in the text. 00:23:09.420 --> 00:23:10.440 It could be relationships. 00:23:10.599 --> 00:23:11.420 It could be hobbies. 00:23:11.539 --> 00:23:12.519 It could be dreams. 00:23:13.519 --> 00:23:16.159 None of those things are necessarily sinful. 00:23:17.259 --> 00:23:18.220 But are they the best thing? 00:23:19.059 --> 00:23:20.899 Because many of these things, you know who gives that? 00:23:21.259 --> 00:23:21.659 God. 00:23:22.700 --> 00:23:24.180 God will give us the things. 00:23:24.319 --> 00:23:26.099 He wants to bless his children. 00:23:26.460 --> 00:23:29.039 But what he wants more than that is he wants our heart. 00:23:29.779 --> 00:23:32.720 He wants us to put him as the priority. 00:23:34.740 --> 00:23:35.720 Maybe you've said it. 00:23:35.740 --> 00:23:39.220 I've said it before in certain areas when God is maybe laying something in my heart. 00:23:39.379 --> 00:23:40.399 I'll do that later. 00:23:41.359 --> 00:23:43.319 I mean, that's what husbands do say. 00:23:43.720 --> 00:23:45.279 My wife's back there, so don't tell her this. 00:23:45.740 --> 00:23:46.599 She'll say, hey, we need to do this. 00:23:46.680 --> 00:23:48.339 I'll do that later. 00:23:49.500 --> 00:23:50.379 I don't mean it. 00:23:52.379 --> 00:23:53.359 And I'm wrong for that. 00:23:53.500 --> 00:23:54.220 And she knows that. 00:23:54.519 --> 00:23:55.420 And she just looks at me like this. 00:23:55.980 --> 00:23:57.460 You know, where they shoot lasers out of their eyes. 00:23:57.500 --> 00:23:58.420 One of those kind of situations. 00:23:59.500 --> 00:24:01.759 I'll say, you know, maybe I've said this when I was a teenager. 00:24:02.180 --> 00:24:02.980 When I get older. 00:24:02.980 --> 00:24:05.660 I'll get more serious about things when I get older. 00:24:06.420 --> 00:24:07.539 Listen, we're going to youth camp. 00:24:07.579 --> 00:24:09.259 And I already asked you to pray for our teenagers. 00:24:09.339 --> 00:24:10.759 And I want you to be serious about it. 00:24:10.980 --> 00:24:12.339 You don't have to wait until you're older to serve the Lord. 00:24:12.960 --> 00:24:14.039 Hey, today's the day. 00:24:15.099 --> 00:24:16.700 We don't have to wait until you're... 00:24:16.700 --> 00:24:18.220 Life's never going to slow down. 00:24:18.680 --> 00:24:20.099 The time is now to serve the Lord. 00:24:20.279 --> 00:24:22.539 Hey, when life settles down, when I'm ready, when all these things... 00:24:22.539 --> 00:24:24.079 We have all of these excuses. 00:24:24.799 --> 00:24:26.140 That's what's taking place here. 00:24:26.880 --> 00:24:29.180 And some of the excuses, they seem valid. 00:24:29.380 --> 00:24:31.160 But they're not. 00:24:31.960 --> 00:24:33.140 Because we're just saying this. 00:24:33.300 --> 00:24:34.280 Lord, I love you. 00:24:34.320 --> 00:24:35.880 But I do value something more than you. 00:24:36.980 --> 00:24:38.420 I'm going to put this in front of you. 00:24:38.620 --> 00:24:42.640 And one of the greatest dangers in life is not just open rebellion to God. 00:24:42.640 --> 00:24:44.360 But misplaced priorities. 00:24:45.200 --> 00:24:46.820 Because we begin to deceive ourselves. 00:24:47.360 --> 00:24:48.420 And think, well, I'm in church. 00:24:48.500 --> 00:24:49.540 And I'm doing some things. 00:24:49.660 --> 00:24:51.720 But maybe God is laying something on your heart. 00:24:51.900 --> 00:24:53.800 And it's not hatred towards God. 00:24:53.799 --> 00:24:57.339 It's just continually putting something just a little bit ahead of God. 00:24:58.039 --> 00:24:59.859 That's what's taking place here in this text. 00:25:01.000 --> 00:25:04.879 And at this point, the listeners, they're thinking, is this story going to end? 00:25:05.519 --> 00:25:07.180 I mean, they've been through the ringer. 00:25:07.339 --> 00:25:09.059 And maybe they expected it to. 00:25:09.899 --> 00:25:11.399 Hey, the invitation was given. 00:25:11.539 --> 00:25:12.359 People refused. 00:25:12.579 --> 00:25:13.680 So here's what you do. 00:25:13.779 --> 00:25:14.659 You cancel the feast. 00:25:15.680 --> 00:25:17.879 That would make more sense. 00:25:18.200 --> 00:25:21.019 If nobody's going to show up to the party, then just cancel it. 00:25:21.019 --> 00:25:24.220 You know, cancel the catering or whatever it may be. 00:25:25.539 --> 00:25:31.619 Well, what Luke has been teaching us through these past few chapters is that human rejection, it never frustrates God's purposes. 00:25:33.139 --> 00:25:34.700 God still has a plan. 00:25:35.420 --> 00:25:36.839 He knew this was going to take place. 00:25:37.440 --> 00:25:39.920 He knew that Israel was going to say, hmm, we're good. 00:25:40.440 --> 00:25:41.359 So here's what he does. 00:25:41.779 --> 00:25:45.099 We see number three, the blessing of responding to the invitation. 00:25:45.099 --> 00:25:51.199 So the servant comes and he went to tell everybody that dinner's ready. 00:25:51.359 --> 00:25:53.719 He comes back and he says, show these things to his Lord. 00:25:54.399 --> 00:25:58.539 Then the master of the house, being angry, said unto his servant. 00:25:59.199 --> 00:26:01.199 Now, don't misunderstand this anger. 00:26:02.019 --> 00:26:04.459 You know, sometimes we're angry because we have wounded pride. 00:26:05.199 --> 00:26:06.059 Like, how dare they? 00:26:06.179 --> 00:26:08.439 I spent all this money and they didn't show up to my party. 00:26:08.799 --> 00:26:09.839 I did all these things. 00:26:09.980 --> 00:26:11.299 I mean, who do they think they are? 00:26:11.599 --> 00:26:13.740 That's not what is taking place here. 00:26:13.740 --> 00:26:18.480 Obviously, we can tell that this host, this great man that's baiting it, this is God. 00:26:19.220 --> 00:26:25.640 And what this is, this is righteous anger because of a gracious invitation being despised. 00:26:26.240 --> 00:26:29.059 The people that were invited rejected it. 00:26:29.480 --> 00:26:31.220 They didn't just reject the meal. 00:26:31.460 --> 00:26:33.160 Here's what they rejected, the host. 00:26:34.220 --> 00:26:35.420 This was insulting. 00:26:36.759 --> 00:26:38.359 You notice the crowd that were here. 00:26:38.559 --> 00:26:42.740 They didn't reject this host when he invited them to their house because they wanted to be there for that. 00:26:42.740 --> 00:26:50.240 But when you would reject an invitation of this magnitude in this day, you were insulting the host for some reason. 00:26:50.660 --> 00:26:51.859 And that's what's taking place here. 00:26:52.579 --> 00:26:54.339 That God's kindness has been refused. 00:26:54.500 --> 00:26:56.279 His generosity has been scorned. 00:26:56.420 --> 00:26:59.740 His invitation, it was treated as insignificant. 00:27:01.180 --> 00:27:02.140 You know, like junk mail. 00:27:03.039 --> 00:27:04.859 You get that and you're like, ah, you just throw it right away. 00:27:05.120 --> 00:27:06.759 I mean, basically this is what I do in my mail. 00:27:06.940 --> 00:27:09.140 I check the mail and then I just walk to my trash can. 00:27:09.140 --> 00:27:12.080 And, usually it's bills. 00:27:12.200 --> 00:27:13.060 I'm like, ah, this is junk. 00:27:14.020 --> 00:27:14.280 You know. 00:27:15.500 --> 00:27:17.360 I mean, that's basically what they did. 00:27:18.540 --> 00:27:20.900 So instead of canceling it, here's what the master does. 00:27:21.600 --> 00:27:22.280 Go out quickly. 00:27:22.340 --> 00:27:31.160 He said unto his servant, go out quickly into the streets and lanes of the city and bring hither the poor and the maimed and the halt and the blind. 00:27:31.160 --> 00:27:35.200 I think we can feel the silence around the table. 00:27:36.519 --> 00:27:41.500 Jesus had just described the very people that the Pharisees had spent their lives avoiding. 00:27:42.820 --> 00:27:45.279 Those people, they didn't give them any clout. 00:27:46.040 --> 00:27:48.600 They didn't help their LinkedIn profile. 00:27:49.160 --> 00:27:51.620 They didn't help them advance in the synagogue. 00:27:52.040 --> 00:27:55.920 These weren't people that you hung around because they couldn't offer anything back. 00:27:56.120 --> 00:27:58.920 Man, you could scratch their back, but they have nothing to scratch your back with. 00:27:59.360 --> 00:28:00.620 And that's how they viewed them. 00:28:00.619 --> 00:28:07.119 And these are the very people that Jesus talked about in verse 13 when he said, hey, listen, next time you have a party, man, here's who you should invite. 00:28:07.339 --> 00:28:10.659 The halt and the blame and the lime and all of these type of people. 00:28:12.219 --> 00:28:22.079 And so now Jesus, what he does is in this parable, he says, since you rejected the invitation, they're going to be my honored guest at the feast. 00:28:22.839 --> 00:28:25.419 They're going to have the best seats at the table. 00:28:25.420 --> 00:28:31.480 And see, the people who assumed they belonged in the kingdom are now on the outside. 00:28:32.140 --> 00:28:36.920 And the people who everybody assumed would be excluded are welcomed in. 00:28:37.440 --> 00:28:40.220 And really, that's the whole thing with the gospel. 00:28:40.640 --> 00:28:42.960 That's really the theme that we see in the gospel of Luke. 00:28:42.960 --> 00:28:47.039 That the tax collector comes in, but the Pharisees are out. 00:28:47.380 --> 00:28:51.299 That the sinner finds grace and the religious elite reject it. 00:28:51.960 --> 00:29:00.140 That the gospel welcomes the leper and the outcast and the broken and the humble enter and the proud remain outside of the feast. 00:29:01.200 --> 00:29:05.700 I don't know about you, but I'm so thankful that the gospel takes outsiders and makes them insiders. 00:29:05.700 --> 00:29:11.420 I'm so thankful that the gospel takes the unwanted and makes them welcome. 00:29:11.940 --> 00:29:16.480 That the gospel takes sinners and makes them sons and daughters. 00:29:16.940 --> 00:29:20.180 That we have a seat at the table, and it's not just a seat, we're family. 00:29:20.660 --> 00:29:23.600 And God loves us that much, and he cares that much for us. 00:29:23.700 --> 00:29:25.460 But the story isn't over in verse 22. 00:29:25.460 --> 00:29:30.460 And the servant said, Lord, it is done as thou hast commanded. 00:29:30.559 --> 00:29:35.700 So he goes and he gets all of these people, and he says, and yet there is room. 00:29:36.380 --> 00:29:38.940 I love that phrase. 00:29:39.799 --> 00:29:42.340 That God never runs out of seats. 00:29:42.880 --> 00:29:45.299 That there is always room at his table. 00:29:45.539 --> 00:29:46.740 Yes, the banquet is filling. 00:29:47.000 --> 00:29:49.039 People are coming, but there's still room. 00:29:49.940 --> 00:29:52.059 Listen, here's who God wants to come into his kingdom. 00:29:53.039 --> 00:29:53.519 Everybody. 00:29:54.500 --> 00:29:56.200 People say, well, why is the Lord not come back? 00:29:56.879 --> 00:29:57.900 Well, God says he's coming back. 00:29:57.960 --> 00:29:59.079 What's the holdup? 00:29:59.139 --> 00:30:00.599 I mean, he just forgot about us? 00:30:01.339 --> 00:30:03.579 Well, Peter said the Lord's not slack concerning his promises. 00:30:04.599 --> 00:30:11.059 He has some men count slackness, but he's rather and willing that all should come to repentance. 00:30:11.500 --> 00:30:12.700 You know what the Lord's waiting on? 00:30:12.819 --> 00:30:14.539 That he wants more people at the table. 00:30:14.960 --> 00:30:16.599 That he wants more people at the banquet. 00:30:16.599 --> 00:30:18.619 And he's saying, hey, I got a spot for you. 00:30:18.680 --> 00:30:19.859 Why don't you just come on in? 00:30:20.359 --> 00:30:21.779 And that's what we see in verse number 23. 00:30:21.779 --> 00:30:31.039 And the Lord said unto the servant, go out into the highways and the hedges and compel them to come in that my house may be filled. 00:30:32.039 --> 00:30:35.059 So now the invitation is extended beyond the city. 00:30:35.759 --> 00:30:36.799 Beyond the familiar. 00:30:37.220 --> 00:30:38.599 Beyond the expected. 00:30:38.960 --> 00:30:42.980 To the people that these men would have thought never could make it in. 00:30:43.799 --> 00:30:44.940 Well, who's in this group? 00:30:44.940 --> 00:30:47.340 There's different views and commentators. 00:30:47.460 --> 00:30:49.779 Many would have believed this would have been the dregs of society. 00:30:50.519 --> 00:30:53.539 The thieves and the robbers and the prostitutes and people like that. 00:30:54.279 --> 00:30:56.620 That had no business in their mind being there. 00:30:56.920 --> 00:30:58.299 But a lot of people believe this as well. 00:30:58.539 --> 00:31:00.080 That it includes the Gentiles. 00:31:00.980 --> 00:31:02.140 They're going outside the city. 00:31:02.259 --> 00:31:04.160 Maybe outside of the nation would have represented Israel. 00:31:04.380 --> 00:31:06.500 And he's going to all the world. 00:31:07.120 --> 00:31:09.360 That God is willing that anybody would come. 00:31:09.359 --> 00:31:16.079 And that's what we see here that the Jews would have thought, how could a Gentile come to the feast? 00:31:16.659 --> 00:31:18.059 And God says, invite them. 00:31:18.839 --> 00:31:19.379 Tell them. 00:31:19.779 --> 00:31:21.319 Tell them they're welcome at the table. 00:31:22.199 --> 00:31:23.039 I mean, what a picture. 00:31:23.279 --> 00:31:24.879 What an incredible picture of the gospel. 00:31:25.219 --> 00:31:26.959 That the invitation is still going out. 00:31:27.199 --> 00:31:29.139 That grace continues to expand. 00:31:29.379 --> 00:31:33.339 And the kingdom, praise the Lord, is still growing today in 2026. 00:31:34.039 --> 00:31:35.259 Listen, there's still room. 00:31:36.039 --> 00:31:38.879 Listen, if you don't have a seat at the table, the invitation's here. 00:31:39.420 --> 00:31:40.160 Come on in. 00:31:40.519 --> 00:31:42.160 Jesus wants you to be a part of it. 00:31:42.339 --> 00:31:45.519 He says, go there and compel them to come. 00:31:46.460 --> 00:31:48.359 That word compel is not to force. 00:31:49.240 --> 00:31:50.079 But here's what it means. 00:31:50.180 --> 00:31:50.900 To urge. 00:31:51.119 --> 00:31:51.960 To persuade. 00:31:52.279 --> 00:31:53.140 To convince. 00:31:54.140 --> 00:32:01.299 Because these people at the very end, they would have probably struggled to believe that such an invitation could really be for them. 00:32:01.299 --> 00:32:06.019 Here's what he's saying there in verse number 23 when the servant comes out. 00:32:06.259 --> 00:32:07.319 Yes, you. 00:32:07.639 --> 00:32:08.559 The master wants you. 00:32:09.279 --> 00:32:11.279 The invitation is for you. 00:32:11.500 --> 00:32:13.039 The master wants you to be there. 00:32:13.240 --> 00:32:14.399 There's room at the table. 00:32:14.559 --> 00:32:17.480 More than you can even possibly think the feast is going to be amazing. 00:32:17.480 --> 00:32:26.240 I just want to remind us that if you know Christ, apart from him, you were blind. 00:32:27.000 --> 00:32:27.940 You were helpless. 00:32:28.759 --> 00:32:29.960 You were an outsider. 00:32:30.599 --> 00:32:31.559 You were separated. 00:32:32.819 --> 00:32:35.700 Nobody at the table deserves a seat. 00:32:36.640 --> 00:32:39.180 Nobody at the table earned a seat. 00:32:39.180 --> 00:32:45.000 Everybody that enters the kingdom of God enters by grace. 00:32:45.940 --> 00:32:49.460 For by grace are you saved. 00:32:50.160 --> 00:32:51.220 That's how it happens. 00:32:51.940 --> 00:32:56.420 And if that's how we got in, guess how else everybody else gets in? 00:32:56.940 --> 00:32:58.480 The same way. 00:32:59.320 --> 00:33:02.240 I think Jesus just told a parable about the narrow door. 00:33:03.060 --> 00:33:04.000 He said there's one way. 00:33:04.759 --> 00:33:06.320 Everybody can come in, but there's one way. 00:33:06.899 --> 00:33:12.339 And if that's how we got in, then we need to see other people the same way. 00:33:13.099 --> 00:33:16.220 We can't look and say, well, they don't look like they want the gospel. 00:33:17.059 --> 00:33:17.659 No, no. 00:33:18.039 --> 00:33:18.659 You know what they need? 00:33:18.819 --> 00:33:19.939 The same thing you did. 00:33:20.960 --> 00:33:22.119 You know what we need to do? 00:33:22.220 --> 00:33:26.460 We need to go out into the highways and the hedges and compel them and to share the gospel 00:33:26.460 --> 00:33:30.919 and let them know there is a God that loves them and that they aren't just, this isn't just their lot in life. 00:33:30.919 --> 00:33:32.879 No, their lot in life is to know Christ. 00:33:33.559 --> 00:33:35.619 And that he loves them and he died for them. 00:33:36.319 --> 00:33:39.899 Because if the gospel is truly for the poor and the broken and the overlooked and the forgotten, 00:33:40.179 --> 00:33:41.679 that's who we should be pursuing. 00:33:42.619 --> 00:33:45.959 That's who God pursued when he found you, when he found me. 00:33:46.299 --> 00:33:47.459 And here's the beautiful thing. 00:33:47.659 --> 00:33:48.839 There's still room. 00:33:49.379 --> 00:33:53.039 There's still room for your neighbor and your coworker and your prodigal child 00:33:53.039 --> 00:33:55.339 and that person maybe you have given up praying for. 00:33:55.479 --> 00:33:57.399 Let me remind you, God hasn't given up on them. 00:33:57.719 --> 00:34:01.599 If they're still breathing, God is still working and he's calling you to do that. 00:34:01.599 --> 00:34:03.079 And he says, here's what I want you to do. 00:34:03.319 --> 00:34:04.500 Give them an invitation. 00:34:05.399 --> 00:34:08.679 That's why I tell you all the time, grab some tracks on the way out and invite them to church. 00:34:08.739 --> 00:34:09.799 You know what I'm really telling them? 00:34:10.019 --> 00:34:12.400 Invite them to hear the gospel of Jesus Christ. 00:34:12.980 --> 00:34:15.319 Because it changed my life and I hope it changed yours. 00:34:15.320 --> 00:34:18.300 And you should be a little bit excited about it. 00:34:19.580 --> 00:34:20.800 I mean, what a picture of grace. 00:34:22.559 --> 00:34:23.640 But Jesus isn't finished. 00:34:24.500 --> 00:34:25.600 He ends with a warning. 00:34:26.660 --> 00:34:28.000 The invitation's been extended. 00:34:28.700 --> 00:34:29.400 Some have rejected. 00:34:29.539 --> 00:34:30.180 Some have accepted. 00:34:30.880 --> 00:34:33.460 But this warning is just as important as the invitation. 00:34:34.180 --> 00:34:38.120 And we see, number four, we see this, the tragedy of rejecting the invitation. 00:34:38.119 --> 00:34:47.099 For I say unto you that none of those men which are bidden shall taste of my supper. 00:34:49.460 --> 00:34:52.420 People say, well, I thought Jesus was a God of love. 00:34:53.159 --> 00:34:53.759 Oh, he is. 00:34:54.920 --> 00:34:56.159 But he's also just. 00:34:57.319 --> 00:35:01.139 And he also reminds us that there is a time when it will run out. 00:35:02.480 --> 00:35:05.719 Listen, if you hear the invitation, you get an invitation in the mail. 00:35:05.940 --> 00:35:06.799 You put it on your fridge. 00:35:06.800 --> 00:35:09.280 You know, our fridge is like a black hole. 00:35:09.360 --> 00:35:10.140 It's like amazing. 00:35:10.500 --> 00:35:14.420 How many things, like, how much things can one magnet hold? 00:35:14.500 --> 00:35:15.620 Anybody else's fridge like that? 00:35:16.800 --> 00:35:19.820 And then you're like, you get it and somebody says, hey, are you coming? 00:35:20.039 --> 00:35:21.000 And you start like going through. 00:35:21.080 --> 00:35:22.360 You're like, oh my goodness. 00:35:22.840 --> 00:35:23.500 I missed it. 00:35:24.280 --> 00:35:25.740 Listen, when the time passes, it passes. 00:35:26.560 --> 00:35:27.760 That's what Jesus is saying. 00:35:28.300 --> 00:35:29.420 The invitation is here. 00:35:29.840 --> 00:35:32.780 And if you're under the sound of my voice today, it's being extended to you. 00:35:33.280 --> 00:35:36.360 But there is coming a day where the invitation will stop being extended. 00:35:36.800 --> 00:35:37.920 Time will be no more. 00:35:38.560 --> 00:35:40.100 That Jesus Christ will come back. 00:35:40.519 --> 00:35:41.980 He's promised that to be true. 00:35:42.240 --> 00:35:46.580 And the original guess that Jesus says, which he's kind of going back to verse 16 and 17, 00:35:46.920 --> 00:35:49.720 they were not excluded because there wasn't room. 00:35:50.600 --> 00:35:52.500 They weren't excluded because they weren't invited. 00:35:53.260 --> 00:35:55.039 They weren't excluded because they weren't wanted. 00:35:55.220 --> 00:35:59.039 They were simply excluded because they refused to come. 00:35:59.039 --> 00:36:00.960 That is the only reason. 00:36:02.599 --> 00:36:05.320 And that's kind of where this can hit close to home if we're just being honest. 00:36:06.199 --> 00:36:09.400 The people who missed this banquet weren't strangers. 00:36:10.440 --> 00:36:14.639 They had heard about this feast for years, generations, millennia. 00:36:14.639 --> 00:36:17.779 They had accepted the first invitation. 00:36:18.199 --> 00:36:22.179 But when the moment came to respond, they chose something else. 00:36:23.099 --> 00:36:26.980 And that's what Jesus has been just hammering this point home in the last few chapters. 00:36:27.259 --> 00:36:28.639 He told them about the narrow door. 00:36:29.579 --> 00:36:32.259 That many tried to go their own way, but Jesus says there's one way. 00:36:32.500 --> 00:36:36.119 He reminds them in verse 34 of chapter number 13. 00:36:36.119 --> 00:36:39.839 Oh, Jerusalem, Jerusalem, which killeth the prophets and stoneth them which are sent. 00:36:40.159 --> 00:36:45.359 How often would I have gathered thy children as a hen doth gather a brood under her wings? 00:36:45.960 --> 00:36:48.839 Jesus said, listen, I just want to bring you into the family. 00:36:49.179 --> 00:36:52.819 I want to protect you and love you and give your life meaning and purpose. 00:36:52.980 --> 00:36:54.519 But they refuse to be gathered. 00:36:55.400 --> 00:36:57.940 And then here in our text, they reject the invitation. 00:36:59.960 --> 00:37:00.920 Don't miss this. 00:37:01.400 --> 00:37:04.139 The tragedy is not Christ's unwillingness. 00:37:04.139 --> 00:37:07.039 The tragedy is man's refusal. 00:37:08.099 --> 00:37:09.599 That has always been the tragedy. 00:37:10.480 --> 00:37:12.480 That God has been seeking and saving. 00:37:12.739 --> 00:37:16.400 The Son of Man came to seek and to save that which was lost. 00:37:16.559 --> 00:37:18.159 That includes all of us. 00:37:18.799 --> 00:37:21.179 But the question is, has we accepted that invitation? 00:37:22.179 --> 00:37:26.179 Because the men sitting around this table, they claim to love God's promises. 00:37:27.059 --> 00:37:31.879 They claim to be anticipating the coming kingdom, the coming Messiah. 00:37:31.880 --> 00:37:35.240 But the Messiah is sitting right in front of them. 00:37:36.059 --> 00:37:37.519 And they said, no thanks. 00:37:38.320 --> 00:37:38.700 Why? 00:37:39.780 --> 00:37:41.440 Because they love something else more. 00:37:42.380 --> 00:37:43.559 They love their religion. 00:37:44.160 --> 00:37:45.260 They love their status. 00:37:46.000 --> 00:37:47.000 They love their comfort. 00:37:47.619 --> 00:37:48.840 They love their influence. 00:37:49.280 --> 00:37:50.180 They love their position. 00:37:50.179 --> 00:37:53.960 And the list could go on and on and on. 00:37:55.039 --> 00:37:58.500 But this warning in verse 24 must be heeded today. 00:37:59.460 --> 00:38:04.059 Because there are many people who sit in churches just like ours every single week. 00:38:04.099 --> 00:38:06.739 And maybe even in this own church that know the Bible stories. 00:38:06.819 --> 00:38:08.019 That know the gospel facts. 00:38:08.139 --> 00:38:09.139 That know the right answers. 00:38:09.279 --> 00:38:10.879 That assume they're in the kingdom of God. 00:38:11.000 --> 00:38:13.759 But are not trusting in Christ and Christ alone. 00:38:14.759 --> 00:38:16.519 Listen, it's in nothing that we do. 00:38:17.179 --> 00:38:18.899 There's nothing we do that gets us to heaven. 00:38:18.900 --> 00:38:21.440 It's what he did on the cross of Calvary. 00:38:21.820 --> 00:38:26.619 That we place our full faith and trust in his life, his death, his burial, and his resurrection. 00:38:27.160 --> 00:38:28.820 That's how you make it into the kingdom. 00:38:29.099 --> 00:38:30.480 That's how you make it to the banquet. 00:38:30.760 --> 00:38:34.960 And this parable ends with this one truth becoming unmistakably clear. 00:38:35.180 --> 00:38:36.900 The problem was never the invitation. 00:38:37.300 --> 00:38:38.860 The problem is never the host. 00:38:39.119 --> 00:38:40.300 The problem is never the banquet. 00:38:40.539 --> 00:38:42.260 The problem is the response. 00:38:43.460 --> 00:38:44.660 We must make a response. 00:38:45.619 --> 00:38:47.780 That you cannot remain neutral about the gospel. 00:38:47.780 --> 00:38:51.100 You can't wait until it's a more convenient season. 00:38:51.340 --> 00:38:53.360 We see that in the book of Acts where Paul is preaching. 00:38:53.460 --> 00:38:55.420 He said, I'm going to wait for a more convenient time. 00:38:55.740 --> 00:38:56.340 Paul said, no, no, no. 00:38:56.460 --> 00:38:57.560 I wish it was today. 00:38:58.160 --> 00:38:59.540 Today is when you must be saved. 00:39:00.860 --> 00:39:04.680 So as we close this morning, I just want to remind you the banquet is ready. 00:39:05.600 --> 00:39:07.460 The invitation has been given. 00:39:08.260 --> 00:39:09.600 The cost has been paid. 00:39:09.700 --> 00:39:11.340 The servants are still calling. 00:39:11.600 --> 00:39:12.780 The gospel is still going forward. 00:39:12.780 --> 00:39:15.000 The Savior is still saving. 00:39:16.280 --> 00:39:18.900 See, the question isn't, has God invited me? 00:39:19.860 --> 00:39:22.019 The question is, what am I doing with the invitation? 00:39:23.519 --> 00:39:24.960 How have I responded? 00:39:27.460 --> 00:39:31.120 See, because one day this parable will no longer be a story. 00:39:31.119 --> 00:39:33.079 It's going to be a banquet. 00:39:34.000 --> 00:39:35.960 We see it in the book of Revelation, chapter 19. 00:39:36.219 --> 00:39:37.519 It's called the marriage supper of the Lamb. 00:39:38.679 --> 00:39:43.339 And the Bible says, blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. 00:39:44.139 --> 00:39:48.759 And one day, every redeemed sinner will gather around that table. 00:39:48.980 --> 00:39:52.779 And just like Brother Cliff saying, what a day that will be. 00:39:53.699 --> 00:39:57.500 And you're going to look around that table and you're going to realize, none of us deserve to be there. 00:39:57.500 --> 00:40:00.300 And Jesus is going to be at the head of the table. 00:40:00.500 --> 00:40:01.780 And we're going to be sitting with him. 00:40:01.800 --> 00:40:03.400 And he's going to be our God. 00:40:05.000 --> 00:40:06.420 The invitation is open. 00:40:07.360 --> 00:40:09.000 But it's not going to remain open forever. 00:40:10.079 --> 00:40:14.400 And that brings us back to the question Jesus has been asking throughout these past few chapters. 00:40:14.900 --> 00:40:16.699 Will you come? 00:40:17.739 --> 00:40:18.980 Have you accepted the invitation? 00:40:19.340 --> 00:40:20.760 Not will you admire the invitation. 00:40:21.059 --> 00:40:22.420 Not will you talk about the invitation. 00:40:22.760 --> 00:40:25.260 Not will you assume you belong at the banquet. 00:40:25.260 --> 00:40:28.480 Simply, will you come? 00:40:30.720 --> 00:40:35.900 The people who entered the banquet were not the people who assumed they belonged there. 00:40:36.800 --> 00:40:42.520 They were the people who responded to the invitation by the grace of God. 00:40:43.520 --> 00:40:44.340 That's the only way. 00:40:45.160 --> 00:40:46.660 Jesus makes it very clear. 00:40:47.360 --> 00:40:51.800 As we leave this morning, maybe we need to ask ourselves, is there something I'm valuing more than Christ? 00:40:51.800 --> 00:40:57.900 Am I living for something else more than what God wants me to? 00:40:58.180 --> 00:40:59.600 Have I accepted the invitation? 00:41:00.539 --> 00:41:03.180 Because it's the invitation of a lifetime. 00:41:03.339 --> 00:41:04.259 Father. 00:41:04.259 --> 00:41:04.279 Father. 00:41:04.279 --> 00:41:04.339 Father. 00:41:04.339 --> 00:41:04.339 00:41:04.339 --> 00:41:04.339 00:41:04.339 --> 00:41:04.599 Father. 00:41:04.599 --> 00:41:04.599 00:41:04.599 --> 00:41:04.599 00:41:04.599 --> 00:41:04.599 00:41:04.599 --> 00:41:04.599 00:41:04.599 --> 00:41:04.599 00:41:04.599 --> 00:41:04.599 00:41:04.599 --> 00:41:04.599 00:41:04.599 --> 00:41:04.599 00:41:04.599 --> 00:41:04.599 00:41:04.599 --> 00:41:04.599 00:41:04.599 --> 00:41:04.599 00:41:04.599 --> 00:41:04.599 00:41:04.599 --> 00:41:04.599 00:41:04.599 --> 00:41:04.599 00:41:04.599 --> 00:41:04.599 00:41:04.599 --> 00:41:04.599 00:41:04.599 --> 00:41:04.599 00:41:04.599 --> 00:41:04.599 00:41:04.599 --> 00:41:04.599 00:41:04.599 --> 00:41:04.599 00:41:04.599 --> 00:41:04.599 00:41:04.599 --> 00:41:04.599 00:41:04.599 --> 00:41:04.599 00:41:04.599 --> 00:41:04.599 00:41:04.599 --> 00:41:04.599 00:41:04.599 --> 00:41:04.599 00:41:04.599 --> 00:41:04.599 00:41:04.599 --> 00:41:04.599 00:41:04.599 --> 00:41:04.599 00:41:03.339 --> 00:41:03.339 00:41:03.339 --> 00:41:03.339 00:41:03.339 --> 00:41:03.339 00:41:03.339 --> 00:41:03.339 00:41:03.339 --> 00:41:03.339 00:41:03.340 --> 00:41:04.440 Father, thank you.