I Spoke...

Alrite... I spoke today.. And the topic was "The Great Banquet"

1. When you think of banquet and feast, what comes to your mind?

2. Read Luke 14:1-24. Jesus was having dinner with a group of Pharisees when he told this parable. Who do the characters in this parable represent?

The host -
-Jesus Christ himself who invites many people to come to feast with Him - this feast is not only pointing to the future in heaven, but also a vibrant, life-changing relationship with Him now.
-Jesus is an invited guest, but He is really the host!!!!
-In fact, the feast is a picture of the soul's satisfaction in a relationship with Jesus. Christ is saying, "I am the host, and the feast. You are all invited!!!!"
The guests -
1) vv. 7-11, a mini-parable here, also talking about the guests. PROUD & SELF-RIGHTEOUS
Here, people think they deserve to be at the banquet. They want to be the honored guests. They ve been to banquets before, and expect the same treatment. They don't really want to be there to honor or thank the host, they are there to honor themselves. ----> CHRISTIANS WHO ARE SPIRITUALLY COMPETITIVE, SEEKING RECOGNITION, NO GOAL TO WORSHIP CHRIST, BUT GOAL TO BE KNOWN. BEWARE, THIS IS SUBTLE IN THE HEARTS OF MANY CHRISTIANS.

2) vv. 12-14, another mini-parable here, this time talking about the host. SEEKING RECOGNITION The host invited those guests who would probably invite him in return to their own banquets. Jesus exalts the virtue of truly inviting those who could not possibly pay them back. ---> HOW WE DO THE SAME!!! WE SEEK TO DO THINGS WITH AN ULTERIOR MOTIVE OF GETTING SOMETHING IN RETURN! SEEKING RECOGNITION! DOING NICE THINGS TO HAVE OTHERS DO THE SAME. OUR MOTIVES MUST BE CHECKED!!!!
Jesus, however, does not do so at all. He is the one who invites those who cannot possibly pay back. Knowing this, Jesus cannot contain Himself and He tells the third parable - Banquet..... Bunch of excuses......
3) v. 18, I have just bought a field, and I must go and see it. Please excuse me. - MATERIALISM no one buys a field without first seeing it. This is just an excuse b/c he doesn t really want to be there. There was a deeper reason for not wanting to be there. He was distracted by materialism and the worldly possessions ----> worldliness, pleasures, wealth, etc. MANY PEOPLE REALLY DON'T COME B/C THEY LOVE THE WORLD MORE THAN CHRIST!!!! 4) v. 19, I have just bought five yoke of oxen, and I'm on my way to try them out. Please excuse me. - BUSYNESS the invitation reminder was given while he was on his way to try out the oxen. This is also an excuse: five yoke of oxen equals 10 oxen. This is a rich man in society. Most likely he would have a servant try it out. He s going to try it out, but he doesn't need to. He's probably giving an excuse. He's really too busy with other things. ----> SOME PEOPLE DO OTHER THINGS TO LOOK BUSY EVEN THOUGH THEY DON'T NEED TO DO IT. THEY LIE ABOUT THEIR RESPONSIBILITIES. 5) v. 20, I just got married, so I can't come. - LEGITIMATE RESPONSIBILITIES Here, the man has a legal right to not go to any meetings, etc. b/c the law (Deut 24:5) states that a new husband does not need to work or go to meetings so he can take care of his wife for the first year. It was a legitimate excuse legally in society. Point is: sometimes legitimate responsibilities other than obligations to Christ become our excuses for not fully committing ourselves to Him. --->MANY PEOPLE HAVE SCHOOL ORGANIZATIONS, FAMILY THINGS, ETC. THEY ALL SOUND LEGITIMATE, BUT REALLY IN THEIR HEARTS, THEY ARE EXCUSES. THE TRULY HUNGRY ONES WOULD STILL WORK OUT THEIR SCHEDULE TO COME TO JESUS Overall, just a bunch of excuses........ (not just about coming to church or small group - it's about coming to feast before the presence of Jesus. It's about a living relationship with Jesus. Many may come to church, but not really have a relationship with Jesus. They are too busy to REALLY feast.) The poor, crippled, blind, and lame- - in context, Gentiles and unclean. Religious Pharisees rejected and Gentiles brought in.
- but for us,
ones WHO DO NOT SEEM OBVIOUSLY like those who are SPIRITUAL and RIGHTEOUS.
The ones who are ABSOLUTELY IN NEED of Christ and know it.
The guilty, hopeless, abused, hurting, fringe members, etc.
Grateful ones who WOULD NOT BELIEVE THAT CHRIST WOULD OFFER THEM
ETERNAL LIFE and salvation.
Ones who would NOT EXPECT such an invitation.
SPIRITUAL BEGGARS
Ones who know they have NO RIGHTEOUSNESS ON THEIR OWN - they know they are
SINFUL and in NEED OF A SAVIOR.
3. What character in this story do you identify with most? Explain.

• The invited guests who make excuses.
• The beggar who is grateful to be invited and have a meal.
• The beggar who needs a little coaxing to come.
• The servant who is sent out to bring others to the party.
• Other:________________________________________.
CHRISTIANS IN THE CHURCH - are the invited guests who make excuses. We think the non-Christians are these people, but this is a slap in the face of the establishment. The Christians here are those who make excuses. There are always TWO INVITATIONS given out - a formal one some time before, and then a last-minute reminder the day of. The parable assumes that the invitations have already been accepted. In other words, these guests HAVE ALREADY COMMITTED TO COME TO THE BANQUET - but they make excuses and not come. THESE ARE CHRISTIANS IN THE CHURCH WHO HAVE ALREADY COMMITTED THEMSELVES TO FOLLOW CHRIST, BUT SIMPLY STAY IN THE CHURCH AND KEEP THEMSELVES BUSY WITH OTHER THINGS. THEY ARE IN THE CHURCH, BUT NOT REALLY AT THE CHURCH. THEY ARE AT THE BANQUET, BUT HAVE NOT REALLY COME TO THE BANQUET. THEIR LONGING FOR CHRIST IS NOT AUTHENTIC, SO THEY REALLY NEVER FEAST AT THE BANQUET (In context, Luke 14:1-14 - Christ is at the banquet, but people don't really come to Christ). SPIRITUAL BEGGARS THROUGHOUT THE WORLD - whether in the Church or not. These are the people who truly know their need. All non-believers here whether in the Church or not are invited to partake of the feast. Also, all those who are guilty and hurt, thinking you cannot be forgiven. All you need is to be a beggar, admit your sin and guilt, acknowledge that you have no power to be righteous through anything of who you are or what you do. Simply come to the banquet and feast on the gift of eternal life found in Jesus Christ. Feast on the fellowship of Christ

4. What can we learn about the character of God from this parable?

Generous: v. 16, for no reason besides his generosity, he invites people to come to the banquet. What really is this banquet? Although it refers to the future feast of heaven - gift of eternal life, it also more directly refers to a glorious relationship with Jesus. God doesn't have to, but he wants to offer it to us. Holy & Wrathful: v. 21, became angry - God's justice and righteousness is shown here. The invited guests showed pride in their responses. God's wrath burns against those who dishonor him - God's glory and worth is ridiculed in such responses and half-hearted commitments. Think about it: Why did the master get so mad? Because the people's responses were declaring to the world that the banquet with the house owner is not worth all that much - NO BIG DEAL. This dishonors and deglorifies the house owner. Unconditional: v. 21, poor, crippled, blind and lame. God extends his invitation to all peoples. v. 2, the man suffering from dropsy are the very ones Christ invites - the destitute of society are also invited. Deserves Honor: Some may say, This doesn't really honor God! His original guests rejected him and it seems as a last resort, he invites the blind, lame, and crippled. BUT ACTUALLY THIS HONORS AND GLORIFIES GOD EVEN MORE!!!!
He especially likes the ones who are crippled, lame, blind, etc. b/c they know they ABSOLUTELY NEED CHRIST! This glorifies God. These beggars do not choose Christ as one option among many. NO. They knew they had nothing, and the offer of Christ to them was SO AWESOME AND GREAT, they were so grateful to have received it.
- The original guests would have come in and sat down in front and think nothing of it. They would expect food to be served, eat, talk, have a few laughs and go home. It would be no big deal. But for the lame, crippled, and blind, they would not be able to believe their eyes. Just this morning, I was begging for bread near the market. Who is this guy, this host? Ah yes, he is the BREAD OF LIFE! GOD WOULD BE HONORED!!!
Christ would not be an OPTION, He was a NEED, A JOY, A PRIVILEGE. .......AND THIS GLORIFIES THE VERY WORTH OF GOD....!!!!! DO YOU SEE WHY GOD IS PLEASED WITH THE BLIND, LAME, CRIPPLED; AND DISPLEASED WITH THE PROUD AND ARROGANT? God's kingdom and God's heart is BIG!!!! vv. 22 - after all the invitations were given even to the beggars, there was still room. This not only shows how big heaven is and how much room there is for people to take a place in God s eternal pleasures, but it also shows GOD'S HEART!!!! (2 Peter 3:9 - He desires none to perish but all to come to repentance). GOD'S HEART IS BIG! THIS IS GRACE!!!!
- John Newton (author of the traditional hymn, Amazing Grace ) once said these poignant words:When I get to heaven, there will be three things that will amaze me.
1) Amazed at the people that ARE there that I didn't think would be there
2) Amazed at the people that AREN'T there that I thought would be there
....but most of all....
3) I'd be amazed that I'D BE THERE AT ALL!!!! you see, GOD'S HEART IS BIG!!!! God Can Change Hearts!!!! v. 23, Go out to the roads and country lanes and make them come in.... This is not forcing people against their will. This is God's sovereign hand acting to change the human heart.
Non-believers have no power in themselves to love Christ and find him. God has to love us and find us. God can change hearts (hardened hearts, worldly hearts, unbelieving hearts, sinful hearts, hurting hearts - HE CAN CHANGE THEM ALL!!!)
One of the greatest miracles that Christ can do is not walking on the water, calming the storm, changing water into wine, multiplying the fish and the loaves, etc. but the miracle of changing a person's heart!!!! HE CAN CHANGE YOUR HEART ALSO!!!! Pray to Him, be a beggar, acknowledge your sin, and say Yes to his invitation.

THIS ALSO BRINGS AMAZING GLORY AND WORTH TO GOD!!!! NEVER CAN YOU SAY IN YOUR MIND, IT WAS I WHO ULTIMATELY TRUSTED CHRIST AND CAME TO HIM! NO! YOU'LL HAVE TO ADMIT, AS I LOOK BACK AT MY LIFE, GOD ALONE CAUSED ME TO COME TO HIM!!!! THEN ALL PRAISE AND GLORY GOES TO HIM AND YOU BOW DOWN IN HUMBLE WORSHIP!!!!

We need to be beggars, blind, crippled, absolutely in need of Jesus Christ. He is the host, He is the feast, He is the banquet! Right now, we can be at the banquet table - messianic banquet table with Christ. As we close our eyes, and draw near to Him in absolute dependence, gratitude, and find our soul s satisfaction in Him.

We've already accepted the invitation, but so many times we make excuses. We're in Christianity, but not always in Christ - daily relationship and feasting from His presence.

Then we got the Q & A session... (Ahem... I couldn't answer all the questions... =\)

1.What makes u think that the 3 persons who gave their excuses are just excuses not reasons? (Hwei's question)

There are 2 kinds of invitation... The 1st is given some time before the event... like 1 or 2 weeks 2nd is given as a reminder... like the night before...

Shuen's example :

Shuen : When i got a party right,i would let u all know bout my party like 1 or 2 weeks before... Then on the night before my party i would remind u all "Hey,my party's tmw know? Dun forget...

Sharma : What if i got to know that i've got my interview on the same night when u remind me?

Shuen : Then that would be a legal excuse not to come to my party lo...

Jesus already told us that he will come again to earth and that will be his 2nd coming... Unlike the party,which the time is already told exactly when is the party, His 2nd coming is not exactly told when... So,we're supposed to watch out for signs and apparently at the moment,alot of His signs are already showing... So,we have to be on our guard... For his 2nd coming will be like the robber thingy... Where the time is unknown and at the hour when we least expect...

2.Why are the poor,blind,lame and crippled not called first? Why are the rich 1s called first? (Ah Mah's question... She then adds,is it because they can't dress up properly? And then with some giggles..)

This is because the Jews(the rich) were called first and they were chosen by GOD... But when they neglect the LORD, the Gentiles(the poor,blind.. etc) were called next... This is because GOD has made the covenant with Abraham that Abraham's family is the chosen 1... And out of Abraham,the Jews are formed.. Which is Israel...

And if the Jews did not neglect the LORD,they continue to obey him 100%.. We,Gentiles, are all doomed... So,actually,we are thankful to them that we have the privilege and chance...

~The End~

Oh my... I think that's all for now.. I'm like super tired now... And got to wake up early summore.. So,i'll stop for now.... ^ ^ Good nite to all.. ^ ^ Hahaha... Like wat gary always say cheerioz~~ hahaha.. ^ ^

And here's to promote MGC's blog... Ahahaha...