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Many thanks to Peter Jones who has again prepared this week’s devotions. This week our attention is focused on Luke chapter 14, verses 16-35. Please read these verses every day this week and, if possible, use a different translation each day, asking God to open your eyes to fresh revelation from His Word.
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Luke 14:21-24 (NIV)
‘The servant came back and reported this to his master. Then the owner of the house became angry and ordered his servant, “Go out quickly into the streets and alleys of the town and bring in the poor, the crippled, the blind and the lame.” “Sir,” the servant said, “what you ordered has been done, but there is still room.” ‘Then the master told his servant, “Go out to the roads and country lanes and compel them to come in, so that my house will be full. I tell you, not one of those who were invited will get a taste of my banquet.”’
If we are to compare this story with the principle of salvation and those who are invited, then the first 3 verses would suggest that the offer of salvation is now only extended to those who were not originally invited. Commentators would suggest that these people are the Jewish nation who have rejected Jesus since the start of His ministry. I believe there is an element of truth in that opinion but it does not explain the many thousands of Jews who have been saved over the years. Also the disciples were Jews and so was Paul and many of those who believed as outlined in the book of Acts. So verse 24 must have a different meaning than the outright rejection of all Jews.
Let me quote a verse from 2 Peter 3:9 “The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance”. There are those who believe that because we are God’s creation, then God will not reject anybody and therefore there is no such place as hell. This belief is completely contrary to the Word of God. God is loving and merciful but He is also just, so there must be punishment for disobedience. So verse24 gives us an insight into the nature of God. Let me remind you of a parable that Jesus told his disciples. It was the one about the talents. In Matthew 25. Jesus spoke about 3 people, one received five talents, another two and the other one. The last one did nothing with his talent and these words are recorded, “And throw that worthless servant outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” There’s another parable in Matthew 25 concerning the wise and foolish virgins. The warning from this story is this. “and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut. Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us. But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not. Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.”
Two weeks ago, Paul spoke about the door being closed and Jesus is teaching us that we have choices, we can listen to what He says and follow Him or we can reject His teaching and produce nothing of any spiritual value. I believe that God does reject those who will not believe. So I think the meaning of verse24 is quite simple, those who have been invited and have refused will be rejected. Those who have been invited and accept will share in the feast. God will fill His kingdom with people from all social backgrounds.
1 Corinthians 1:26-31 says this “Take a good look, friends, at who you were when you got called into this life. I don’t see many of “the brightest and the best” among you, not many influential, not many from high-society families. Isn’t it obvious that God deliberately chose men and women that the culture overlooks and exploits and abuses, chose these “nobodies” to expose the hollow pretensions of the “somebodies”? That makes it quite clear that none of us can get by with blowing our own trumpet before God. Everything that we have—right thinking and right living, a clean slate and a fresh start—comes from God by way of Jesus Christ. That’s why we have the saying, “If you’re going to blow, blow a trumpet for God.” Message translation
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