Have you ever received an invitation to a party or event that you were excited to attend? Maybe it was a friend’s wedding or a family member’s birthday celebration. Whatever the occasion, receiving an invitation can make us feel special and valued. In the Parable of the Great Banquet, Jesus tells a story about a great invitation that was sent to many people.
Lame Excuses for Not Following God
In the story, a man planned a great banquet and sent out many invitations. When the banquet was ready, the man sent his servants to tell the invited guests to come. However, many of the guests made excuses and declined the invitation. One person said they had bought a field and needed to go see it, while another said they had bought five yoke of oxen and needed to test them.
These excuses may seem reasonable on the surface, but in the context of the story, they are seen as lame excuses for not following God. The banquet in the story represents God’s invitation to eternal life, and the excuses represent the things that distract us from accepting His invitation.
God’s Big Party
One of the central messages of the Parable of the Great Banquet is that God invites everyone to His party. The story says that after the invited guests made excuses, the master of the house told his servants to go out into the streets and invite everyone they could find. The master wanted his house to be full and he didn’t want anyone to miss out on the party.
This message is still relevant today. God’s invitation is not limited to a select few people. He cares about everyone, regardless of their social status or background. In Matthew 11:4-5, Jesus tells John the Baptist’s disciples to tell John that the blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cleansed, and the deaf hear, and the dead are raised. This is a sign that God cares about everyone and wants to include everyone in His party.
Our Role in Inviting Others
The Parable of the Great Banquet also highlights our role in inviting others to God’s party. After the invited guests declined the invitation, the master of the house told his servants to go out and invite everyone they could find. This means that the servants had a job to do.
As followers of Jesus, we also have a job to do. In Matthew 28:19-20, Jesus tells His disciples to go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything He has commanded them. This means that we are called to invite others to God’s party and to share the good news of Jesus with everyone we meet.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the Parable of the Great Banquet is a powerful story that reminds us of the importance of accepting God’s invitation to eternal life and inviting others to join us. The excuses that the invited guests made in the story are still prevalent today, but we must remember that they are just distractions that keep us from accepting God’s invitation. Let’s prioritize our eternal salvation and fulfill our duty to share the good news of Jesus with others.
