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Passage to study: Luke 14:1-24.
Read with the class: Luke 14:16-24.
Memorization text: Younger children - Luke 14:16.
Older children - Luke 14:16 and 17.
OBJECTIVES: To teach that:
1. The gospel is an invitation to enjoy the happiness that God gives to those who accept
it.
2. He has provided everything and those who are invited can come to the feast without
having to bring anything.
3. Many pay too much attention to their own personal concerns and neglect the invitation.
4. The Lord determines the time of His last call.
5. This invitation must be accepted in order not to lose the opportunity to enjoy what God
provides.
Note: As in the majority of the occasions when the Lord told a parable, He was speaking to
some situation or replying to a comment made by another. Luke 14:15 shows what motivated
this parable, a comment made by one of those who were at the table with Him. He was
expressing a great truth: "Blessed is he that shall eat bread in the kingdom of
God". The parable that followed this comment contains a warning: Only those that
respond to the invitation will eat bread in the kingdom of God.
SCENE No. 1. VISUAL AIDS: People at a meal, the servant being sent out with the
invitations, (Luke 14:17) and figures that represent the three cases that the Lord
commented on in the parable:
1. One of those invited, looking towards his land. 2. One of those invited, with his oxen.
3. Another of those invited, with his wife.
DEVELOPMENT:
- The Lord Jesus does not comment directly on what is said about the blessedness of those
who eat bread in the kingdom of God, but He tells them a parable.
- The main purpose of this parable is to show that not all those who are invited will be
present in the kingdom of God.
- The custom was to send an invitation to a meal ahead of time, and later notify when
everything was ready.
Cns. For many years, the Jews had been receiving the notice of this supper by way of
prophetic messages about the Messiah.
- It would seem that, at the start, the invitation was accepted.
Cmt. Many Jews held tightly to the hope of being with the Messiah when He came.
- Upon the arrival of Jesus, the Messiah, the invitation went forth, COME.
- The Lord had many "good things" to share with those invited, things such as
eternal life, pardon, acquaintance with the Father, the consolation of the Spirit, etc.
- The three excuses that were offered were pretexts to avoid being present at the supper.
- The excuses showed they scorned the invitation and him who had sent it.
- The presence of Christ, the Messiah, meant that this was the final invitation.
- Not to go meant loss of the privilege of partaking of the supper.
- These were not isolated excuses, but reflected a generalized attitude adopted by the
people when the Lord was here.
Apl. The whole nation of Israel adopted an attitude of rejection of the Lord Jesus.
Some did accept Him.
EXCUSE 1 has to do with the world of Business.
- Would he not have seen the field BEFORE buying?
- That those invited asked to be excused shows that they were aware of the offence they
were causing by not being present at the supper.
EXCUSE 2 has to do with the world of Possessions.
- Was it really urgent to try out the animals he had bought?
EXCUSE 3 has to do with one's Personal World.
- Why could he not have brought his wife?
Lsn. For our students, owning land, having animals, or getting married are not
circumstances that directly touch their lives. One should look for illustrations
from their daily lives that involve their use of time for their own concerns and not for
the things of the Lord, thus not taking the Lord into account.
Sug. Work, studies, friendships, sports, etc. are some of the other interests that
motivate excuses from people who are not interested in accepting the invitation contained
in the Gospel.
SCENE No. 2. VISUAL AIDS: At the entrance to the house in which the supper has
been prepared, figures of the poor, the lame, the crippled and the blind coming to the
feast and being welcomed by the man of the house. Meanwhile, the servant informs him
that "YET THERE IS ROOM" (words in
writing).
Sug. Another figure can show an uninterested passerby, concerned only about his own
affairs.
DEVELOPMENT:
Cmt. Since the householder had spent a large amount of money to provide a banquet that
would satisfy the appetite of the many invited guests, and since these do not want to
come, the provisions were not to be wasted but would be made available to others.
- The man's anger does not lead him to retract the invitation to the banquet he has
prepared.
Cns. The students must understand that besides being loving, kind and merciful, God also
becomes angry at the rejection of His invitation.
- GO OUT QUICKLY. There is an urgency here. The provision will not be lost,
and others will eat of it.
- The servant is sent to the populated areas, the streets and alleys of the city.
- The invitation is now made to reach out to the often-forgotten ones of society, and
these become the ones who are favored.
- The poor, who in their everyday life find it difficult to obtain their food and shelter,
on this occasion receive an invitation to a free meal.
- The handicapped would very much appreciate the invitation, since they are unable to work
as others do to obtain such food by their own efforts.
- The blind would be led to the place by the servant, as they would be unable to reach it
on their own. Cmt. The teachers and preachers of today have the privilege or guiding
the poor, handicapped and blind to the place where they can receive the blessing of God's
salvation. Cns. Since the Lord has not come, we know there is yet room in the
heavenly home.
Cmt. The Jews who were invited were in the "neighbourhood" but upon rejecting
the Messiah, the invitation was extended to those who were more distant, that is, the
Gentiles. Apl. God's will is to fill heaven. Will our students be there?
SCENE No. 3. (Optional scene) VISUAL AIDS: Laid out on a table, pictures of
bread, cookies and other foods that can represent things that satisfy the needs of the
body. To this, add figures or words of the blessings of God that satisfy the need of
the soul.
Printed signs can be prepared that describe the food offered in the gospel. Ex.
"Forgiveness of sin, Personal knowledge of the Father, the Guidance of the Holy
Spirit, Power from God to live a holy life, Having a Bible with which to know God's will,
The Privilege of Prayer", etc.
DEVELOPMENT:
- Just as in a banquet there are a variety of dishes which please and satisfy the physical
appetite, so also there is provision for the spiritual appetite.
- There is provision for everybody. One need only help oneself from that which has
been provided.
- Those invited did not need to pay an entrance fee nor make any contribution to the
feast.
Cns. The Lord referred to His spiritual appetite in John 4:32 which was to do the will of
the Father. People have been created with a spiritual appetite that only God can
satisfy.
Cmt. The world offers its "meals" to satisfy the spiritual needs of people.
When a person accepts what the world offers, he rejects the provision made by God
in the Lord Jesus Christ.
SCENE No. 4. VISUAL AIDS: Figures that represent the application to people
today. A sign with the words in large letters: "YET THERE IS ROOM".
DEVELOPMENT:
- A young Christian encourages a friend to attend a meeting or Bible class.
- A preacher invites people to receive Christ as Saviour.
- An elderly person whose happy face shows that he has "partaken" of the Great
Supper.
- A child listens to a message from the Bible and learns that the invitation is for
everybody.
- Another person, perhaps very sick, is never beyond the reach of the invitation.
- Another person (with some handicap) is still able to be included with those who are
invited to the Great Supper.
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