THE GREAT SUPPER
Luke 14:16-24
Morning Meditation 3/2/2014
"Then said he unto him, A certain man made a great supper, and bade many: And sent his servant at supper time to say to them that were bidden, Come; for all things are now ready. And they all with one consent began to make excuse. The first said unto him, I have bought a piece of ground, and I must needs go and see it: I pray thee have me excused. And another said, I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I go to prove them: I pray thee have me excused. And another said, I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come. So that servant came, and shewed his lord these things. Then the master of the house being angry said to his servant, Go out quickly into the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in hither the poor, and the maimed, and the halt, and the blind. And the servant said, Lord, it is done as thou hast commanded, and yet there is room. And the lord said unto the servant, Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled. For I say unto you, That none of those men which were bidden shall taste of my supper."
The supper time is this dispensation. The supper refers to the blessings and privileges provided for men in the sacrifice of God's Son. The many bidden (vs 16) are the Jews who received the first invitation, and who had been advised a long time beforehand. The excuses are the silly objections brought by them against Jesus and His claims. The poor and maimed are the publicans and sinners among both Jew and Gentile who accepted the invitation. Those compelled to come in from the highways and hedges are the strangers afar off who had no hope. Those who shall never taste of this supper are the unbelieving Jewish nation, who have been "cut off" (Acts 13:46; Rom. 11:20). Such may be the dispensational teaching of the parable, but let us look at some practical thoughts. Let's look first at --
THE THREEFOLD REASON FOR COMING
1. "Come, for all things are now ready." "All things" means that every spiritual and temporal blessing for time and eternity is now ready in Christ.
Here is an advertisement that all things pertaining to a sinners salvation is now ready.
Do you need a substitute? Then "Behold the Lamb of God."
Do you need forgiveness? Then this is ready. This is brought out in Acts 13:38, "Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins:"
Do you need peace? Romans 5:1 says, "Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:"
Do you need power? Power is offered in Acts 1:8, "But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth."
The next reason for coming is--
2. Come for all classes are invited. Surely these four classes include all sorts. First, the poor -- those who feed on stale scraps, and who have never known what it is to have a thoroughly satisfying feast.
Second, the maimed -- those who have been deprived of some of their limbs, and have become hopelessly mutilated. Morally, this class represents those whose conscience has been seared. They hear but they don't hear.
Third, the halt -- those who have all their limbs, but in a crooked and deformed condition, whose manner of walk is neither straight nor steady.
Fourth, the blind -- those who can walk pretty straight, but are in the blackness of darkness all the time. You may explain the need of salvation to them but they will say, "I just can't see it.."
3. Come for there is yet room. The house is being rapidly filled, but yet there is room. How much room none can tell. We know not the hour that the Master may rise and shut the door.
THE THREEFOLD EXCUSE FOR NOT COMING
1. I have something else to see. Luke 14:18, "And they all with one consent began to make excuse. The first said unto him, I have bought a piece of ground, and I must needs go and see it: I pray thee have me excused."
2. I have something else to do. Luke 14:19, "And another said, I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I go to prove them: I pray thee have me excused." Some people have the idea that the time to obey the call of God is when they have nothing else to do.
3. I have something else to enjoy. Luke 14:20, "And another said, I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come." Someone has said that this is the only one who had a legitimate excuse!!!
Those who take lightly the Master's gracious invitation, "Shall not taste of my supper."
May the Lord bless these words to our hearts.
In Christ
Bro. White
