The Banquet Parables
—Luke 14:7-24
The three Banquet Parables are our text for this lesson. Jesus told these parables at the house of a prominent Phraisee during a banquet to which he had been invited.
The parables of the Embarrassed Guest, the Luncheon for the Poor, and the Slighted Invitation relate to theme 1 of the parables, namely the grace of God. These parables emphasise the humility and lowliness of heart that we must show in receiving his grace (Luke 14:7-24).
1 The Parable of the Embarrassed Guest
Luke 14:7-11
¶“7Jesus told a parable to the invited guests, because he noticed how they chose the places of honor for themselves. He said to them, 8"When someone invites you to a wedding feast, don't sit down in a place of honor, in case he invites someone more distinguished than you. 9He who invited you both will come and say to you, 'Give your place to this person please,' and then you will be ashamed as you take the lowest place. 10But when you are invited, go and sit in the lowest place, so that when your host comes he may say to you, 'Friend, please move to a higher place.' Then you will be honored in the presence of all who sit at table with you. 11For all who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.” (Luke 14:7-11).
This parable was spoken to the guests at the Pharisee's banquet. Jesus had noticed them picking out the places of honour for themselves, and this prompted the parable.
Jesus presents to them an imaginary or hypothetical banquet scene in which they themselves figure. Suppose they presume to take the high place reserved for the guest of honour. Then they may be asked to move to a less honoured place, and thus be disgraced and embarrassed. However, if they choose to sit in the lowest place, they will likely be asked to take a more honoured position and this will reflect to their credit.
This parable is disarmingly simple and sensible, and very true to life for those to whom it was told.
Meaning of the first banquet parable
The parable of the Embarrassed Guest is not just a piece of practical advice, but is true at a spiritual level too. Jesus himself makes this application of the parable. He says, "For everyone who exalts himself shall be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted".
This is true in the kingdom of God. It was even true of Christ the king —he humbled himself by dying on the cross, and God highly exalted him (Philippians 2:8-10).
2 The Luncheon for the Poor
Luke 14:12-14
¶“12He said also to the man who had invited him, "When you give a dinner or a banquet, don't invite your friends or brothers or relatives or rich neighbors, in case they return you an invitation to repay you. 13But when you give a feast, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, and the blind. 14You will be blessed, because they cannot repay you, and so you will be repaid at the resurrection of the just."” (Luke 14:12-14).
This parable was spoken to the Pharisee himself who was hosting the banquet in his home. Jesus pictures this Pharisee giving a banquet for the poor, the crippled, the lame, and the blind. None of his invited guests will be able to return the favour.
This short and simple parable has a profound message: if you would receive kindness from God, then give kindness to others without reward. When you do good to others, do not seek to be rewarded and praised for it by men.
If you do seek reward from men, then you will receive no praise or reward from God. But when you do good to those who cannot give you anything in return, then in the resurrection of the righteous God will reward and bless you far more than any man ever could. This applies also to being unappreciated. You spoil your service if you allow yourself to feel bad just because those you serve don't appreciate you. The Lord appreciates you, and that's what counts..
Meaning of the second banquet parable
The parable of the Luncheon for the Poor shows that the kindness of God is toward the humble and lowly of heart. God has no blessing for glory seekers. Humility is one of the conditions of God's grace being bestowed. The more humble we are, the more grace we receive.
Another obvious message in this parable is that God's invitation to us to enter his kingdom is just like that luncheon for the poor that Jesus described. God has invited us to come into his home and sup with him throughout all eternity. Yet who are we? We are the spiritually poor, crippled, lame, and blind. We can never repay the wonderful grace of God.
3 The Slighted Invitation
Luke 14:15-24
¶“15When one of those who reclined at table with Jesus heard these things, he said to Jesus, 'Blessed are all who will eat bread in the kingdom of God!' 16But Jesus said to him, "A man once gave a great banquet and invited many. 17And at the time for the banquet he sent his slave to say to those who had been invited, 'Come, for everything is now ready.' 18But they all alike began to make excuses. The first said to him, 'I have bought a field, and I must go out and inspect it. Please have me excused.' 19And another said, 'I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I am going to examine them. Please have me excused.' 20And another said, 'I have married a wife, and so I can't come.' 21So the slave came and reported these things to his master. Then the master of the house became angry and said to his slave, 'Go out quickly to the streets and laneways of the city, and bring in the poor and crippled and blind and lame.' 22And the slave said, 'Sir, what you commanded has been done, and still there is room.' 23And the master said to the slave, 'Go out to the highways and hedges and compel people to come in, to fill my house. 24For I tell you, none of those men who were invited shall taste my banquet.'"” (Luke 14:15-24).
This parable is very like the parable about the Marriage of the King's Son (Matthew 22:1-14). The parable here in Luke 14 was spoken to one of the guests in response to a possibly oblique remark that this guest had made to Jesus.
Jesus describes a man who invites many to a big dinner, but they all make excuses as to why they don't want to come. So he angrily withdraws the invitation to them, and instead invites the poor, crippled, blind, and lame from off the streets. He keeps doing this until his house is filled with guests.
Meaning of the third banquet parable
In the parable of the Slighted Invitation, it is easy enough to identify the snubbers as the Jewish religious leaders who thought they were righteous and important. Those in the streets and parks are easily identified as the poor and lowly, the despised and sinners, even the Samaritans and Gentiles —all the people whom the Scribes and Pharisees looked down on.
This is no doubt what Jesus had in mind.
More broadly speaking, this parable shows that God doesn't like to be snubbed when he issues his kind invitation. It makes him angry. He is determined, however, to fill his house with guests, and he will. Now if we wish to be among them, we need to rid ourselves of our pride and self importance, for God seeks the humble to dine with him.