Luke 14:12-24 Then he turned to his host. "When you put on a dinner," he said, "don't invite friends, brothers, relatives, and rich neighbors! For they will return the invitation. 13 Instead, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, and the blind. 14 Then at the resurrection of the godly, God will reward you for inviting those who can't repay you." 15 Hearing this, a man sitting at the table with Jesus exclaimed, "What a privilege it would be to get into the Kingdom of God!"
16 Jesus replied with this illustration: "A man prepared a great feast and sent out many invitations. 17 When all was ready, he sent his servant around to notify the guests that it was time for them to arrive. 18 But they all began making excuses. One said he had just bought a field and wanted to inspect it, and asked to be excused. 19 Another said he had just bought five pair of oxen and wanted to try them out. 20 Another had just been married and for that reason couldn't come.
21 "The servant returned and reported to his master what they had said. His master was angry and told him to go quickly into the streets and alleys of the city and to invite the beggars, crippled, lame, and blind. 22 But even then, there was still room.
23 " 'Well, then,' said his master, 'go out into the country lanes and out behind the hedges and urge anyone you find to come, so that the house will be full. 24 For none of those I invited first will get even the smallest taste of what I had prepared for them.' "
Observation
At the beginning of this chapter it tells us that it is the Sabbath day and Jesus is at the house of a prominent Pharisee where he has just finished healing a man. Jesus is still at the dinner when he turns to the host and tells him that he shouldn’t invite those that have food but he should instead, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, and the blind. With a meal your rich friends will reward you but God is willing to offer you an eternal reward (verse 14).
What a privilege it would be to get into the kingdom of God! Many invitations are sent out but there are not many that are prepared however God will fill His table with guest for His feast that he has prepared.
6 Then I heard again what sounded like the shouting of a huge crowd, or like the waves of a hundred oceans crashing on the shore, or like the mighty rolling of great thunder, "Praise the Lord. For the Lord our God, the Almighty, reigns. 7 Let us be glad and rejoice and honor him; for the time has come for the wedding banquet of the Lamb, and his bride has prepared herself. 8 She is permitted to wear the cleanest and whitest and finest of linens." (Fine linen represents the good deeds done by the people of God.)
9 And the angel dictated this sentence to me: "Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding feast of the Lamb." And he added, "God himself has stated this." Rev 19:6-9 (Living)
Jesus bride has prepared herself and she is permitted to wear the cleanest and whitest and finest of linens. The fine linen represents the good deeds that we have done; this is how we prepare the bride for the groom.
Application
I will seek out ways to do good deeds everyday. I will be prepared for the Lord’s return by doing away with the improper concerns of this world.
Prayer
Jesus I want to be more concerned for your eternal kingdom than in the temporary, help me to show love to others that need you. I am ready for your return!
