Jesus has just censured the Pharisees for their self-importance and self-confidence. They assumed that they ranked highest in God’s sight. They assumed that they would occupy the best seats at the eschatological banquet in the coming Messianic kingdom. On the contrary, Jesus’ parable foretells that they were in danger of being excluded entirely. They would not be excluded because they were bad, inasmuch as no one is included because they are good. We only need to accept the invitation. These religious men would in fact exclude themselves because they would reject the invitation. They, like the people in the parable, had better things to do. They were pursuing their own priorities (which they believed must also be God’s priority). Jesus was there to invite them into his Kingdom, but they were busy building their own little kingdoms. Many are invited into the Kingdom of Christ, but few accept the invitation. The invitation, it should be noted, is not to just enter the Kingdom of Christ when we die. We are being invited to enter now. If we are willing to set aside our life plans and step into Christ’s purpose, then the door is open. Jesus gives us free entry into a new life, a life so rich in grace that it is likened to a great feast. It is a life, moreover, that will lead to a still greater feast in the life to come. Have you accepted this invitation? Or are you still distracted by your own priorities?
Recommit your life to Jesus.
Read Luke 14:15-24
