15 When one of those at the table with him heard this, he said to Jesus, “Blessed is the one who will eat at the feast in the kingdom of God.” 16 Jesus replied: “A certain man was preparing a great banquet and invited many guests. 17 At the time of the banquet he sent his servant to tell those who had been invited, ‘Come, for everything is now ready.’ 18 “But they all alike began to make excuses. The first said, ‘I have just bought a field, and I must go and see it. Please excuse me.’ 19 “Another said, ‘I have just bought five yoke of oxen, and I’m on my way to try them out. Please excuse me.’ 20 “Still another said, ‘I just got married, so I can’t come.’ 21 “The servant came back and reported this to his master. Then the owner of the house became angry and ordered his servant, ‘Go out quickly into the streets and alleys of the town and bring in the poor, the crippled, the blind and the lame.’ 22 “‘Sir,’ the servant said, ‘what you ordered has been done, but there is still room.’ 23 “Then the master told his servant, ‘Go out to the roads and country lanes and compel them to come in, so that my house will be full. 24 I tell you, not one of those who were invited will get a taste of my banquet.’” (Luke 14:15-24)
Here, the Lord Jesus says that the kingdom of God is like a man hosting a great banquet. The man represents God; He prepares the banquet and issues invitations, and when the time arrives, He sends His servant to summon the guests. However, one by one, they offer excuses for not attending. The first says, “I have bought a field, and I must go and see it.” He surely would have inspected the field before purchasing it; he could see it after the banquet. Another says, “I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I am on my way to try them out.” He could have tried out before buying them, or he could try them out after attending the banquet. Another said, “I have just married a wife, so I cannot go.” He could have gone together with his wife; they were simply making excuses. For people today, these excuses might be studies, work, or family or other reasons for not attending the banquet. The issue is prioritizing one’s studies, work, or family over God’s banquet; they don’t put God first. Because those invited first did not attend, the master told his servant, “Go out quickly into the streets and alleys of the town and bring in the poor, the crippled, the blind, and the lame.” Even after inviting many, there were still room, so the master said to the servant, “Go out to the roads and country lanes and compel them to come in, so that my house will be full. ” God extends His invitation to everyone to dine in the Kingdom of God; those who refuse the invitation will not get a taste of the banquet. Attending God’s banquet is a blessing, and those who do not attend forfeit that blessing. God first called the Israelites and the Gospel was preached to them first; because they did not accept the call, the Gospel was then preached to us Gentiles.
Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again. (John 3:3) Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit.” (John 3:5)
Here, the Lord Jesus says that without being born again, without being born of water and the Spirit, one cannot see or enter the Kingdom of God. Being born again means believing in the Lord, being baptized, receiving the Holy Spirit, and being born of the Spirit. Hope that more people will accept the invitation to the banquet of God’s Kingdom, believe in the Lord, be baptized, be born again and saved, enter the Kingdom of God, receive eternal life, and receive God’s blessings.
May God bless you and your family!
