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THE KING’ S BUSINESS
choly; but Jesus teaches us by this parable that it is an invitation to festal joy and feasting; it is “a great supper,” the greatest the world ever knew. “ They that were bid den” represented the Jews (cf. Matt. 22:3, 6 , 7; Acts 13:45, .46). The invitation of verse 16 is the prophetic announcement of the Messiah and His kingdom and the invi tation to the Jews contained in it. The invi tation o f verse 17 is Christ’s own announce ment that the kingdom was at hand, and an invitation to Israel to enter (Gal. 4:4, 5; Matt. 3 :2 ; Mark 1:14, 15). All the guests who were bidden had to do when the final invitation went forth was just to “come.” That is all any one now has to do to enjoy the blessings that Christ offers (Isa. 55:1; Matt. 11:28; John 7:37; Rev. 22:17). W e would naturally suppose that an invitation to “a great feast” would be received with gladness. In point o f fact, it was received with poorly concealed disdain. Thus God’s gracious invitations are usually received, and in this we have a revelation o f the deceitfulness o f the human heart and its enmity against God. There is nothing that more clearly proves the deceitfulness o f the human heart and its enmity against God (cf. Jer. 17:9; Rom. 8:7 ). and the power o f Satan to blind (cf. 2 Cor. 4:3, 4 ), than thé marvelous contempt with which men receive the immeasurably gracious invita tions o f God. With remarkable unanimity the invited guests "began to make excuses." That is exactly what the vast majority o f men do with the Gospel invitation to this day. What a mad thing to do ! When an offer o f unparalleled kindness and blessing is made to à man, he will accept it if he is not a fool. So every one who makes excuse for not accepting God’s invitation o f mercy is plainly a fool. The. first man’s excuse was his property. He represents a large class, those whose property stands between them and Christ (Luke 18:23; 2 Tim. 4:10; 1 Tim. 6 :9 ). They are imitators o f Esau (Heb. 12:16). The giver o f the supper did not excuse those who thus lightly treated his invitation. No, he was "angry;" and God does not excuse those today who slight the invitations o f His infinite grace
His host when he made a supper not to invite the rich. The reason why he should not invite the rich was because they might pay back. That is just what many seek when they give parties and gifts, a return in kind, but our Lord teaches that is just what we should not seek. He gives us a good reason for not seeking recompense here, viz., there are more enduring and valuable recompenses hereafter, and one must take his choice between recompense here and recompense hereafter (cf. Matt. 6:1-6, 16-18). When we get no recompense here for ,the good we do we ought rather to rejoice than be sad,- for it assures us better recompense hereafter. The profess ing church has often followed the world’s method rather than Christ’s (Jas. 2:1-6). Verse 12, taken literally, does not absolutely forbid an interchange o f hospitalities, but it does tell us that when we make a dinner or supper (i. e., in our more elaborate feasts) we should look for our guests among the poor and lowly. In a world in which there is so much want and misery to relieve, a true follower o f Jesus Christ will not spend much time in- the entertain ment o f those who have no need. In this same chapter (v. 21) God Himself is rep resented as inviting the poor to a feast (cf. Luke 1:53; Matt. 11:5). Our recompense will be “ in the resurrection o f the just.” There are two resurrections (Acts 24:15; John 5:29; Rev. 20:5). Blessed is he who has part in the first resurrection, the resur rection o f the just (Rev. 20:6). Saturday, January 8 . Luke 14 : 15 - 20 . One o f Jesus’ companions at the Phari see’s feast, hearing Jesus’ words about future recompenses, burst forth into the exclamation, “ Blessed is he that shall eat bread in the kingdom o f God.” Jesus in reply, spoke the parable o f our lesson, show ing that, however blessed it might be to have a part in the kingdom, men, instead o f welcoming, despised an, invitation to it. The kingdom and its joys and privileges are compared to "a great supper." Some fancy that an invitation to Christ is an invitation to sadness, gloom and melan
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