Jesus' Offer Can Be Accepted Or Rejected
 

This lesson is based on Luke 14:15-24

15 When one of those at the table with him heard this, he said to Jesus, "Blessed is the man 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 make them come in, so that my house will be full. 24 I tell you, not one of those men who were invited will get a taste of my banquet.'"

One day as Jesus was eating dinner one of the men at the table commented about how wonderful it would be for those who would "sit at the table in the Kingdom of God." What did the man mean by this?

Jesus often spoke about the "Kingdom of God." He was talking about a time when God would exercise his power in a special way to free people from sin and death and bondage to Satan. The power of God’s Kingdom was already at work when Jesus healed the sick and cast out demons. But Jesus taught that one day he would return to earth again with great power and glory. (Read Luke 21:25-28.)

Then the Kingdom of God will be complete. All evil will be destroyed and those who love God will enjoy his full blessings forever. These blessings of the future kingdom were pictured as a great feast which God has prepared.

When Jesus heard this person speaking about how wonderful it would be to take part in this feast, he told a parable. It was about a man who was preparing a great banquet.

1. Why did the people who were first invited not come to the feast?

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2. What do you think Jesus meant to teach by this?

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When those who had been invited first did not come, the man sent his servants to bring anyone they could find.

3. Based on what you read in this parable, do you think God is still inviting people to participate in his Kingdom?

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4. What will happen to those who ignore the invitation that Jesus makes?

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