https://odb.org/2026/09/09/gods-open-invitation
Luke 14:15–24 (NIV): 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.’ ”
Before my close friend’s wedding, we meticulously set the table for two hundred guests at the reception. With joyful anticipation we spent hours folding napkins, aligning cutlery, straightening tablecloths, and arranging flowers. After putting in all that work, we couldn’t wait for guests to arrive and enjoy it! But when many seats remained empty, we were sorely disappointed.
Jesus shared a similar story with some Pharisees as they ate together (Luke 14:15-20). He described a man who lovingly planned a great banquet for many people, but few attended and gave flimsy excuses. The man was angry at their rejection. He extended his invitation to society’s outcasts, “the poor, the crippled, the blind, and the lame” (v. 21). When there was still room, his servants went even further abroad to “compel [others] to come in” (v. 23). (Karen Pimpo, Our Daily Bread 8th September 2026)
The parable of the wedding banquet related by Jesus and recorded in Luke 14:15-24 speaks of how the Jews as the chosen generation were invited to join the Kingdom of God but rejected it (mainly because of their unbelief that Jesus was indeed the coming Messiah spoken of since ancient times). The Jews were the intended and chosen guests as the first-born children of God but unlike Esau who was tricked by Jacob to give up his birthright, the Jews outrightly rejected Christ. In fact, they persecuted and crucified Him. Like the Pharoah of Egypt whose initial defiance of Moses led to the deliverance of the Jews out of Egypt into the Promised Land, the rejection of Jesus by Israel led to Jesus fulfilling His mission to die for the sins of mankind. So, in the end, the Gentiles of the world (not the prime but second choice) were invited and until today, millions have accepted Christ throughout the generations since the days of Paul.
As believers, the invitation to the other wedding banquet is however the one that we should give serious thought. Jesus alluded to it in the parable of the Ten Virgins (see Matthew 25:1-13). Five were prepared and brought enough oil for their lamps to remain lighted when the bridegroom came. The other five didn’t bring enough oil and had to go buy more and when the bridegroom came, they missed the banquet. Thus the question – are we prepared for Jesus’s return or if we are called home before that? Are we ready to face Christ at the Bema Judgment Seat of Christ? Are our names still written in the Book of Life when the time comes (which ensures us a place in the new heaven and new earth at the end of age)? Although we call Him Lord, Lord – does He know us? Are we wheat or chaff – the wheat or weed in Matthew 13:24-30)? Will our works be burned up as we go through the refiner’s fire or will we turn out like pure gold?
No one will be able to answer the question whether we are the first five of the virgins or the last five, except we alone as our life on earth is lived by us alone. Our parents can’t answer for us and neither may our cell group leader or pastor or our spouse. We alone are responsible for our own spiritual life; whether we have fulfilled God’s plans and purposes for our lives. Did we respond to Jesus’s calling for us for that season and this season? Did we break free from the cycle of sin, forgiveness and sin? Did we break the generational bondages chaining us to our past? Did we love the LORD our God with all our heart, mind, soul and strength? Did we love our neighbour as we loved ourselves? In fact, did we even love ourselves as we love God? If we need to ask these questions, ask them now rather than later. Not everything can wait as our breath may be taken from us the next moment! Always remember the parable of the Rich Fool in Luke 12!
Ronnie's Thoughts 