Sermon Tone Analysis
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*Read Lu 14:15-24* – A husband turns to his wife as he turns on the first football game of the season and asks: “Is there anything you want to say before the season begins?”
His priorities were showing, and we laugh hoping it’s not really true.
But it demonstrates what many people, most of whom think they are heaven-bound, are saying to Jesus.
“Is there anything you’d like to say – before I get on with my real life which is over here?”
Well, actually there is a lot Jesus would like to say and it’s in our passage today.
Jesus is at lunch with a bunch of Pharisees, trying to get them to see their need for a Savior.
He is responding to a man who says in v. 15, “Blessed is everyone who will eat bread in the kingdom of God!” The Bible often likens heaven to a banquet to end all banquets.
But Jesus warns him that there may be 1 less at that banquet than he thinks.
And he lists 4 ways that those who accept His invitation must humble themselves for entrance.
*I.
Humble Yourself Under the Phasing of the Kingdom (16)*
*II.
Humble Yourself Under the Pricelessness of the Kingdom (17)*
Last week we saw first that we must humble ourselves under the Phasing and timing of the kingdom.
We’d like it all right now.
But Jesus has consistently warned that while His kingdom starts in hearts now; it plays out in history later, under Christ’s rule of perfection.
Second, we must humble ourselves under the Pricelessness of the kingdom.
No price we can pay can ever deflect God’s wrath against sin.
But what God demands, God provides.
So, our invitation to the kingdom is based on Jesus’ death in our place, not on our righteousness.
It takes humility to admit that and accept His amazing offer.
*III.
Humble Yourself Under the Priority of the Kingdom (18-20)*
17 And at the time for the banquet he sent his servant to say to those who had been invited, ‘Come, for everything is now ready.’
18 But they all alike began to make excuses.”
So, we have this twofold invitation system.
First a banquet is announced.
These people all said, “Yes, I want to come.”
But when it’s announced the feast is ready – excuses come out of the woodwork.
“Sorry, I can’t come.
New field, new oxen, new wife.
Can’t come.”
This is an amazing turn.
Such a feast by a very rich man might have been the event of a lifetime for some -- certainly a major highlight.
Like being invited to the White House for dinner.
Nobody’d turn that down.
Not only would it be highly offensive to the president, but you’d be missing out on something very special.
And the excuses are so flimsy.
V. 18, “I have bought a field, and I must go out and see it.”
Really?!
You wouldn’t have examined the field before you bought it?
V. 19, “I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I go to examine them.”
You bought these oxen without seeing them?
That would be like Mike or Dan or Lynn buying a new John Deere sight unseen.
Not going to happen, is it?
V. 20, “I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come.”
Really?!
You could not bring your wife along?
Do you see the point?
These excuses are trivial and they offend the Master of the banquet who rightfully “became angry.”
So what point is Jesus making here?
If the Master is God the Father and the servant is Jesus; the banquet is the kingdom and those invited were initially the Jewish people and by application now us, then what is the point?
First, the banquet is ready.
All that is necessary for our entrance into and enjoyment of the kingdom of God was accomplished by the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
We don’t merit the invitation; it comes to us by grace and right now – we can enter the kingdom.
It just takes humble repentance.
The full expression of the kingdom comes later, but it begins now.
The invitation is now.
Paul reminds us in II Cor 6:2, “Behold, now is the favorable time; behold, now is the day of salvation.”
Jesus says in John 5:24, “Truly, truly (two “truly’s” meaning this is critical), I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life.
He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life.”
Not will have eternal life someday but has it now.
The banquet is ready.
Now is the time to come.
Second, those giving lame excuses are not totally antagonistic.
They are not outright rejecters – not the people who say, “Oh, Christianity, what a lot of bunk!” That’s not these people.
Initially they said they wanted to come.
I call them “conditional accepters.”
The start out believing.
They start out saying, “Oh, sure.
I’ll come.
Count me in.”
But in the end, they don’t come.
They get distracted -- caught up in their own agenda.
They want to pursue their own ends, and in the end, they don’t come!
It’s a tragedy, Beloved.
And some of us here this morning are living out this tragedy.
Me is more important than He.
Jesus described these people in the parable of the sower.
Remember?
The seed (the Word) was sown in various soil types.
One had a lot of thorns.
The seed started to grow, but got choked out by the thorns.
Jesus interpreted in Luke 8:14, “14 And as for what fell among the thorns, they are those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by the cares and riches and pleasures of life, and their fruit does not mature.”
That’s exactly who Jesus is describing here.
They’re not flaming unbelievers.
They want the kingdom of God.
But they want the kingdom of self more.
They are more taken by this world than they are the next.
The cares and riches and pleasures and relationships of this life mean more to them than Jesus.
Are you getting the picture?
But there is a third point Jesus is making which is -- this a really stupid decision.
The decision to hold this world tighter than Jesus is extremely near-sighted.
The flimsiness of excuses make that point.
It would be like being invited to William and Kate’s wedding and saying, “Like to come, but I have a haircut appointment that day.”
Really!? But, to care for things more than Christ is just as dumb!
The parable shows it.
How stupid these people are.
How offensive to the Master.
They are turning down so much to get so little.
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