Excuses, Excuses, Excuses (Luke 14:16-24)
“...how strait is the gate, and compressed the way that is leading to the life, and few are those finding it!” (Matt 7:14 YLT)
In this parable of our Lord Jesus Christ, a man made supper and invited guests. When things were ready, he sent his servants with the customary second summons. But those invited did not want to come. They claimed they were busy doing other things, things they clearly regarded as more important and worthwhile. The excuses were actually stupid and frivolous. One had bought a field and must see it. Do you find this excuse to ring true? Who can possibly buy land without inspecting it first? The next had bought oxen and must try them out. How can a farmer buy stock before he had seen and tested it? What a confession of incompetence! The third man had what seemed a better case, for the Law of Moses gave certain liberties for a year for the just married (Deuteronomy 24:5). These excuses were offered politely: no insults, no rudeness displayed. That is the frivolous attitude most people have towards God’s word and the gospel of Jesus Christ. So the host sent out into the lanes of the city for “the poor and maimed and cripple and blind”. When there was still room, he sent his servants out yet again, to the highways to gather in others, that the house might be filled. At the same time he declares, “None of these men who were invited shall taste my supper” (Luke 14:24).
That is the calamity we all face: to have the chance to be saved and yet to refuse the opportunity. The kingdom is like a feast (Isaiah 25:6).God had invited the Israelites / Jews as His guests, through the mouths of the prophets. The Israelites / Jews did not only show contempt to their Host, but also displayed a lack of good manners. The Host was not deviating from His purpose. The men were unworthy- so the streets and the lanes had to be searched for the poor and blind.
The rulers rejected God’s invitation. It is the publicans and sinners who responded to the second invitation. The highways are manifestly the offer of salvation to the Gentiles, as Paul declares to the Jews of Antioch in Pisidia (Acts 13:16).
Those who were invited but refused, will one day answer for their refusal. “Enter ye in at the straight gate.” It’s a call to make a choice, to separate from the crowd that drifts along the broad way. The broad way is easy and leads to destruction. So choosing the narrow road is an act of will. The thought of a destiny based on a choice made once and for all and adhered to continually occurs in Moses’ writings concerning the Messiah (Deuteronomy 30:11-13) and in Paul’s exposition (Romans 10). “I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live” (Deuteronomy 30:19). The choice of the way now, determines the issues of life or death.
Bro Gordon Ochieng (Madiany, Kenya)
