We have been watching political candidates use the familiar tactic of changing the subject when reporters try to pin them down. When a touchy subject is brought up and a straight answer is sought, the politician says, “let’s talk about this” and then moves into one of their worn-out speeches. Politicians are always concerned about protecting their carefully crafted images.
Jesus, the teacher, used such a tactic with some of his audiences. He didn’t do this, however, to protect his reputation but to make God’s truth known to the people (Luke 14:15-24).
“One of those at table with Jesus said to him, ‘Blessed is the one who will dine in the Kingdom of God.’”
This sounds like an innocuous statement. Did the person have heaven in mind? Did they expect Jesus to say, “You’re right. It will be so wonderful in heaven sitting down at God’s table and having a good time. When I take over as Messiah, you will all dine with me in the Kingdom of God.”
Instead, Jesus used a politician’s tactic. Since they wanted to talk about dining in the Kingdom of God, he picked up on the topic and gave an extremely unsettling message.
“A man gave a great dinner to which he invited many. When the time for the dinner came, he dispatched his servant to say to those invited, ‘Come, everything is now ready.’”
So far so good. The great dinner must refer to the banquet in heaven. Everyone is waiting to be invited, and the invitation is given. Surely the next part of the story will tell how people dropped everything and flocked into the man’s huge dining room.
It didn’t turn out this way, however.
“But one by one, they all began to excuse themselves. The first said to him, ‘I have purchased a field and must go to examine it; I ask you, consider me excused.’ And another said, ‘I have purchased five yoke of oxen and am on my way to evaluate them; I ask you, consider me excused.’ And another said, ‘I have just married a woman, and therefore I cannot come.’”
There is an unexpected twist to the story. Instead of saying “yes” to the invitation, they began to come up with legitimate excuses for turning down the offer. One had some property to investigate, another had a business purchase pressing on him, and another had to spend the day with his new wife. These are all good excuses. Haven’t we all used them? Sure, they wanted to participate in the great dinner, but their own agenda was more important. They didn’t say, “I don’t like the man who is having the dinner, and don’t want to spend the day with him.” Rather, they gave polite, reasonable excuses for turning down the invitation.
When the master heard this, instead of begging the excuse-markers to change their minds, he wrote them off.
“The master, then ordered the servant. ‘God out into the highways and hedgerows and make people come in that my home may be filled. For, I tell you, none of those men who were invited will taste my dinner.’”
The man wanted his home to “be filled.” He was a generous man and wanted to bless as many people as he could. Since his so-called “friends” would not come, he sought out strangers. His friends would never receive another invitation.
Jesus was talking about the people sitting at table with him. They assumed that they were the privileged ones who would sit at the head table in God’s Kingdom. Little did they realize that by refusing to accept Jesus, they were turning down God’s “now” invitation to them. They were the excuse-makers in the parable.
Jesus extends his invitation to us now. We have to make a choice. Being a privileged person has nothing to do with it. Rather we must examine our priorities. What has the stronger pull on us, our property, our possessions, our families or following Jesus? Are we putting off Jesus’ call today?
Come Holy Spirit free me from all attachments that keep me from saying “yes” to Jesus.
