Luke 14:16
But he said to him, “A man once gave a great banquet and invited many.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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Luke 14:16
But he said to him, “A man once gave a great banquet and invited many.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This page isn't yet indexed by search engines.
This parable begins not with a grand pronouncement, but with the simple act of a man preparing a meal and inviting guests. Notice the emphasis on "a certain man" and "many" – this isn't just any dinner, it's a significant event with a large, open invitation, setting the stage for the unexpected ways God's invitation unfolds.
Jesus is at a dinner party hosted by a Pharisee, and after teaching about humility and hospitality, one of the guests exclaims how blessed anyone will be to eat in God's kingdom. Jesus responds with a parable about a great banquet, explaining that God has prepared a feast for many, but the invited guests have refused to come.
Imagine receiving an invitation to the most amazing feast ever! This parable starts with a generous host preparing an incredible spread. What does this tell us about God's heart?
Jesus begins this parable by painting a picture of abundance and generosity. The "great supper" isn't just a meal; it represents God's provision for salvation and abundant life. The host, who is God, has poured immense resources into preparing this feast. This isn't a meager offering, but something grand, inviting many to share in its richness. This highlights God's desire to lavish His goodness upon us, not out of obligation, but out of His overflowing love and a desire to share His joy.
The host didn't just prepare the feast; he actively invited people! Who were these first guests, and what does their invitation signify?
The parable immediately tells us that the host 'invited many.' In the context of Jesus' teaching, this initial, widespread invitation primarily refers to the Jewish people. They were the chosen nation, to whom God revealed Himself and offered the promises of salvation through His covenant. This wasn't a small, exclusive gathering at first, but a broad call extended to a whole people. It signifies God's established relationship with Israel and His initial outreach to them through prophets and the Law, setting the stage for the Messiah's arrival.
Understand the original words
deipnon · Greek Noun
A feast or large celebratory meal, often used metaphorically in Scripture to represent the joy, fellowship, and abundance of the Kingdom of God and the Messianic age.
This parable, spoken by Jesus while dining at a Pharisee's house, reflects the ongoing invitation of God to salvation through the Gospel, an invitation initially extended to Israel and then, due to rejection, opened to all nations.
c. 30 AD— this verse
Jesus' Ministry and Teaching
Jesus travels and teaches throughout Galilee and Judea, sharing parables and calling people to the Kingdom of God. This teaching occurs during a time of Roman occupation and religious tension.
c. 25-35 AD
Early Apostolic Preaching
Following Jesus' ascension, the apostles begin to preach the Gospel, initially focusing on the Jewish people as the primary recipients of God's invitation to salvation.
c. 40-60 AD
Expansion of the Gospel
The message of salvation, symbolized by the great banquet, begins to be extended to the Gentiles as many Jews reject the invitation.
c. 64 AD
Destruction of Jerusalem
The Roman destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple signifies a major turning point, representing a judgment on those who rejected God's call and a disruption for the Jewish people.
barnesLuke 14:16: "Then said he unto him, A certain man made a great supper, and bade many:"
A great supper - Or great feast. It is said to be "great" on account of the number who were invited. Bade many - Invited many beforehand. There is little difficulty in understanding this parable. The man who made the supper is, without doubt, designed to represent God; the supper, the provisions which he has made for the salvation of people; and the invitation, the offers which he made to people, particularly…
vincentLuke 14:16: "Then said he unto him, A certain man made a great supper, and bade many:"
Made (ἐποίει)Imperfect, was making. His preparations were in progress. A definite act among these preparations is described by the aorist, he bade (ἐκάλεσεν), the technical word for inviting to a festival. See Matthew 22:3; John 2:2.Sent his servant"If a sheikh, bey, or emeer invites, he always sends a servant to call you at the proper time. This servant often repeats the very formula mentioned in Luke 14…
This parable begins not with a grand pronouncement, but with the simple act of a man preparing a meal and inviting guests. Notice the emphasis on "a certain man" and "many" – this isn't just any dinner, it's a significant event with a large, open invitation, setting the stage for the unexpected ways God's invitation unfolds.
Jesus is at a dinner party hosted by a Pharisee, and after teaching about humility and hospitality, one of the guests exclaims how blessed anyone will be to eat in God's kingdom. Jesus responds with a parable about a great banquet, explaining that God has prepared a feast for many, but the invited guests have refused to come.
Jesus is at a dinner party hosted by a Pharisee, and after teaching about humility and hospitality, one of the guests exclaims how blessed anyone will be to eat in God's kingdom. Jesus responds with a parable about a great banquet, explaining that God has prepared a feast for many, but the invited guests have refused to come.
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"But he said to him, “A man once gave a great banquet and invited many." — This parable begins not with a grand pronouncement, but with the simple act of a man preparing a meal and inviting guests. Notice the emphasis on "a certain man" and "many" – this isn't just any di…