But he said to him, “A man once gave a great banquet and invited many.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The parable begins not with an immediate invitation, but with the preparation of a great supper, highlighting that God's provision for salvation is a finished work, a reality ready to be entered into. This emphasizes that God's invitation is not tentative or uncertain, but stems from a completed plan and abundant provision.
But he said to him, “A man once gave a great banquet and invited many.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Jesus has just been dining at a Pharisee's house and offered some challenging advice on humility and choosing the lowest seat. One of the guests, hearing Jesus speak of blessings in God's kingdom, chimes in with a hopeful exclamation. Jesus then responds with a parable about a great banquet, where the initial invitations are declined by those who were supposed to attend, setting the stage for a surprising expansion of the guest list.
Imagine the finest meal you've ever had – a feast for royalty. Now, picture that scale magnified infinitely. This is what God is preparing.
Jesus begins this parable by painting a picture of incredible generosity. A 'great supper' isn't just a meal; it's a massive, meticulously prepared feast. This represents the Kingdom of God, the abundant provisions God has made for humanity's salvation and spiritual fulfillment.
Divine Abundance
This isn't a modest offering; it's 'great' because of the richness and completeness of what God provides: forgiveness, reconciliation, eternal life, and an intimate relationship with Him. It's a feast prepared with immense love and foresight, reflecting God's abundant nature.
Ongoing Preparation
The use of the imperfect tense for 'was making' suggests that the preparations were not a one-time event but an ongoing process, stretching from the earliest promises in Scripture right up to the present moment. God's plan for salvation has been in the works, drawing on eternal counsel and culminating in Christ.
Who gets invited to the best parties? In this story, it's not just a select few, but 'many.' But who are these 'many,' and why does it matter?
The parable immediately tells us that this lavish banquet is not for a private gathering. The host 'invited many.' This initial invitation has a primary historical meaning and a broader spiritual application.
The First Invitation: Israel
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Historically, this 'many' primarily refers to the people of Israel. God had chosen them, made promises, and sent prophets, essentially extending a formal invitation to partake in the blessings of His covenant and the coming salvation. They were the first recipients of God's direct overtures.
A Universal Reach
However, the invitation isn't limited to one group. The parable, as it unfolds, shows this invitation extends far beyond the initial recipients. It signifies God's desire to include all people, regardless of background, in His redemptive plan. 'Many' points to the breadth of God's grace, encompassing more than anyone might expect.
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, told during a meal with a Pharisee, echoes the ancient prophetic vision of a divine banquet and contrasts it with the reality of the Jewish leaders' rejection of Jesus' invitation to the Kingdom, foreshadowing the wider call to Gentiles.
c. 750 BC - 500 BC
Isaiah's Prophecy of a Great Feast
The prophet Isaiah spoke of a future time when the Lord would prepare a lavish banquet on Mount Zion, offering rich food and fine wine for all peoples. This established a powerful image of God's abundant provision for salvation.
c. 450 BC
Ezra and Nehemiah Rebuild Jerusalem
Following the return from Babylonian exile, Ezra and Nehemiah led the community in rebuilding the Temple and its worship. This period emphasized renewed covenant faithfulness and the reestablishment of God's people.
c. 20 BC - 1 BC
Herod the Great's Reign
Herod's reign saw significant building projects and Roman influence in Judea. While a time of relative peace and prosperity for some, it also involved political tension and a heavy tax burden on the populace.
c. AD 27-29
Jesus' Galilean Ministry
Jesus began teaching, healing, and gathering disciples, often in Galilean synagogues and homes. His message of the coming kingdom and his inclusive meals challenged religious and social norms.
c. AD 30— this verse
Jesus Attends a Pharisee's Banquet
Jesus is a guest at a banquet hosted by a Pharisee. During the meal, one of the guests expresses a desire to eat bread in the Kingdom of God, prompting Jesus to tell this parable.
c. AD 45-55
Paul's Missionary Journeys
The Apostle Paul traveled extensively, proclaiming the Gospel to both Jews and Gentiles, and establishing churches throughout the Roman Empire. This period saw the widespread invitation to the 'great supper' extended beyond Israel.
c. AD 70
Destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple
The Roman army destroyed Jerusalem and the Temple, marking a catastrophic end for the Jewish nation as it had been. This event underscored the rejection of God's invitation by many within Israel.
This passage describes a similar parable about a wedding feast, highlighting the King's invitation and the guests' refusal, mirroring the theme of God's invitation and human rejection.
Isaiah 25:6This prophetic passage speaks of a great banquet prepared by the Lord for all nations, beautifully prefiguring the spiritual feast of salvation offered in the Gospel.
Proverbs 9:2Wisdom herself has 'slaughtered her beasts' and 'mixed her wine,' personifying the divine invitation to a feast that resonates with the great banquet in Luke's parable.
Revelation 19:9This passage describes the 'marriage supper of the Lamb,' directly connecting the imagery of a great feast with the culmination of God's redemptive plan.
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…
The parable begins not with an immediate invitation, but with the preparation of a great supper, highlighting that God's provision for salvation is a finished work, a reality ready to be entered into. This emphasizes that God's invitation is not tentative or uncertain, but stems from a completed plan and abundant provision.
Jesus has just been dining at a Pharisee's house and offered some challenging advice on humility and choosing the lowest seat. One of the guests, hearing Jesus speak of blessings in God's kingdom, chimes in with a hopeful exclamation. Jesus then responds with a parable about a great banquet, where the initial invitations are declined by those who were supposed to attend, setting the stage for a surprising expansion of the guest list.
Jesus has just been dining at a Pharisee's house and offered some challenging advice on humility and choosing the lowest seat. One of the guests, hearing Jesus speak of blessings in God's kingdom, chimes in with a hopeful exclamation. Jesus then responds with a parable about a great banquet, where the initial invitations are declined by those who were supposed to attend, setting the stage for a surprising expansion of the guest list.
"But he said to him, “A man once gave a great banquet and invited many." — The parable begins not with an immediate invitation, but with the preparation of a great supper, highlighting that God's provision for salvation is a finished work, a reality ready to be entered in…
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Last reviewed October 2026