Read: Luke 14:15-24
I tell you, none of those men who were invited shall taste my banquet. (v. 24)
“Blessed is everyone who will eat bread in the kingdom of God!” (v. 15). These are the words of one of the guests at the Pharisee’s dinner—and they are true words. But who will eat this banquet? And who will be disappointed on that day?
Throughout this meal the Pharisees showed their lack of compassion for the suffering, their lack of understanding of Scripture, and their lack of humility in general. As the dinner progressed, Jesus shared a parable to warn them they were in danger of missing out on the kingdom of God. In this story, the man who gave the banquet represents God; those who were first invited to dine represent the Jews—specifically, the Pharisees. When the feast day arrived, those invited were caught up in trivial matters and disrespected the host, giving poor excuses for not attending. So others were invited in their place—the poor, the disabled, and the “riff-raff” from outside of the city (representing Gentiles). Jesus was warning the Pharisees that the kingdom would be filled, but they might be excluded because of their pride and their rejection of God’s invitation. Their refusal to consider Jesus as the Messiah would leave them outside of the kingdom.
Is anything hindering you from the kingdom today? Those who humble themselves and come to Jesus in faith and repentance will be the blessed ones—those who will “eat bread in the kingdom of God!”
As you pray, thank God for his kingdom now and still to come.
About the Author
Laura Sweet
Laura N. Sweet is a wife, mother, grandmother, and former Christian school teacher from Midland, Michigan. She writes devotional material for both adults and children, and her work has appeared in more than a dozen publications.
