Reflecting on Luke 14:16-24“Not one of those who were invited will get a taste of my banquet.” (Luke 14:24)
Jesus is speaking to the religious expert about the blessed at the feast.
The man assumed that they would be the blessed, because of their devotion.
Afterall, they are loyal children of Abraham, the invited guest of God.
Abraham was blessed… but not just to enjoy the blessing.
He was blessed to be a blessing to the nations (Genesis 12:1-3).
Abraham was a representative of all outsiders invited in to God’s family.
This is the blessing of God’s feast: outsiders graciously invited in!
We enjoy the feast when we welcome the outsiders to sit with us there.
Jesus invites the outsiders but the religious experts reject this.
“This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.” (Luke 15:1)
The loyal children of Abraham are disloyal to Abraham and his God.
And so are christians when they refuse to welcome sinners to Jesus’s table.
Jesus is clear; if you don’t share God’s grace, you won’t receive God’s grace.
Jesus looks at all of us pointedly: ‘if you want to be blessed, BE a blessing!’
The blessing of the feast is ONLY for those who share that blessing with others!
PRAYER
Lord Jesus, I was formed in a community that guarded the table. How could we have so totally missed the point? Help me reform my thinking to see the blessing of the table as something to be shared. Help me to welcome sinners like me and eat with them!
I am His servant. He has forgiven me and I need to forgive others. He has blessed me and I need to be a blessing unto others. I am Christian and I need to model that by my words and deeds. Others need to see Christ in me. I daily need to model Christ.