Parables:

The Bridegroom’s Guests &

The Great Banquet!

MATT 9:15; MARK 2:19; AND LUKE 5:34

AND LUKE 14:14-24

Parables?

What are parables?

An earthly story that has a heavenly meaning

Matthew, Mark, and Luke have a total of 42

parables. Some are more than one Gospel.

Matthew = 27; Mark = 10; and Luke = 33. John is

called a supplemental gospel.

“The Bridegroom’s Guests” are in

three of the gospels:

Matt 9: 15; Mark 2: 19 & 20; and Luke 5: 34

says: “How can the guests of the

bridegroom fast while he is with them? They

cannot, so long as they have him with them.

But the time will come when the bridegroom

will be taken from them and on that day

they will fast.”

Let’s look at the context:

Matt 9: 1 says Jesus was in His hometown = Nazareth in the

region of Galilee

V16: John the Baptizer’s disciples stated that they and the

Pharisees fast often… “But, Your disciples do not fast?”

Jesus replied, “How can the guests of the bridegroom fast

while he is with them? They cannot as long as they have him

with them.” – Jesus is the Bridegroom and He was still with

them –mourning at a wedding is a great insult. This was a

time to treasure as the Groom prepared for His Bride.

“But, the time will come when the Bridegroom will be

taken from them, and on that day they will fast.”

Jesus was talking about His death…He will no longer

physically be with His disciples –and they will learn to

fast and pray for the Holy Spirit’s guidance.

*An earthly story –relatable in real life situations BUT has

another meaning explaining Kingdom principles

Luke 14: 1 – 15 Sets the scene…Jesus is invited to a banquet at

a Pharisee’s home. One of the guests compares this banquet

with the banquet mentioned in Isaiah 25: 6 – the Messiah’s Bqt

Jesus replied, “A certain man was preparing a great banquet

and invited many guests. At the time of the banquet he sent his

servant to tell those who had been invited, ‘Come, for

everything is now ready.’

But they all alike began to make excuses. The first said, ‘I have

just bought a field and I must go and see it. Please excuse

me.’

Another said, ‘I have bought 5 yoke of oxen, and I’m now on

my way to try them out. Please excuse me’

Still another said, ‘I just got married, so I can’t come. Please

excuse me’

The servant came back and reported to his master. Then the

owner of the house became angry and ordered his servant,

‘Go out quickly into the streets and alleys of the town and bring

in the poor, the crippled, the blind and the lame.’

‘Sir’, the servant said, ‘what you ordered has been done, but

there is still room for more’.

Then the master told his servant, ‘Go out to the roads and

country lanes and compel them to come in, so that my house

will be full. I tell you, not one of those who were invited will get a

taste of my banquet.’”

What was the Kingdom meaning?

1. “A certain man was preparing a great banquet and

invited many guests” – “preparing” – Jesus was reflecting

on Isaiah 25: 6 –8

“V6 On this mountain the LORD Almighty will prepare a feast of rich

food for all peoples, … the best of meats and the finest of wines. 7 On this

mountain he will destroy the shroud that enfolds all peoples, the sheet

that covers all nations; 8 he will swallow up death forever.”

2. … “and invited many guests” = God’s call and desire that all

people would be saved. Invitations were done in 2 parts: first

the announcement then the actual “call to the table” – the

Banquet is ready…The announcement = OT prophesies

declaring salvation’s message and the call to the table = NT

Christ paying the price for our salvation –the banquet is ready

for you to come

3. “But they all alike began to make excuses…” The banquet was

treated with indifference –they made excuses not to come, to

decline the invitation was very disrespectful - “temporal good

is valued more than the Eternal”… The everyday meaningless

tasks were valued more than the eternal spiritual blessings…

4. “The first said, ‘I have just bought a field and I must go and

see it.’” - preoccupied with material goods

5. “Another said, ‘I have bought 5 yoke of oxen, and I’m now

on my way to try them out.’” – self interest and worth

significant money (like buying 5 Teslas)

6. Still another said, ‘I just got married, so I can’t come.’” The

invitation was treated as a bother, prioritizing personal desires

more that spiritual hunger…

The invited people did not value their invitation and the

significance of the banquet… “I can’t come” = self imposed

barriers…’Please excuse me’ = conscience decision

7. “Then the owner of the house became angry…” – Righteous

indignation – don’t they recognize their need and the provision

freely given to them? Matt 6 (Beattitudes) “Blessed are the

poor…” Blessed are you who recognize your need for Christ…

8. “Go out quickly into the streets and alleys of the town and

bring in the poor, the crippled, the blind and the lame.

‘Sir’, the servant said, ‘what you ordered has been done, but

there is still room for more’.

*Go to the streets and alley –still focused on the Jews

*Done! But there is still room for more! –Salvation is declared

opened for all who would believe in Jesus

9. “Then the master told his servant, ‘Go out to the roads and

country lanes and compel them to come in, so that my house

will be full.” A picture of the Great Commission (Matt 28) of

being sent to Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and to the ends of

the world… “roads and country lanes” = beyond the Jewish

nation, to the non-Jews/Gentiles. Jesus declared that

salvation is for all people who believe and obey His

teachings.

10. “compel them to come in” … let the Holy Spirit help you

understand the urgency that requires a response…

11. “I tell you, not one of those who were invited will get a

taste of my banquet.”

‘I tell you’ = voice of authority

‘not one of those who were invited’ = those who first heard

and rejected Christ and the gospel…

‘not one…will taste of my banquet’ = because of their refusal

to accept Jesus as their Savior … they will not taste of His

eternal goodness

This parable was about God’s love for all humanity, offering

salvation to all and anyone who would come through Jesus

AND justice/judgement for those who refuse His invitation…