Please Excuse Me

Luke 14:15-24 NIV When one of those at the table with him heard this, he said to Jesus, "Blessed is the man who will eat at the feast in the kingdom of God." (16) Jesus replied: "A certain man was preparing a great banquet and invited many guests. (17) At the time of the banquet he sent his servant to tell those who had been invited, 'Come, for everything is now ready.' (18) 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.' (19) Another said, 'I have just bought five yoke of oxen, and I'm on my way to try them out. Please excuse me.' (20) Still another said, 'I just got married, so I can't come.' (21) The servant came back and reported this 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.' (22) 'Sir,' the servant said, 'what you ordered has been done, but there is still room.' (23) Then the master told his servant, 'Go out to the roads and country lanes and make them come in, so that my house will be full. (24) I tell you, not one of those men who were invited will get a taste of my banquet.' "

Excuses.

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

I have just bought five yoke of oxen, and I’m on my way to try them out.  Please excuse me.

I just got married, so I can’t come.

Please excuse me.

 It’s one thing to be invited to a banquet.  It’s another thing to accept the invitation, and attend it.  If we’re invited and are not interested, or feel that the banquet is not that important enough, we will always find an excuse.

The Messiah was with His people. He was inviting them to the kingdom of God.  But they all had their excuses.

So why invite the poor, the crippled, the blind and the lame?  These are those who know they are not worthy to attend a banquet, and yet receive an invitation from the King Himself.  And they have no excuse whatsoever, for they have nothing in this world.  So they accept the invitation.

 It’s a common scenario even today.  Many, through the gospel, are invited to the kingdom of God, through belief and faith in Jesus Christ.  But there are so many excuses.

It’s a common answer today.  Many, through the gospel, have been invited to the banquet in the kingdom of God.  But they always find a reason to decline the invitation.  There is always an excuse.  They don’t feel the need to attend.

But there are those who will respond.  These are the “poor”.  Not the poor materially, but the poor “in spirit”, who know they are not worthy of an invitation, and who have no excuse to hold on to.  When they hear the invitation of the King, they humbly accept.

 And when these “poor” accept the invitation, they become disciples.  These disciples become a people without excuse, as they continue to follow their King – the Lord Jesus.

 Luke 14:25-27 NIV Large crowds were traveling with Jesus, and turning to them he said: (26) If anyone comes to me and does not hate his father and mother, his wife and children, his brothers and sisters--yes, even his own life--he cannot be my disciple. (27) And anyone who does not carry his cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.

Someone who has been graciously invited to the banquet of the kingdom is not just enjoying the banquet, but now belongs to the kingdom.  He is now a disciple of the King.  He now follows Him.  And from that time on there is no one more important in his/her life than the King who has graciously brought them into His kingdom.  And so he/she follows Him, walks with Him, serves Him.

No excuses.

It is this love, this obedience, this allegiance to Jesus that puts all other people, all other things, in our life so far apart from Him.  We love the Lord so much that it looks like we hate them.  This is not promoting hatred towards our family, or others.  We are to love one another. But, when it comes to our relationship with God there should be no opposition, no rival, no equal.  Not even our husband, wife, children, parents, and, yes, EVEN OUR OWN LIFE.  We become willing to carry our own cross and follow Jesus.

No excuses.

We may be believe that we have accepted the invitation to the banquet in the kingdom of God, through our faith in Jesus as our Savior.  But, are we making excuses with regards to following Him?  The invitation to the kingdom is not just about a banquet, but it is also about being a disciple, following Him.

Is there a field we have just bought?

Is there a yoke of oxen we have bought to work it and earn from it?

Is there a relationship that stops us from following our Lord with our whole heart?

 

Are we still making excuses?