Grace that offends
The Great Banquet
Also called The Great Supper, The Invited Guests
Invited guests all make excuses, so the host fills the table with strangers off the street.
What it turns on
The excuses are all reasonable. A field, some oxen, a new marriage. That is what makes it sting.
15When one of those who sat at the table with him heard these things, he said to him, “Blessed is he who will feast in God’s Kingdom!”
16But he said to him, “A certain man made a great supper, and he invited many people.
17He sent out his servant at supper time to tell those who were invited, ‘Come, for everything is ready now.’
18They all as one began to make excuses. “The first said to him, ‘I have bought a field, and I must go and see it. Please have me excused.’
19“Another said, ‘I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I must go try them out. Please have me excused.’
20“Another said, ‘I have married a wife, and therefore I can’t come.’
21“That servant came, and told his lord these things. Then the master of the house, being angry, said to his servant, ‘Go out quickly into the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in the poor, maimed, blind, and lame.’
22“The servant said, ‘Lord, it is done as you commanded, and there is still room.’
23“The lord said to the servant, ‘Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled.
24For I tell you that none of those men who were invited will taste of my supper.’ ”
World English Bible, public domain. Read the whole chapter →
More on grace that offends
The Workers in the VineyardWorkers hired at dawn and workers hired an hour before quitting time are paid the same.The Wedding FeastA king invites guests to his son wedding. They refuse, so he opens it to everyone.The Two SonsA father asks two sons to work. One says no and goes. One says yes and does not.The Wicked TenantsTenants beat the servants sent to collect rent, then kill the owner son.