Excuses

Steve Nale

"And they all with one consent began to make excuse."

THE parable of the great supper is recorded in Luke 14: 15-24. Jesus had just given a discourse on the virtue of humility and deference to others. He had reminded his audience that the reward for kindness extended to others will come at the resurrection of the just, not at the reciprocal invitation of a guest who feels obligated to return the favor. The reward comes through the invitation of the Lord to the greatest feast of all, in His kingdom in heaven, throughout eternity. Whether to accept such an undeserving invitation would seem to be a "no brainer" to the casual observer. Would you pass up such an invitation?

The invitations were prepared and sent to many (verse 16). The invitation was to supper and was extended at suppertime (verse 17). The invitees should have been hungry and ready to accept. The food was on the table and ready to be consumed. However, none of those who received the invitation accepted! But they did have (good?) excuses! One had to check out a piece of ground he had just bought, at suppertime. Another had to test five yoke of oxen he had just bought, at suppertime. Another had married a wife, at suppertime? In each instance that which the person "had to do" did not have to be done at suppertime! The first individual should have evaluated his land acquisition before purchasing it, not at suppertime. The second should have evaluated the work ability of the oxen before buying them, not at suppertime. As for the one who had married a wife (when he married her is not stated), why not bring her to supper?

You will recall the fate of these folks; not one tasted of the supper! Rather those who were not so busy, the poor, the crippled, the lame and the blind were brought in to fill the banquet hall. A second invitation went out to the "highways and hedges" in order to fill the hall to capacity, leaving no room for the original invitees.

Many excuses are offered today for not obeying the gospel, for not attending all of the assemblies of the local church, for not studying the Bible, for not inviting others to services, for not participating in the work of the local church (gospel meetings, VBS, singings, Bible classes, group meetings, etc.), for not supporting the preaching of truth, for not taking advantage of every opportunity for feasting on the spiritual food the elders try to put on the table.

Are you guilty of making such excuses? If so, turn from that. Remember, it's suppertime.

Let's eat!