Parables Of Jesus Christ: The Great Supper
by Wayne Blank
See also 1 Year Holy Bible Reading Plan

In order to "watch" Him, the Messiah was invited to the house of a Pharisee for a Sabbath Day meal. Christ was also watching them, how they strove among themselves for the "high" places.

"14:1 And it came to pass, as he went into the house of one of the chief Pharisees [see also Was Paul Among Them?] to eat bread on the sabbath day, that they watched him. 14:2 And, behold, there was a certain man before him which had the dropsy. 14:3 And Jesus answering spake unto the lawyers and Pharisees, saying, Is it lawful to heal on the sabbath day? 14:4 And they held their peace. And he took him, and healed him, and let him go [see also Sabbath Healings];
14:5 And answered them, saying, Which of you shall have an ass or an ox fallen into a pit, and will not straightway pull him out on the sabbath day? 14:6 And they could not answer him again to these things.

14:7 And he put forth a parable to those which were bidden, when he marked how they chose out the chief rooms; saying unto them, 14:8 When thou art bidden of any man to a wedding, sit not down in the highest room; lest a more honourable man than thou be bidden of him; 14:9 And he that bade thee and him come and say to thee, Give this man place; and thou begin with shame to take the lowest room. 14:10 But when thou art bidden, go and sit down in the lowest room; that when he that bade thee cometh, he may say unto thee, Friend, go up higher: then shalt thou have worship in the presence of them that sit at meat with thee. 14:11 For whosoever exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted." (Luke 14:1-11 KJV)

"For whosoever exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted"

The Christ then gave a lesson on humility, a word which means "a lack of false pride" (see The Two Kinds Of Pride).

Following The Master
"14:12 Then said he also to him that bade him, When thou makest a dinner or a supper, call not thy friends, nor thy brethren, neither thy kinsmen, nor thy rich neighbours; lest they also bid thee again, and a recompense be made thee. 14:13 But when thou makest a feast, call the poor, the maimed, the lame, the blind: 14:14 And thou shalt be blessed; for they cannot recompense thee: for thou shalt be recompensed at the resurrection of the just. 14:15 And when one of them that sat at meat with him heard these things, he said unto him, Blessed is he that shall eat bread in the kingdom of God." (Luke 14:12-15 KJV)
Then, in view of how those who were first called to the LORD's service became lost in their own self-righteousness (see Did Jesus Break The Law?), and how "sinners" accepted the LORD's offer of salvation, the Messiah's parable of the great supper:

"14:16 Then said he unto him, A certain man made a great supper, and bade many: 14:17 And sent his servant at supper time to say to them that were bidden, Come; for all things are now ready.
14:18 And they all with one consent began to make excuse. The first said unto him, I have bought a piece of ground, and I must needs go and see it: I pray thee have me excused.

14:19 And another said, I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I go to prove them: I pray thee have me excused.

14:20 And another said, I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come.

14:21 So that servant came, and showed 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 hither the poor, and the maimed, and the halt, and the blind.

14:22 And the servant said, Lord, it is done as thou hast commanded, and yet there is room.

14:23 And the lord said unto the servant, Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled. 14:24 For I say unto you, That none of those men which were bidden shall taste of my supper." (Luke 14:16-24 KJV)

Fact Finder: From numerous other Scriptures, what else do we know about that coming wedding supper?
Listen to the Sermon The Divorce and Remarriage of Jesus Christ