Luke 14:12

Luke 14:12 says, 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 recompence be made thee.  Jesus told the Pharisee that invited Him to eat to not just invite family and friends or rich neighbors who could reciprocate when he invited someone to eat. .  This is what we often do, though, and if they don't invite us later, we no longer want to invite them.  Verse thirteen adds, But when thou makest a feast, call the poor, the maimed, the lame, the blind: Jesus said to call those in need to eat.  This is especially true when we call people to God's table to share His blessings.  Though we should invite family and friends, it is just as important that we invite those who are in great need.  Verse fourteen continues, And thou shalt be blessed; for they cannot recompense thee: for thou shalt be recompensed at the resurrection of the just.  Jesus said if the Pharisee did so that he would be blessed at the resurrection, because he would be following God's guidance.  Verse fifteen states, 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.  One of those eating with them said blessed is he that eats the bread of the kingdom of God, and this is always true. Verse sixteen declares, Then said he unto him, A certain man made a great supper, and bade many:  Jesus began to tell a a parable about a rich man who prepared a great feast.  Verse seventeen adds, And sent his servant at supper time to say to them that were bidden, Come; for all things are now ready.  When the feast was ready, the man sent his servant to call those who had been invited.  God sent His Servant Jesus Christ to invite us all to feast at His table if we put our faith in Him.  Verse eighteen continues, 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.  One by one, those invited began to make excuses why they couldn't attend. Verse nineteen continues, And another said, I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I go to prove them: I pray thee have me excused.  The first two said they had business to attend to and asked to be excused.  Sometimes today people let material things keep them from coming to God's table.  Verse twenty concludes, And another said, I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come.  A third man said he had married and could not come.  Family was coming between the man who had prepared the feast for him and the man who was invited.   We cannot allow family to keep us from coming to God and enjoying the feast of salvation that He has prepared for us.  Verse twenty-one says, So that servant came, and shewed 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.  When the servant returned and told the master what had happened, he was angry and told the servant to go out into the streets and bring those in need to the feast.  The people of Isreal were invited to feast at God's table by accepting the invitation to come from His Servant Jesus Christ, and they found excuses not to come, so the invitation went to the Gentiles.  Verse twenty-two adds, And the servant said, Lord, it is done as thou hast commanded, and yet there is room.  After the servant did as the master instructed him to do, he said there was still room at the table, and no matter how many people come to feast at God's table, there will always be room for more.  Verse twenty-three states, 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.  The master told the servant to go out into the highways and hedges and compel the people to come.  Though we cannot compel people to come to salvation and then feast at God's table, it is our responsibility to go out into the highways and hedges and invite them.  Verse twenty-four adds, For I say unto you, That none of those men which were bidden shall taste of my supper.  The master said those who were invited and rejected the invitation would never eat at his table.  If we reject God's invitation to come to His table through putting our faith in His servant Jesus Christ, we will never feast at His table.