Where are the people?

Where are the people?

15 Now when one of those who sat at the table with Him heard these things, he said to Him, “Blessed is he who shall eat bread in the kingdom of God!” 16 Then He said to him, “A certain man gave a great supper and invited many, 17 and sent his servant at supper time to say to those who were invited,

‘Come, for all things are now ready.’ 18 But they all with one accord began to make excuses. The first said to him, ‘I have bought a piece of ground, and I must go and see it. I ask you to have me excused.’ 19 And another said, ‘I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I am going to test them. I ask you to have me excused.’ 20 Still another said, ‘I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come.’ 21 So that servant came and reported these things to his master. 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 here the poor and the maimed and the lame and the blind.’

22 And the servant said, ‘Master, it is done as you commanded, and still there is room.’ 23 Then the master said to the servant, ‘Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled. 24 For I say to you that none of those men who were invited shall taste my supper.’”

This story is primarily about the Jews welcoming the Gentiles into the Kingdom of God • The Jews considered themselves the privileged ones who would sit with God at table in Eternity. • God had made Covenants with their ancestors • They knew they were God’s “chosen people” • They knew the scriptures and tried to follow them • If my people will not join me, I will go get others who will Last Week

Where do we get the people? • 23 ‘Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled. NKJV • 23 “Then the master told his servant, ‘Go out to the roads and country lanes and compel them to come in, so that my house will be full. NIV

Jesus crafted his stories • Four groups of people • Those who had been invited • Those on the streets and lanes of the city • Poor and crippled • Blind and lame • Highways • Hedges Every element of a story has significance

Highways • Travelers • Merchants • Foreigners • People with different customs • People used to different foods • People displaced • People fleeing something • People who are vulnerable

Hedges • Outlying areas • Places between civilization and city • Farmers • Those who lurk • Those who were close to town but not quite inside • They live in the margins • They hide themselves • The lepers, the shunned

Those from the city • The blind, crippled, lame, etc. • The wealth is in the city • The beggars • The man by the pool of Siloam • The 2 men by the temple gate • Those who are unable to help themselves • Those unable to better their lives

The Close- Those invited • The wealthy • The “in” crowd • The family • The middle • They have problems • They haven’t been healed • They are perplexed with life • Those far off • Problems are huge • Unaware of the party

The Far off • We evaluate people based on what they say, how they act. • “That person isn’t interested” • We don’t see the heart • God orchestrates interactions • Don’t write off • the foreigner • The one just passing through • The angry • The avowed atheist • The “sailor”

The Middle (the hiding) • The one’s who have been shunned • Those who are repulsive (leper) • The one’s afraid to show their face • The common person • The “not very religious” • “I’m agnostic” • “but when I am in trouble I find myself praying to God for help”

The close • This is a parable told about welcoming the Gentiles • The new testament says over and over “whosoever.” • The person in church • The person in the family • The person with time for everything else except God • The wealthy

God wants everyone at His Table • Far off? • Middle? • Close? • If you have already been drawn in… Where were you? • If you are praying for someone to come… • If you are waiting to be drawn in/ invited… So What?

Where are the people?