HH, Sir Godfrey Gregg D.Div

And sent his servant at supper time to say to them that were bidden, Come; for all things are now ready. 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. ²¹ 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.–Luke 14:17-18, 21

The Kingdom of God Is Like a Great Supper

Note first that the kingdom of God is described as a supper. That is the figure Christ chooses for it here. Now it is, of course, quite true that supper is an evening meal–it is the last meal of the day. And some have thought there was a hint in that of the final nature of the Gospel-call; as if God, who had fed the world with many an earlier banquet, closed His provision for the world’s day with Jesus. But it is better and safer to remember that this meal called supper was the principal meal. It was the chief hour for appeasing hunger; it was the chosen time of fellowship and rest. And all these features of the supper table, idealized long since in Psalm and prophecy, made it very expressive, for our Lord, of the rich and varied blessings of His kingdom. Had not He come to satisfy men’s cravings, to bring them to a knowledge of His Father? Had He not said, “Come unto Me and I will give you rest”? Was He not often speaking of His joy? It was such things that were symbolised for Christ under this figure of the Gospel supper. Neither the mustard-seed nor yet the hidden treasure more truly and fully conveyed the message of God’s grace, than did the great supper of our parable.

TO BE CONTINUED TOMORROW …..