Luke Part 2 Week 27

Day 1 

RECEIVE 

Luke 14:15 

¹⁵ Hearing this, a man sitting at the table with Jesus exclaimed, “What a blessing it will be to attend a banquet in the Kingdom of God!” 

Jesus had told about being willing to invite the undeserving to a meal. It is a reminder that all people are undeserving of what Jesus did for them when He died on the cross to pay the penalty for their sin. A man at the table expressed appreciation to a time of breaking bread in the Kingdom of God.  

REFLECT 

Do you realize all of us were undeserving and unlovable when Jesus died for us? 

RESPOND 

Join with a friend in reading Romans 5:6-8 that tells what everyone was like when Jesus died for them. Form a testimony of less than a minute in length to tell others the change Jesus has made in your life. Memorize this testimony so you never have to wonder what to say when you have opportunity to give a stranger your testimony.  

Day 2 

RECEIVE 

Luke 14:16-20 

¹⁶ Jesus replied with this story: “A man prepared a great feast and sent out many invitations. ¹⁷ When the banquet was ready, he sent his servant to tell the guests, ‘Come, the banquet is ready.’ ¹⁸ But they all began making excuses. One said, ‘I have just bought a field and must inspect it. Please excuse me.’ ¹⁹ Another said, ‘I have just bought five pairs of oxen, and I want to try them out. Please excuse me.’ ²⁰ Another said, ‘I just got married, so I can’t come.’” 

After a person expressed appreciation of being able to attend the banquet in the Kingdom of God, Jesus told this story. A banquet was ready and a servant was sent out to invite people. They all made excuses why they were not able to come and wanted to be excused. Some excuses seemed reasonable but the man who prepared the feast was not pleased.  

REFLECT 

Think of Jesus inviting others to trust in Him as Savior because He died for them. Do you think He will be pleased when they reject His invitation to trust in Him after all He did for them? 

RESPOND 

Read Romans 10:9-11 to see that anyone who trusts in Jesus will never be disgraced. See also verses 14-15 in the same chapter. Every believer should live a good and honorable life, but people will not know they need to trust in Jesus unless some believer says something and tells them the need to trust in Jesus to have their sin forgiven and for them to inherit eternal life. Talk with a friend about the need to tell others about this. 

Day 3 

RECEIVE 

Luke 14:21-22 

²¹ “The servant returned and told his master what they had said. His master was furious and said, ‘Go quickly into the streets and alleys of the town and invite the poor, the crippled, the blind, and the lame.’ ²² After the servant had done this, he reported, ‘There is still room for more.’” 

The master was furious that those who were invited rejected the invitation. He sent the servant to invite those who could never repay his hospitality. Even after these accepted the invitation there was still room for more. This is a picture of Jesus inviting whosoever will to come to Him for salvation.  

REFLECT 

Do you see Jesus’ story as emphasizing what He said earlier about inviting others who could not invite you back?   

RESPOND 

With a friend read Luke 14:12-14 to see how these verses fit with what Jesus told the host of the dinner. This shows how important Jesus considered His comments to be in that He underscored them with a story.  

Day 4 

RECEIVE 

Luke 14:23-24 

²³ So his master said, ‘Go out into the country lanes and behind the hedges and urge anyone you find to come, so that the house will be full. ²⁴ For none of those I first invited will get even the smallest taste of my banquet.’” 

Notice that the master wanted his house to be full of guests. Those who had been invited but chose not to come would not even get “the smallest taste” of his banquet. This story was to teach the lesson that those who reject Jesus would not be at the marriage supper, or feast, of the Lamb (see Revelation 19:9). 

REFLECT 

Think of what it would like to be shut out of all fellowship with the Lord.  

RESPOND 

It’s impossible for limited minds to comprehend what eternity will be like. It is certain, however, that those who do not trust in Jesus for salvation in this life will be eternally separated from God then. Visit with a friend about this awful destiny of your loved ones who do not believe in Jesus for salvation. 

Day 5 

RECEIVE 

Luke 14:25-27 

²⁵ A large crowd was following Jesus. He turned around and said to them, ²⁶ “If you want to be my disciple, you must, by comparison, hate everyone else—your father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters—yes, even your own life. Otherwise, you cannot be my disciple. ²⁷ And if you do not carry your own cross and follow me, you cannot be my disciple.” 

Hebrew idioms were ones of contrast. One’s love for family should seem like hate in comparison to one’s love for the Lord Jesus. This should be true of “even your own life.” The cross in Jesus’ time was a symbol of death. It should be so important to believe in Jesus that one would be willing to give his or her life to become His follower. 

REFLECT 

It is hard to think about what would be so important it would be worth dying for, but your eternal salvation is.  

RESPOND 

Referring to loving Jesus and others, examine what Jesus said when He was asked about the greatest commandment. Read Matthew 22:34-40. Visit with a friend about how different the world would be today if people obeyed these two commandments. Are you obeying them?