Jesus told this parable about the great dinner to correct the false idea that all people would be present at the Messianic banquet, that the book of Revelation refers to as the marriage supper of the Lamb (Rev. 19:9)

The Jewish Pharisees saw themselves a few notches above the common Jewish people, and not even in the same league with pagan Gentiles. Jesus shows them that many of them would not be in the kingdom because they were refusing the Lord’s invitation. To their great surprise, many whom they assumed would not be there would in fact be there because they responded to the invitation. The last would be first and the first last (13:30). The answer to the question, “Who will be at God’s banquet in the kingdom?” is, those who respond personally to the invitation. To have dinner with Jesus in His kingdom, you must respond personally to His invitation.

Discussion Questions

1. Jesus seemed to ignore “politeness” at times to jar people out of their spiritual complacency. Should we do likewise? How?
2. If no one can come to Christ without the Father’s drawing him (John 6:44) should we appeal to lost people to come? Why?
3. How can we know if a person’s excuse for not receiving Christ is genuine or a smokescreen?
4. Jesus says, “Compel them to come in.” To what extent can we use persuasiveness or “sales techniques” in evangelism?