June 16, 2026
Rejecting God - Part 2
Luke 14:16-20
06/16/2026
16 But he said to him, ``A man once gave a great
banquet and invited many.
17 And at the time for the banquet he sent his
servant to say to those who had been invited,
`Come, for everything is now ready.'
18 But they all alike began to make excuses. The
first said to him, `I have bought a field, and I
must go out and see it. Please have me excused.'
19 And another said, `I have bought five yoke of
oxen, and I go to examine them. Please have me
excused.'
20 And another said, `I have married a wife, and
therefore I cannot come.' (ESV)
Our prayer this week acknowledges our selfish desires which
pull us away from God's grace and love. Only as the Holy Spirit
grants us wisdom and faith can we accept His invitation to dine
in the kingdom of God.
O Lord, since You never fail to help and govern those
whom You nurture in Your steadfast fear and love, work
in us a perpetual fear and love of Your holy name.
Jesus was at a banquet when one of the guests said,
``Blessed is everyone who will eat bread in the kingdom of God.''
But [Jesus] said to him, ``A man once gave a great
banquet and invited many. And at the time for the
banquet he sent his servant to say to those who had
been invited, `Come, for everything is now ready.' But
they all alike began to make excuses. The first said to
him, `I have bought a field, and I must go out and see
it. Please have me excused.' And another said, `I have
bought five yoke of oxen, and I go to examine them.
Please have me excused.' And another said, `I have
married a wife, and therefore I cannot come.'
Who were the men invited to the banquet in the parable?
They were members of the religious establishment, the children of
Israel, who turned their backs on God. They are all who ignore
the Church today, who ignore their own sin and their need for a
Redeemer. The men who rejected the invitation prized wealth, or
work, or family and leisure above God. Those are the same
excuses we hear today.
May our Lord grant us faith to fear, love, and trust in Him
above all things. Amen.