THE INVITATION TO THE HEAVENLY BANQUET

Luke 14:1-35

Key Verse: 14:23

* THE PHARISEE'S BANQUET (1-14)

1. What was the time and place? Who were the people present? Why was Jesus being carefully watched?

2. How patient had Jesus usually been? (2Pe3:9b; 2Ti2:25,26) Why did Jesus take the initiative this time? How did he show the mercy of God? How did he answer his would-be accusers?

3. What did Jesus notice about the guests at the Pharisee's banquet? What was the parable he told? How should guests behave at a banquet? What principle did Jesus teach? How should God's people be different from worldly people (Mt23:11; Jas4:l0; Mt11:29)

4. What advice did Jesus give his host? What does this teach about the motives one should have in serving others? What kind of parties should we have?

* THE GREAT HEAVENLY BANQUET (15-24)

5. What was in the mind of the man who made the remark in verse 15? Was he right? In the parable Jesus told him, who does the man who prepared the banquet represent?

6. How did the invited guests respond? What do they have in common? What was their attitude toward the man who invited them? Who do the guests represent? (Ro.9:1-5) Why didn't he cancel the banquet?

7. What did the master tell his servant to do? Who do these poor, crippled and blind people represent? How did he finally fill the house? Who do the guests who came from the country lanes represent? What does this parable teach about God?

* TO OBTAIN SEATS AT THE HEAVENLY BANQUET (25-35)

8. What did Jesus teach the crowds-- and his disciples-- about the cost of becoming his disciple? What does he mean by "hate"? By "carry his cross"? (25-27) Why is an invitation to discipleship like an invitation to the heavenly banquet?

9. What does the parable in 28-30 teach? What kind of decision must one make if he would be Jesus' disciple? Is it worth it? Why? What does the parable in 31-33 teach? How can we win the war? (Ex14:13,14)

10.To what does tasteless salt refer? How must kingdom members be like salt? What can we learn from this chapter?