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<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "//www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="//www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1" /><title>Luke 14:17 When it was time for the banquet, he sent his servant to tell those who had been invited, 'Come, for everything is now ready.'</title><link rel="canonical" href="https://biblehub.com/luke/14-17.htm" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/new9.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><meta property="og:image" content="https://biblehub.com/visuals/12/42_Luk_14_17.jpg" /><meta property="og:title" content="Luke 14:17 - The Parable of the Banquet" /><meta property="og:site_name" content="Bible Hub" /><meta property="og:description" content="When it was time for the banquet, he sent his servant to tell those who had been invited, 'Come, for everything is now ready.'" /><script type="application/javascript" src="https://scripts.webcontentassessor.com/scripts/8a2459b64f9cac8122fc7f2eac4409c8555fac9383016db59c4c26e3d5b8b157"></script><script src='https://qd.admetricspro.com/js/biblehub/biblehub-layout-loader-revcatch.js'></script><script id='HyDgbd_1s' src='https://prebidads.revcatch.com/ads.js' type='text/javascript' async></script><script>(function(w,d,b,s,i){var cts=d.createElement(s);cts.async=true;cts.id='catchscript'; 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for all things are now ready. <a href="/nkjv/luke/14.htm">New King James Version</a> and sent his servant at supper time to say to those who were invited, ‘Come, for all things are now ready.’ <a href="/nasb_/luke/14.htm">New American Standard Bible</a> and at the dinner hour he sent his slave to tell those who had been invited, ‘Come, because everything is ready now.’ <a href="/nasb/luke/14.htm">NASB 1995</a> and at the dinner hour he sent his slave to say to those who had been invited, &#8216Come; for everything is ready now.&#8217 <a href="/nasb77/luke/14.htm">NASB 1977 </a> and at the dinner hour he sent his slave to say to those who had been invited, ‘Come; for everything is ready now.’ <a href="/lsb/luke/14.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a> And at the dinner hour he sent his slave to say to those who had been invited, ‘Come, for everything is ready now.’ <a href="/amp/luke/14.htm">Amplified Bible</a> and at the dinner hour he sent his servant to tell those who had been invited, ‘Come, because everything is ready now.’ <a href="/csb/luke/14.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a> At the time of the banquet, he sent his servant to tell those who were invited, ‘Come, because everything is now ready.’ <a href="/hcsb/luke/14.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a> At the time of the banquet, he sent his slave to tell those who were invited, Come, because everything is now ready.&#8217 <a href="/asv/luke/14.htm">American Standard Version</a> and he sent forth his servant at supper time to say to them that were bidden, Come; for all things are now ready. <a href="/cev/luke/14.htm">Contemporary English Version</a> When the banquet was ready, he sent a servant to tell the guests, "Everything is ready! Please come." <a href="/erv/luke/14.htm">English Revised Version</a> and he sent forth his servant at supper time to say to them that were bidden, Come; for all things are now ready. <a href="/gwt/luke/14.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a> When it was time for the banquet, he sent his servant to tell those who were invited, 'Come! Everything is ready now.' <a href="/gnt/luke/14.htm">Good News Translation</a> When it was time for the feast, he sent his servant to tell his guests, 'Come, everything is ready!' <a href="/isv/luke/14.htm">International Standard Version</a> When it was time for the banquet, he sent his servant to tell those who were invited, 'Come! Everything is now ready.' <a href="/net/luke/14.htm">NET Bible</a> At the time for the banquet he sent his slave to tell those who had been invited, 'Come, because everything is now ready.' <a href="/nheb/luke/14.htm">New Heart English Bible</a> And he sent his servant at the hour for supper to tell those who were invited, 'Come, for everything is ready now.' <a href="/wbt/luke/14.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a> And sent his servant at supper-time, to say to them that were invited, Come, for all things are now ready. <a href="/wey/luke/14.htm">Weymouth New Testament</a> At dinner-time he sent his servant to announce to those who had been invited, "'Come, for things are now ready.'<div class="vheading2">Majority Text Translations</div><a href="/msb/luke/14.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a> When it was time for the banquet, he sent his servant to tell those who had been invited, ‘Come, for everything is now ready.’ <a href="/web/luke/14.htm">World English Bible</a> He sent out his servant at supper time to tell those who were invited, ‘Come, for everything is ready now.’ <div class="vheading2">Literal Translations</div><a href="/lsv/luke/14.htm">Literal Standard Version</a> and he sent his servant at the hour of the dinner to say to those having been called, Be coming, because now all things are ready. <a href="/blb/luke/14.htm">Berean Literal Bible</a> And at the hour of the supper, he sent his servant to say to those having been invited, 'Come, for now it is ready.' <a href="/ylt/luke/14.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a> and he sent his servant at the hour of the supper to say to those having been called, Be coming, because now are all things ready. <a href="/slt/luke/14.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a> And he sent his servant at the hour of the supper to say to the called, Come; for all things are already prepared.<div class="vheading2">Catholic Translations</div><a href="/drb/luke/14.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a> And he sent his servant at the hour of supper to say to them that were invited, that they should come, for now all things are ready. <a href="/cpdv/luke/14.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a> And he sent his servant, at the hour of the feast, to tell the invited to come; for now everything was ready. <a href="/nabre/luke/14.htm">New American Bible</a> When the time for the dinner came, he dispatched his servant to say to those invited, ‘Come, everything is now ready.’ <a href="/nrsvce/luke/14.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a> At the time for the dinner he sent his slave to say to those who had been invited, ‘Come; for everything is ready now.’<div class="vheading2">Translations from Aramaic</div><a href="/lamsa/luke/14.htm">Lamsa Bible</a> And he sent his servant at supper time to tell those who were invited, Behold, everything is made ready for you, come. <a href="/aramaic-plain-english/luke/14.htm">Aramaic Bible in Plain English</a> “He sent his servant at the time of the supper to say to those who were invited, 'Behold, everything is ready for you; Come.' “<div class="vheading2">NT Translations</div><a href="/anderson/luke/14.htm">Anderson New Testament</a> And he sent his servant at the hour of supper, to say to those who had been invited, Come, for all things are now ready. <a href="/godbey/luke/14.htm">Godbey New Testament</a> <FR>and at the hour, of the supper he sent his servants to say to those who were invited, Come; because they are now ready.<Fr> <a href="/haweis/luke/14.htm">Haweis New Testament</a> and sent his servants at supper-time to say to the invited, Come; for all things are now ready. <a href="/mace/luke/14.htm">Mace New Testament</a> at supper-time he sent his servant to tell the guests to come, because every thing was ready. <a href="/wey/luke/14.htm">Weymouth New Testament</a> At dinner-time he sent his servant to announce to those who had been invited, "'Come, for things are now ready.' <a href="/worrell/luke/14.htm">Worrell New Testament</a> <FR>And he sent forth his servant, at the hour of the supper, to say to those invited, 'Come; because all things are now ready.'<Fr> <a href="/worsley/luke/14.htm">Worsley New Testament</a> <FR>and sent his servant at supper-time to say to them that were invited, Come, for all <Fr>things<FR> are now ready.<Fr> <a href="/parallel/luke/14-17.htm">Additional Translations ...</a></div></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="audio" id="audio"></a><div class="vheadingv">Audio Bible</div><iframe width="100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/3-5_0Jtd9Lc?start=5973" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe> <div class="vheadingv">Context</div><a href="/bsb/luke/14.htm">The Parable of the Banquet</a> …16But Jesus replied, “A certain man prepared a great banquet and invited many guests. 17<a href="/greek/2532.htm" title="2532: kai (Conj) -- And, even, also, namely. "></a> <a href="/greek/3588.htm" title="3588: tē (Art-DFS) -- The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.">When it was</a> <a href="/greek/5610.htm" title="5610: hōra (N-DFS) -- Apparently a primary word; an hour.">time</a> <a href="/greek/3588.htm" title="3588: tou (Art-GNS) -- The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.">for the</a> <a href="/greek/1173.htm" title="1173: deipnou (N-GNS) -- A dinner, an afternoon or evening meal. From the same as dapane; dinner, i.e. The chief meal.">banquet,</a> <a href="/greek/649.htm" title="649: apesteilen (V-AIA-3S) -- From apo and stello; set apart, i.e. to send out literally or figuratively.">he sent</a> <a href="/greek/846.htm" title="846: autou (PPro-GM3S) -- He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons.">his</a> <a href="/greek/3588.htm" title="3588: ton (Art-AMS) -- The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the."></a> <a href="/greek/1401.htm" title="1401: doulon (N-AMS) -- (a) (as adj.) enslaved, (b) (as noun) a (male) slave. From deo; a slave.">servant</a> <a href="/greek/2036.htm" title="2036: eipein (V-ANA) -- Answer, bid, bring word, command. A primary verb; to speak or say.">to tell</a> <a href="/greek/3588.htm" title="3588: tois (Art-DMP) -- The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.">those</a> <a href="/greek/2564.htm" title="2564: keklēmenois (V-RPM/P-DMP) -- (a) I call, summon, invite, (b) I call, name. Akin to the base of keleuo; to call.">who had been invited,</a> <a href="/greek/2064.htm" title="2064: Erchesthe (V-PMM/P-2P) -- To come, go. ">‘Come,</a> <a href="/greek/3754.htm" title="3754: hoti (Conj) -- Neuter of hostis as conjunction; demonstrative, that; causative, because.">for</a> <a href="/greek/1510.htm" title="1510: estin (V-PIA-3S) -- I am, exist. The first person singular present indicative; a prolonged form of a primary and defective verb; I exist.">everything is</a> <a href="/greek/2235.htm" title="2235: ēdē (Adv) -- Already; now at length, now after all this waiting. Apparently from e and de; even now.">now</a> <a href="/greek/2092.htm" title="2092: hetoima (Adj-NNP) -- Ready, prepared. From an old noun heteos; adjusted, i.e. Ready.">ready.’ </a> 18But one after another they all began to make excuses. The first one said, ‘I have bought a field, and I need to go see it. Please excuse me.’…<div class="cred"><a href="//berean.bible">Berean Standard Bible</a> · <a href="//berean.bible/downloads.htm">Download</a></div> <a name="crossref" id="crossref"></a><div class="vheading">Cross References</div><div id="crf"><a href="/matthew/22-3.htm">Matthew 22:3-4</a> He sent his servants to call those he had invited to the banquet, but they refused to come. / Again, he sent other servants and said, ‘Tell those who have been invited that I have prepared my dinner. My oxen and fattened cattle have been killed, and everything is ready. Come to the wedding banquet.’ <a href="/revelation/19-9.htm">Revelation 19:9</a> Then the angel told me to write, “Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.” And he said to me, “These are the true words of God.” <a href="/isaiah/55-1.htm">Isaiah 55:1</a> “Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters; and you without money, come, buy, and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost! <a href="/proverbs/9-1.htm">Proverbs 9:1-5</a> Wisdom has built her house; she has carved out her seven pillars. / She has prepared her meat and mixed her wine; she has also set her table. / She has sent out her maidservants; she calls out from the heights of the city. ... <a href="/matthew/22-8.htm">Matthew 22:8-10</a> Then he said to his servants, ‘The wedding banquet is ready, but those I invited were not worthy. / Go therefore to the crossroads and invite to the banquet as many as you can find.’ / So the servants went out into the streets and gathered everyone they could find, both evil and good, and the wedding hall was filled with guests. <a href="/isaiah/25-6.htm">Isaiah 25:6</a> On this mountain the LORD of Hosts will prepare a lavish banquet for all the peoples, a feast of aged wine, of choice meat, of finely aged wine. <a href="/matthew/11-28.htm">Matthew 11:28</a> Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. <a href="/john/6-37.htm">John 6:37</a> Everyone the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will never drive away. <a href="/romans/10-21.htm">Romans 10:21</a> But as for Israel he says: “All day long I have held out My hands to a disobedient and obstinate people.” <a href="/matthew/8-11.htm">Matthew 8:11</a> I say to you that many will come from the east and the west to share the banquet with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven. <a href="/revelation/3-20.htm">Revelation 3:20</a> Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in and dine with him, and he with Me. <a href="/isaiah/65-1.htm">Isaiah 65:1-2</a> “I revealed Myself to those who did not ask for Me; I was found by those who did not seek Me. To a nation that did not call My name, I said, ‘Here I am! Here I am!’ / All day long I have held out My hands to an obstinate people who walk in the wrong path, who follow their own imaginations, <a href="/john/1-11.htm">John 1:11-12</a> He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him. / But to all who did receive Him, to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God— <a href="/acts/13-46.htm">Acts 13:46</a> Then Paul and Barnabas answered them boldly: “It was necessary to speak the word of God to you first. But since you reject it and do not consider yourselves worthy of eternal life, we now turn to the Gentiles. <a href="/romans/9-30.htm">Romans 9:30-31</a> What then will we say? That the Gentiles, who did not pursue righteousness, have obtained it, a righteousness that is by faith; / but Israel, who pursued a law of righteousness, has not attained it.</div> <a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div>And sent his servant at supper time to say to them that were bidden, Come; for all things are now ready.his.<a href="/luke/3-4.htm">Luke 3:4-6</a> As it is written in the book of the words of Esaias the prophet, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight… <a href="/luke/9-1.htm">Luke 9:1-5</a> Then he called his twelve disciples together, and gave them power and authority over all devils, and to cure diseases… <a href="/luke/10-1.htm">Luke 10:1</a> After these things the Lord appointed other seventy also, and sent them two and two before his face into every city and place, whither he himself would come.Come.<a href="/matthew/11-27.htm">Matthew 11:27-29</a> All things are delivered unto me of my Father: and no man knoweth the Son, but the Father; neither knoweth any man the Father, save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal him… <a href="/matthew/22-3.htm">Matthew 22:3,4</a> And sent forth his servants to call them that were bidden to the wedding: and they would not come… <a href="/john/7-37.htm">John 7:37</a> In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink.<div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/luke/12-49.htm">Already</a> <a href="/luke/9-60.htm">Announce</a> <a href="/luke/14-16.htm">Banquet</a> <a href="/luke/14-10.htm">Bidden</a> <a href="/luke/12-47.htm">Bondman</a> <a href="/luke/14-16.htm">Dinner</a> <a href="/luke/12-46.htm">Hour</a> <a href="/luke/14-16.htm">Invited</a> <a href="/luke/12-47.htm">Ready</a> <a href="/luke/12-47.htm">Servant</a> <a href="/luke/12-42.htm">Servants</a> <a href="/luke/12-47.htm">Slave</a> <a href="/luke/14-16.htm">Supper</a> <a href="/luke/13-35.htm">Time</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/luke/19-25.htm">Already</a> <a href="/john/16-13.htm">Announce</a> <a href="/luke/14-24.htm">Banquet</a> <a href="/luke/14-24.htm">Bidden</a> <a href="/luke/14-22.htm">Bondman</a> <a href="/luke/14-24.htm">Dinner</a> <a href="/luke/20-19.htm">Hour</a> <a href="/luke/14-24.htm">Invited</a> <a href="/luke/14-33.htm">Ready</a> <a href="/luke/14-21.htm">Servant</a> <a href="/luke/15-17.htm">Servants</a> <a href="/luke/14-21.htm">Slave</a> <a href="/luke/14-24.htm">Supper</a> <a href="/luke/15-13.htm">Time</a><div class="vheading2">Luke 14</div>1. <a href="/luke/14-1.htm">Jesus heals the dropsy on the Sabbath;</a> 7. <a href="/luke/14-7.htm">teaches humility;</a> 12. <a href="/luke/14-12.htm">to feast the poor;</a> 15. <a href="/luke/14-15.htm">under the parable of the great supper, </a> 23. <a href="/luke/14-23.htm">shows how worldly minded men shall be shut out of heaven.</a> 25. <a href="/luke/14-25.htm">Those who will be his disciples, to bear their cross must make their accounts beforehand,</a> 31. <a href="/luke/14-31.htm">lest with shame they revolt from him afterward;</a> 34. <a href="/luke/14-34.htm">and become altogether unprofitable, like salt that has lost its flavor.</a> </div></div><div id="mdd"><div align="center"><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><div align="center"> <script id="3d27ed63fc4348d5b062c4527ae09445"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=51ce25d5-1a8c-424a-8695-4bd48c750f35&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script> <script id="b817b7107f1d4a7997da1b3c33457e03"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=cb0edd8b-b416-47eb-8c6d-3cc96561f7e8&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script>  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-2'> </div>  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-0' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div>  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-3'> </div>  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-1' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div>  <div align="center" id='div-gpt-ad-1531425649696-0'> </div> <ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:inline-block;width:200px;height:200px" data-ad-client="ca-pub-3753401421161123" data-ad-slot="3592799687"></ins> <script> (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); </script> </div> </td></tr></table></div></div></div><div id="combox"><div class="padcom"><a name="study" id="study"></a><div class="vheading"><table width="100%"><tr><td width="99%" valign="top"><a href="/study/luke/14.htm">Study Bible</a></td><td width="1%" valign="top"><a href="/study/luke/" title="Book Summary and Study">Book ◦</a> <a href="/study/chapters/luke/14.htm" title="Chapter summary and Study">Chapter </a></tr></table></div>When it was time for the banquet This phrase indicates a specific moment when the preparations for the feast were complete. In biblical times, a banquet was a significant social event, often symbolizing joy, celebration, and fellowship. The timing of the banquet is crucial, as it reflects God's perfect timing in His divine plan. The banquet can be seen as a metaphor for the Kingdom of God, where the invitation to partake is extended to all at the appointed time.he sent his servant The servant represents those who are called to deliver God's message, such as prophets, apostles, and evangelists. In the context of the parable, the servant acts on behalf of the master, symbolizing the role of Jesus Christ and His followers in proclaiming the Gospel. This action reflects the mission of the Church to reach out to those who are invited to the Kingdom.to tell those who had been invited This phrase highlights the pre-existing invitation, suggesting that the guests were already aware of the upcoming event. In Jewish culture, it was customary to send an initial invitation, followed by a reminder when the feast was ready. Spiritually, this can be seen as God's covenant relationship with Israel, who were the first to receive His promises. It also reflects the broader invitation to all humanity to enter into a relationship with God.‘Come, for everything is now ready.’ The call to "come" is an urgent invitation to partake in the blessings prepared by God. The readiness of "everything" signifies the completeness and sufficiency of God's provision through Jesus Christ. This echoes the fulfillment of prophecy and the readiness of the Kingdom of God, as seen in other scriptures like <a href="/matthew/22-4.htm">Matthew 22:4</a> and <a href="/revelation/19-9.htm">Revelation 19:9</a>. The invitation is open and inclusive, emphasizing the grace and generosity of God in offering salvation to all who will accept it.<div class="vheading2">Persons / Places / Events</div>1. <a href="/topical/t/the_host.htm">The Host</a> Represents God, who prepares a great banquet, symbolizing the Kingdom of Heaven and the invitation to salvation. 2. <a href="/topical/t/the_servant.htm">The Servant</a> Symbolizes Jesus or the prophets, who are sent to deliver God's invitation to His people. 3. <a href="/topical/t/the_invited_guests.htm">The Invited Guests</a> Initially, these are the Jewish people, God's chosen ones, who were first invited to partake in His Kingdom. 4. <a href="/topical/t/the_banquet.htm">The Banquet</a> Represents the Kingdom of God, a place of fellowship, joy, and eternal life. 5. <a href="/topical/t/the_invitation.htm">The Invitation</a> Symbolizes the call to salvation and the readiness of God's Kingdom for those who will accept it.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><a href="/topical/g/god's_invitation_is_open_to_all.htm">God's Invitation is Open to All</a> God's invitation to His Kingdom is extended to everyone, regardless of background or status. We must be willing to accept His call. <a href="/topical/u/urgency_of_the_invitation.htm">Urgency of the Invitation</a> The phrase "everything is now ready" indicates the immediacy and urgency of responding to God's call. We should not delay in accepting His invitation. <a href="/topical/r/rejection_has_consequences.htm">Rejection Has Consequences</a> Those who reject God's invitation miss out on the blessings of His Kingdom. We must be careful not to let worldly distractions cause us to ignore His call. <a href="/topical/r/role_of_the_servant.htm">Role of the Servant</a> As followers of Christ, we are called to be His servants, sharing the invitation to the Kingdom with others. Evangelism is a key responsibility. <a href="/topical/p/preparedness_for_the_banquet.htm">Preparedness for the Banquet</a> Just as the banquet was prepared, we must prepare our hearts to receive God's invitation, living in a way that reflects readiness for His Kingdom.<div class="vheading2">Lists and Questions</div><a href="/top10/lessons_from_luke_14.htm">Top 10 Lessons from Luke 14</a> <a href="/q/who'll_attend_the_great_banquet.htm">Who will accept the invitation to the great banquet?</a> <a href="/q/what_is_the_kingdom_of_god.htm">What defines the Kingdom of God in Christianity?</a> <a href="/q/meaning_of_'many_are_called,_few_chosen'.htm">What does 'Many are called, few are chosen' mean?</a> <a href="/q/is_remaining_unmarried_preferable.htm">Do you want to be healed?</a><a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/ellicott/luke/14.htm">Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers</a></div>(17) And sent his servant.--The servant stands in this parable as the representative of the whole order of prophets and apostles--of all who, like the Baptist and the Twelve, had been sent to invite men to the Kingdom. "The time of supper" is, in the primary application, the time of our Lord's coming, when the Kingdom of Heaven was first proclaimed as nigh at hand. All things--pardon, peace, blessedness--were now ready for those who would accept them.<div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/luke/14.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div>Verses 17-20. - Come; for all things are now ready. And they all with one consent began to make excuse. The excuses, viewed as a whole, are paltry, and "if," as it has been well said, "as a mere story of natural life it seems highly improbable, it is because men's conduct with regard to the Divine kingdom is not according to right reason... The excuses are all of the nature of pretexts, not one of them being a valid reason for non-attendance at the feast." The fact was, the invited were pleased to be invited, but there the matter ended with them. The banquet, which they were proud to have been asked to share in, had no influence upon their everyday lives. They made their engagements for pleasure and for business without the least regard to the day or the hour of the banquet: indeed, they treated it with perfect indifference. The key to the parable is easily found. The Jews were "solemn triflers in the matter of religion. They were under invitation to enter the kingdom, and they did not assume the attitude of men who avowedly cared nothing for it. On the contrary, they were pleased to think that its privileges were theirs in offer, and even gave themselves credit for setting a high value on them. But in truth they did not. The kingdom of God had not by any means the first place in their esteem. They were men who talked much about the kingdom of heaven, yet cared little for it; who were very religious, yet very worldly - a class of which too many specimens exist in every age" (Professor Bruce, 'Parabolic Teaching'). I have bought a piece of ground... I have bought five yoke of oxen... I have married a wife, etc. These excuses, of course, by no means exhaust all possible cases. They simply represent examples of usual everyday causes of indifference to the kingdom of God. To all these excuses one thing is common - in each a present good is esteemed above the heavenly offer; in other words, temporal good is valued higher than spiritual. The three excuses may be classed under the following heads. (1) The attraction of property of different kinds, the absorbing delight of possessing earthly goods. (2) The occupations of business, the pleasure of increasing the store, of adding coin to coin, or field to field. (3) Social ties, whether at home or abroad, whether in general society or in the home circle; for even in the latter case it is too possible for family and domestic interests so completely to fill the heart as to leave no room there for higher and more unselfish aims, no place for any grander hopes than the poor narrow home-life affords. The primary application of all this was to the Jews of the Lord's own time. It was spoken, we must remember, to a gathering of the Rite of the Israel of his day. In the report of the servant detailing to the master the above-recorded excuses, it has been beautifully said, "we may hear the echo of the sorrowful lamentation uttered by Jesus over the hardening of the Jews during his long nights of prayer." The invitation to the feast was neglected by the learned and the powerful among the people. <a href="/commentaries/luke/14-17.htm">Parallel Commentaries ...</a> <a name="lexicon" id="lexicon"></a><div class="vheading">Greek</div>[When it was] τῇ (tē) Article - Dative Feminine Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_3588.htm">Strong's 3588: </a> The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the. time ὥρᾳ (hōra) Noun - Dative Feminine Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_5610.htm">Strong's 5610: </a> Apparently a primary word; an 'hour'. for the τοῦ (tou) Article - Genitive Neuter Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_3588.htm">Strong's 3588: </a> The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the. banquet, δείπνου (deipnou) Noun - Genitive Neuter Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_1173.htm">Strong's 1173: </a> A dinner, an afternoon or evening meal. From the same as dapane; dinner, i.e. The chief meal. he sent ἀπέστειλεν (apesteilen) Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_649.htm">Strong's 649: </a> From apo and stello; set apart, i.e. to send out literally or figuratively. his αὐτοῦ (autou) Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_846.htm">Strong's 846: </a> He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons. servant δοῦλον (doulon) Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_1401.htm">Strong's 1401: </a> (a) (as adj.) enslaved, (b) (as noun) a (male) slave. From deo; a slave. to tell εἰπεῖν (eipein) Verb - Aorist Infinitive Active <a href="/greek/strongs_2036.htm">Strong's 2036: </a> Answer, bid, bring word, command. A primary verb; to speak or say. those τοῖς (tois) Article - Dative Masculine Plural <a href="/greek/strongs_3588.htm">Strong's 3588: </a> The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the. who had been invited, κεκλημένοις (keklēmenois) Verb - Perfect Participle Middle or Passive - Dative Masculine Plural <a href="/greek/strongs_2564.htm">Strong's 2564: </a> (a) I call, summon, invite, (b) I call, name. Akin to the base of keleuo; to 'call'. ‘Come, Ἔρχεσθε (Erchesthe) Verb - Present Imperative Middle or Passive - 2nd Person Plural <a href="/greek/strongs_2064.htm">Strong's 2064: </a> To come, go. for ὅτι (hoti) Conjunction <a href="/greek/strongs_3754.htm">Strong's 3754: </a> Neuter of hostis as conjunction; demonstrative, that; causative, because. [everything] is ἐστιν (estin) Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_1510.htm">Strong's 1510: </a> I am, exist. The first person singular present indicative; a prolonged form of a primary and defective verb; I exist. now ἤδη (ēdē) Adverb <a href="/greek/strongs_2235.htm">Strong's 2235: </a> Already; now at length, now after all this waiting. Apparently from e and de; even now. ready.’ ἕτοιμά (hetoima) Adjective - Nominative Neuter Plural <a href="/greek/strongs_2092.htm">Strong's 2092: </a> Ready, prepared. From an old noun heteos; adjusted, i.e. Ready. <div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/luke/14-17.htm">Luke 14:17 NIV</a> <a href="/nlt/luke/14-17.htm">Luke 14:17 NLT</a> <a href="/esv/luke/14-17.htm">Luke 14:17 ESV</a> <a href="/nasb/luke/14-17.htm">Luke 14:17 NASB</a> <a href="/kjv/luke/14-17.htm">Luke 14:17 KJV</a> <a href="//bibleapps.com/luke/14-17.htm">Luke 14:17 BibleApps.com</a> <a href="//bibliaparalela.com/luke/14-17.htm">Luke 14:17 Biblia Paralela</a> <a href="//holybible.com.cn/luke/14-17.htm">Luke 14:17 Chinese Bible</a> <a href="//saintebible.com/luke/14-17.htm">Luke 14:17 French Bible</a> <a href="/catholic/luke/14-17.htm">Luke 14:17 Catholic Bible</a> <a href="/luke/14-17.htm">NT Gospels: Luke 14:17 He sent out his servant at supper (Luke Lu Lk) </a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/luke/14-16.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Luke 14:16"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Luke 14:16" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/luke/14-18.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Luke 14:18"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Luke 14:18" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="bot"><iframe width="100%" height="1500" scrolling="no" src="/botmenubhnew2.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></td></tr></table></div></body></html>