What does Luke 14:15 Mean?

Study Notes

kingdom
See note, .

kingdom of God

The kingdom of God is to be distinguished from the kingdom of heaven (See Scofield " Matthew 3:2 ") , in five respects:

(1) The kingdom of God is universal, including all moral intelligences willingly subject to the will of God, whether angels, the Church, or saints of past or future dispensations Luke 13:28 ; Luke 13:29 ; Hebrews 12:22 ; Hebrews 12:23 while the kingdom of heaven is Messianic, mediatorial, and Davidic, and has for its object the establishment of the kingdom of God in the earth (See Scofield " Matthew 3:2 ") 1 Corinthians 15:24 ; 1 Corinthians 15:25 .

(2) The kingdom of God is entered only by the new birth John 3:3 ; John 3:5-7 the kingdom of heaven, during this age, is the sphere of a profession which may be real or false. (See Scofield " Matthew 13:3 ") Matthew 25:1 ; Matthew 25:11 ; Matthew 25:12

(3) Since the kingdom of heaven is the earthly sphere of the universal kingdom of God, the two have almost all things in common. For this reason many parables and other teachings are spoken of the kingdom of heaven in Matthew, and of the kingdom of God in Mark and Luke. It is the omissions which are significant. The parables of the wheat and tares, and of the net Matthew 13:24-30 ; Matthew 13:36-43 ; Matthew 13:47-50 are not spoken of the kingdom of God. In that kingdom there are neither tares nor bad fish. But the parable of the leaven Matthew 13:33 is spoken of the kingdom of God also, for, alas, even the true doctrines of the kingdom are leavened with the errors of which the Pharisees, Sadducees, and the Herodians were the representatives. (See Scofield " Matthew 13:33 ") .

(4) The kingdom of God "comes not with outward show" Luke 17:20 but is chiefly that which is inward and spiritual Romans 14:17 while the kingdom of heaven is organic, and is to be manifested in glory on the earth. (See "Kingdom (O.T.)," Zechariah 12:8 , note; (N.T.),; Luke 1:31-33 ; 1 Corinthians 15:24 , note; Matthew 17:2 , note.) (See Scofield " Zechariah 12:8 ") , Luke 1:31-33 See Scofield " 1 Corinthians 15:24 " See Scofield " Matthew 17:2 "

(5) The kingdom of heaven merges into the kingdom of God when Christ, having put all enemies under his feet, "shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father" 1 Corinthians 15:24-28 (See Scofield " Matthew 3:2 ")

Verse Meaning

The fellow guest who voiced this comment appears to have understood that Jesus had been talking about the kingdom and not just about social propriety. Alternatively his or her comment may have been simply a pious reference to the kingdom, but this seems unlikely. The speaker seems to have assumed that he or she would be one of the blessed referred to. The speaker may have intended to correct Jesus" implication that some of those present might not participate ( Luke 14:13-14; cf. Luke 13:28-29). Jesus used the comment as an opportunity to clarify who would participate. A similar though obviously different parable occurs in Matthew 22:1-14. [source][source]

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Context Summary

In this parable the Master anticipated that the Jewish magistrates and leaders would repudiate His invitations, and that they would therefore be extended to the less likely masses to be found in the streets and lanes of the city, and to the Gentiles in the out-lying world. What a prevision is here of the suitableness of the gospel to all the world, and of the ultimate inclusion of all mankind under one roof, John 14:1-2.

The excuses were obviously trumped up and invalid. Men see fields before buying them; try oxen before purchase; and can take their wives where they go themselves, if they wish to do so. They who are acute enough for this world are often slow and careless about the next, though that is the only world which really matters.

If thou art poor, maimed, blind or lame, there is room for thee at God's table; and for thee "a great spoil" shall be divided, Isaiah 33:23. [source]

Chapter Summary: Luke 14

¹  Jesus heals the dropsy on the Sabbath;
⁷  teaches humility;
¹²  to feast the poor;
¹⁵  under the parable of the great supper,
²³  shows how worldly minded men shall be shut out of heaven
²⁵  Those who will be his disciples, to bear their cross must make their accounts beforehand,
³¹  lest with shame they revolt from him afterward;
³⁴  and become altogether unprofitable, like salt that has lost its flavor