Luke 14:16,17 - Joseph Benson’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

Then said he, A certain man, &c. He delivered the following parable to show the person who made the remark, and others, that how great soever the happiness would be of those who should share the blessings of the Messiah's kingdom, yet that many, who, under mistaken notions of it, professed to desire it, were under the force of such carnal prejudices that, though it would be offered to them with every circumstance that would recommend it, they would in fact slight, yea, and reject it, and that with disdain, preferring carnal to spiritual blessings, a kingdom of this world to one related to another; while, in the mean time, the Gentiles would embrace the gospel with cheerfulness, and thereby be prepared to sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, in the abodes of the blessed. The parable of the marriage-feast, recorded Matthew 22:1-14, (where see the note,) was evidently spoken with the same view, though on a different occasion. Made a great supper By this is evidently meant the rich and abundant provision which God has made in his gospel for the spiritual wants of mankind, termed a feast of fat things, Isaiah 25:6, (where see the notes, as also on Isaiah 55:1-2;) a feast of truth and information for the understanding, of pardon and peace for the conscience, of love, hope, and joy for the affections; bread to nourish and strengthen, wine to cheer and exhilarate the soul and all its powers and faculties. Observe, reader, there is in Christ, and in the truth and grace displayed in, and communicated by his gospel, what will be food, nay, and a feast, a rich and agreeable feast, for the soul of man that knows its own capacities, for the soul of a sinner that knows its own necessities and miseries. This provision is called a supper, because in those countries supper-time was the chief time for feasts and entertainments of all kinds, when the business of the day was finished. The manifestation of gospel grace to the world was made in the evening of the world's day, and the fruition of the fulness of that grace in heaven is reserved for the evening of our day. And bade many To this feast, which is prepared for all people, Isaiah 25:6, God had given a general invitation by the light of reason and conscience, by the secret influences of his Spirit, and the dispensations of his providence; and the whole nation of the Jews he had especially and particularly invited by his servants the prophets. And at supper-time he sent his servant At the opening of the gospel dispensation, he sent the harbinger of the Messiah, John the Baptist, the Messiah himself, his Son and servant, with his servants, the apostles: first twelve, and then seventy, he sent through all parts of the country, during the time of Christ's personal ministry. And when the Christian mysteries were finished; when sin was expiated by the death of Christ, death overcome by his resurrection, and the truth of the gospel sealed and confirmed by both; when a way into heaven was opened by his ascension, and the Holy Ghost, in his gifts and graces, obtained for his followers, by his intercession: when the gospel church was planted, and this rich provision was ready to be served up on a gospel table, those who before had been invited were more closely and earnestly pressed to come in immediately, and partake of the bounty of their great Master. Such was the call given to the Jews in Jerusalem and Judea, at and after the day of pentecost, by the apostles and other Christian ministers; such was that which was afterward given to the Gentile nations, and such is the call now given to us. Its language is, all things are now ready, therefore come to the feast; to come to which, in the gospel language, is to repent of sin, and believe in Christ. Thus John the Baptist, and thus our Lord and his apostles, invited men to the gospel feast, saying, The kingdom of God is at hand, ηγγικε, hath approached, or is come: Repent ye, and believe the gospel.