THE GOSPEL OF LUKE: - Vital Christianity

95The Second ExcuseThere is no shortage of excuses for not accepting God’s invitation:"Another said, 'I have just bought five yoke of oxen, and I'm on my way to trythem out. Please excuse me'” (14:19).People did not buy oxen without first trying them out. He was more interested in hisnew possession than he was in God’s service. We see this so often in society where people getso preoccupied with their toys that there is no time and energy left for God. It is easy for a newtoy, a new relationship, a new job, etc. to take up the time we should be giving to God.The Third ExcuseThe third excuse given makes no more sense than the others:"Still another said, 'I just got married, so I can't come'” (14:20).One of the unique laws of the Old Testament was that when a man is newly marriedhe is freed from normal responsibilities:“If a man has recently married, he must not be sent to war or have anyother duty laid on him. For one year he is to be free to stay at home andbring happiness to the wife he has married” (Dt 24:5).Such a law may have been in this man’s mind when he came up with his excuse. Whilesuch a law is given to protect and nurture the marriage relationship, that relationship can alsobecome a selfish and self-centered relationship. Their new relationship became moreimportant than their relationship with the Lord. If a marriage relationship means more thanone’s relationship with the Lord, then even that relationship has become an idolatrous. Assomeone put it,“Marriage is not two people serving each other, but two people serving God together.”THE BANQUET OF THE KINGDOM (14:21-24)The second part of the story focuses on those who had no claim on the king and whowould never have considered getting such an invitation.It is interesting that Jesus thought of His kingdom and service in terms of a joyous feast: