Luke 14:15

Blessed indeed will be all whom enjoy the feast in the kingdom of God! We are told about this many times in Scripture. In the book of Isaiah the prophet pens the following words regarding this sumptuous gala:

6 On this mountain the LORD Almighty will prepare a feast of rich food for all peoples, a banquet of aged wine-- the best of meats and the finest of wines. 7 On this mountain he will destroy the shroud that enfolds all peoples, the sheet that covers all nations; 8 he will swallow up death forever. The Sovereign LORD will wipe away the tears from all faces; he will remove the disgrace of his people from all the earth. The LORD has spoken. Isaiah 25:6-8 (NIV)

Regarding the verses presented above the Bible Knowledge Commentary states:

“God’s deliverance of His people in the kingdom is pictured as a banquet feast on the mountain of the Lord Almighty. Mountains are often symbols of governmental authority (e.g., Dan. 2:44-45) but here the mountain probably refers to Jerusalem (Mount Zion) from which the Messiah will rule in the kingdom. Food will be provided for all peoples, which fact once again stresses the worldwide extent of God’s kingdom over those who believe. This does not mean that everyone who lives in the Millennium will be saved (though only redeemed people will enter the Millennium at its beginning); instead it means that people in all areas of the world will be saved. The best of meats and the finest of wines picture God’s ability to supply the needs of His people during that time. Some Bible interpreters say this refers symbolically to God’s care for His people in the present age. However, Isaiah was speaking of a future time when (after God’s worldwide judgment) His people in Israel and other nations will feast together in peace and prosperity. This is the 1,000-year reign of Christ.”

This is a feast no one should want to miss. In fact, Jesus tells us that those who cannot enter will be found weeping and gnashing their teeth – two behaviors that do not sound very pleasant to me! We find the Savior’s words in Luke to support this:

22 Then Jesus went through the towns and villages, teaching as he made his way to Jerusalem. 23 Someone asked him, "Lord, are only a few people going to be saved?" He said to them, 24 "Make every effort to enter through the narrow door, because many, I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able to. 25 Once the owner of the house gets up and closes the door, you will stand outside knocking and pleading, 'Sir, open the door for us.' "But he will answer, 'I don't know you or where you come from.' 26 "Then you will say, 'We ate and drank with you, and you taught in our streets.' 27 "But he will reply, 'I don't know you or where you come from. Away from me, all you evildoers!' 28 "There will be weeping there, and gnashing of teeth, when you see Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, but you yourselves thrown out. 29 People will come from east and west and north and south, and will take their places at the feast in the kingdom of God. Luke 13:22-29 (NIV)

Many things come to light in the above passage regarding the feast in the kingdom of God. Some of these, listed below, should make us take pause and consider:

· We are to make every effort to enter through the narrow door. This is found also in the Sermon on the Mount, the narrow gate referring to Jesus’ teaching which emphasized internal transformation rather than external requirements: 13 "Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. 14 But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it. Matt 7:13-14 (NIV)

· Many will desire entry but will not be able to.

· There will come a time when the door is shut and no amount of knocking and pleading will be able to open it.

· Just being familiar with Whom Jesus is will not be sufficient for entry.

· Those not allowed entry Jesus refers to as evildoers.

· Those not allowed entry will be found weeping and gnashing their teeth.

· Believers will come from all over and take their places at the feast along with Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and the rest.

Like I stated before, this is not something that we want to miss! The following quotes by Packer and Ogden help shed light on our discussion:

“Do you know who you are? Do you know who you were designed to be? Do you know the Father’s intent for your life? You are meant to hear in your spirit the same thing Jesus heard when he came out of the waters of baptism at the beginning of his ministry: ‘You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased’...J I Packer puts it simply. ‘What is a Christian? The question can be answered in many ways, but the richest answer I know is that a Christian is one who has God for his Father’...Our highest privilege and deepest need is to experience the holy God as our loving Father, to approach him without fear and to be assured of his fatherly care and concern.” Greg Ogden, Discipleship Essentials

“Christianity, if false, is of no importance, and if true, of infinite importance. The only thing it cannot be is moderately important.” C. S. Lewis

“The future belongs to those who belong to God. This is hope.” W.T. Purkiser