In the Name of Jesus

Trinity 2, 2023                                                 Parable of the Great Supper (Sermon Outline)

Luke 14:16-24                                                 Rev. Ernie Bernet       

Introduction

A. “Excuses, excuses!”

B. Aaron’s Excuse, Exodus 32:1-3, 19-24

“Now when the people saw that Moses delayed coming down from the mountain, the people gathered together to Aaron, and said to him, “Come, make us gods that shall go before us; for as for this Moses, the man who brought us up out of the land of Egypt, we do not know what has become of him.”

2 And Aaron said to them, “Break off the golden earrings which are in the ears of your wives, your sons, and your daughters, and bring them to me.” 3 So all the people broke off the golden earrings which were in their ears, and brought them to Aaron. 4 And he received the gold from their hand, and he fashioned it with an engraving tool, and made a molded calf. […]

19 So it was, as soon as [Moses] came near the camp, that he saw the calf and the dancing. So Moses’ anger became hot, and he cast the tablets out of his hands and broke them at the foot of the mountain. 20 Then he took the calf which they had made, burned it in the fire, and ground it to powder; and he scattered it on the water and made the children of Israel drink it. 21 And Moses said to Aaron, “What did this people do to you that you have brought so great a sin upon them?”

22 So Aaron said, “Do not let the anger of my lord become hot. You know the people, that they are set on evil. 23 For they said to me, ‘Make us gods that shall go before us; as for this Moses, the man who brought us out of the land of Egypt, we do not know what has become of him.’ 24 And I said to them, ‘Whoever has any gold, let them break it off.’ So they gave it to me, and I cast it into the fire, and this calf came out.”

Did you catch that? Arron’s excuse is this: “They gave me the gold, I cast it into the fire, and this calf came out!”

I. The Purpose of the Parable

II. The Explanation of the Parable

A. Vs. 16: “A certain man prepared a great supper and invited many.”

B. Vs. 17: “He sent his servant at supper time to say to those who were invited, ‘Come, for all things are now ready.’”

C. Vss. 18-20: “But they all with one accord began to make excuses. The first said to him, ‘I have bought a piece of ground, and I must go and see it. I ask you to have me excused.’ And another said, ‘I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I am going to test them. I ask you to have me excused.’ Still another said, ‘I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come.’”

D. Luke 14:26-27 (right after our Gospel lesson): “If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple. And whoever does not bear his cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple.”

E. Vss. 20-21a: “So that servant came and reported these things to his master. Then the master of the house, being angry…”

F. Vs. 21b: “He said to his servant, ‘Go out quickly into the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in here the poor and the maimed and the lame and the blind.’”

G. Vss. 22-23: “And the servant said, ‘Master, it is done as you commanded, and still there is room.’ Then the master said to the servant, ‘Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled.”

H. Vs. 24: “For I say to you that none of those men who were invited shall taste my supper.’ ”

Conclusion: Vs. 17 “Come, for all things are now ready.”

In the Name of Jesus, Amen.