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Luke 14:15-35In this powerful passage, Jesus shares the Parable of the Great Banquet and calls His followers to count the cost of true discipleship. Many are invited—but not all are willing. Are you ready to put Christ above everything else?
Read OnlineJesus saw a tax collector named Levi sitting at the customs post. He said to him, “Follow me.” And leaving everything behind, he got up and followed him. Then Levi gave a great banquet for him in his house, and a large crowd of tax collectors and others were at table with them. Luke 5:27–29Levi's life changed in an instant. He encountered the Messiah, the Son of God, the Savior of the world, and in response to Jesus' simple yet profound invitation—“Follow me”—Levi left everything behind and followed Him. This radical decision offers an inspiring witness as we begin our Lenten journeys.Christ's call is often twofold. Even those baptized as infants must eventually hear and respond to that call for themselves. There comes a moment after the age of reason when those raised in the faith must choose whether to embrace the call to follow Jesus. For those who did not encounter Christ in their youth or who might have strayed from Him, the call is ever-present, continuously offered by God. Like Levi, once that invitation is heard and internalized, it demands a response—a radical choice to follow Him. And with that choice, life is never the same.When Levi accepted Jesus' invitation, his life underwent a complete transformation. He “left everything behind.” While his career as a tax collector was financially lucrative, it likely left him spiritually empty. Tax collectors were viewed with disdain by their fellow Jews because they worked for the Roman oppressors and often took more than what was owed for their own profit. This position, though offering wealth, created a life of moral compromise, guilt, and isolation. It was into this interior emptiness that Jesus entered. Levi, touched by an intuitive grace, recognized that abandoning everything and following Christ was the answer to his deepest longings.Have you heard Christ's call in your own life? Have you abandoned everything that stands in the way of fully following Him? This question is especially significant for those who were raised in the faith. While being baptized as a child and growing up in the Church is a great gift, it does not automatically mean that we have internalized the faith or personally responded to Jesus' invitation. Have you truly heard Jesus call you? Have you left behind everything that hinders your complete “Yes” to Him?Levi's transformation didn't stop with his “Yes.” He wanted to share his newfound joy and faith with others. Levi hosted a “great banquet” for Jesus in his home, inviting a large group of tax collectors and others to meet the One who had changed his life. His encounter with Christ was so profound and life-giving that he couldn't keep it to himself—he wanted others, especially those whom he knew were also spiritually empty, to encounter the same transformative love.If you have responded to Jesus' call and given your life to Him, your heart will naturally burn with a desire to share that joy with others. As you look at your family, friends, and acquaintances, do you see the same restlessness or emptiness that once filled your heart? How might God be calling you to invite them to encounter Christ? Perhaps, like Levi, you are called to “host a banquet” in your own way, sharing the Good News with those who need it the most.Reflect today on Levi's conversion and see your own life in his story. Recognize the restlessness within your heart and listen for Jesus' call. Identify Him as the answer to your deepest desires. Say “Yes” to His invitation, abandoning everything that competes with His will, and share the treasure of your faith with others. Embracing this twofold path is one of the best ways to ensure a truly fruitful Lent. My inviting Lord, You call to me each day, yet I often fail to listen. Help me to hear Your voice more clearly this Lent and to respond with all my heart. I choose to leave behind all that stands in the way of following You, and I pray that You will use me to invite others to Your heavenly banquet. Jesus, I trust in You.Image: © José Luiz Bernardes RibeiroSource: Free RSS feed from catholic-daily-reflections.com — Copyright © 2026 My Catholic Life! Inc. All rights reserved. This content is provided solely for personal, non-commercial use. Redistribution, republication, or commercial use — including use within apps with advertising — is strictly prohibited without written permission.
In this opening teaching of the Tell Me Something Good series, Leah exploresJesus' parable of the Great Banquet and what it reveals about the heart of God's Kin-Dom.
This week we look at Luke 14:15-24. In these verses Jesus tells the parable of the great banquet, exposing how spiritual complacency, misplaced priorities, and comfortable assumptions can cause people to miss God's gracious invitation to His kingdom.If you have any questions about this podcast or would like to share a testimony or prayer request, we would love to hear from you. Please reach out to us at the following email: churchoffice@unitedassembly.org
This week, we celebrate the launch of our third Church. Join us as we learn that the Master wants a full house.
In Rinus preaching, God's heart is revealed through a story that overturns every expectation. In Luke 14:15–24, Jesus paints a picture of a banquet lavish, joyful, overflowing with abundance prepared long before the guests ever knew they were invited. But the shock of the story isn't the feast itself. It's the guest list.Those who were expected to come refuse the invitation. They're distracted, preoccupied, convinced they have better things to do. And so the host does something outrageous. He widens the invitation. He sends his servants into the streets, the alleys, the forgotten corners of the city. He gathers the poor, the broken, the overlooked, the ones who never imagined they'd be welcomed to a king's table.
The Great Banquet exposes our excuses and our comfort zones—then calls us to welcome the “outsiders” the way Jesus does, instead of treating church like a quick stop with our usual people. The good news is that God isn't passive about you: He's urgent, pursuing, and making room at His table for anyone willing to come with a humble heart. The post The Great Banquet appeared first on Ottawa Church of Christ.
In this talk, Fr. Matthias Shehad explores the Parable of the Great Banquet from Luke 14, explaining the spiritual meaning behind God's invitation to salvation and union with Christ. Fr. Matthias discusses how this invitation represents both a general call to live a holy life and a specific call to use one's God-given talents in service. He addresses common excuses people offer for not responding to God's call, such as personal obligations or discomfort, and challenges listeners to evaluate their true priorities. Drawing on scripture, including Isaiah's readiness to serve and teachings on discipleship, Fr. Matthias emphasizes the importance of commitment, sacrifice, and intentional living in responding to God's calling. He encourages a personal and wholehearted “send me” attitude to participate fully in the spiritual life and service within the church community. Subscribe to us on YouTube https://youtube.com/stpaulhouston Like us on Facebook https://facebook.com/saintpaulhouston Follow us on SoundCloud https://soundcloud.com/stpaulhouston Follow us on Instagram https://instagram.com/stpaulhouston Visit our website for schedules and to join the mailing list https://stpaulhouston.org
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In this message from the Storyteller series, Jesus' parable of The Great Banquet reminds us that God's invitation is both gracious and wide—but it must be received, not assumed. This teaching challenges us to examine how we respond to God's call today. The table is set. The invitation has been sent. The question is not whether God is willing—but whether we will come.
The great Banquet (or better titled 'The Great Invitation') from Luke 14: 14-25 describes the wide and generous invitation of God to all people into his kingdom. We are to be like the servants in the story, going out inviting people in to this great celebration.
Message from Sam Sawyer on December 28, 2025
St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Christian Church Lexington, Ma Podcast
Many of us have been invited somewhere before, maybe to a birthday party, an event or simply over someone's home for dinner. In the Gospel Reading today we hear a Parable about people who were invited to a Great Banquet, but they gave excuses and didn't attend. Click here to read itDid you know you have an invitation to a Great Banquet EVERY WEEK?Listen...
Thank you for listening! Resurrection Oakland Church is a community of people seeking to love our neighbors and our city as Jesus has loved us.
This message is shared with permission from Dustin Smith and Hope UC Nashville church in TN. "In today's message, we confront the distractions that keep us from God's invitation and uncover the profound beauty of His calling in our lives. Join us as we learn how to align our hearts and priorities with the kingdom work unfolding around us."Major Takeaways:God's invitation is urgent, requiring us to overcome life's distractions and self-centered pursuits to fully embrace His presence.Prioritizing divine callings over personal ambitions helps align our lives with God's greater purpose.Embracing community shifts focus from individual excuses to a unified journey, allowing us to participate in God's work together.Connect with their ministry go to www.hopeucnashville.com Join us for service live every Sunday at 10am at 5600 Route 34 | Oswego, IL 60543. You can expect passionate worship and a deep love for God's Word. Connect with us at our website www.revivechurch.life
Pastor Seth Troutt kicks off the new sermon series, "Jesus Stories," with an insightful exploration of the parables from the Gospel of Luke.In this first installment, Pastor Seth shares his personal story of experiencing unexpected generosity, drawing parallels with the parable of the great banquet, where Jesus illustrates the kingdom of God as a feast open to all.Through this message, viewers are invited to reflect on the profound generosity of God and our role in extending hospitality to others.Join us as we delve into the transformative stories Jesus told and discover how they invite us to live out radical generosity and grace in our daily lives.00:00 - Introduction05:00 - Big Idea: Jesus wants his house full of all kinds of people.10:50 - Hospitality doesn't expect short-term returns.15:54 - Humans are “good excuse” factories.22:16 - Jesus doesn't ask us to do what he hasn't already done himself.27:34 - You must say “Yes” to the invitation to taste the feast.32:18 - Christmas at Ironwood**HOW TO FIND US*** SUBSCRIBE TO OUR YouTube CHANNEL: https://www.youtube.com/@IronwoodChurchAZFACEBOOK https://www.facebook.com/ironwoodchurchaz/ INSTAGRAM https://www.instagram.com/ironwood.church/WEBSITE https://www.ironwoodchurch.org/
Epic StorytellerThe Great Banquet | Luke 14:15-24Jeremy Olimb // Lead Pastor
No More Excuses: Accepting God's Invitation to the Eternal Banquet In the Gospel of Luke, Jesus tells the parable of the Great Banquet, . . . where invited guests offer excuses . . . work, property, and relationships . . . to avoid attending the feast. Their refusal represents how worldly concerns can distract us from God's invitation to eternal life. The master then opens his banquet to the poor and outcast, symbolizing God's inclusive call to all who are willing to respond. The Homily connects this Gospel to St. Paul's teaching on the Body of Christ: every member has a unique gift meant to serve and build the unity of the Church, not for personal pride or division. When we neglect our role or elevate worldly pursuits . . . success, possessions, or relationships . . . above God, we disrupt both community and communion with Him. We are reminded that at every Mass, we are invited to the Lord's banquet. The question is whether we will accept His invitation to eternal life or let passing concerns keep us away. The faithful are urged to use their gifts in love, serve one another, and prioritize the eternal over the temporary. Listen to this Meditation Media. Listen to: No More Excuses: Accepting God's Invitation to the Eternal Banquet ---------------------------------------------------------------- Art Work Restored mural painting by the Italian Renaissance Artist Leonardo da Vinci, dated to c. 1495–1498. The painting represents the scene of the Last Supper of Jesus with the Twelve Apostles, as it is told in the Gospel of John. ---------------------------------------------------------------- Gospel Reading: Luke 14: 15-24 First Reading: Romans 12: 5-16
Luke 14:23b "Go out to the highways and hedges and compel people to come in, that my house may be filled."
This episode is part 34 in a study of the gospel of Luke. Jesus talked about the Great Banquet. It will include some surprising people, while some people opt out. Jesus also talks about the cost of discipleship. https://thebiblestudypodcast.com/luke-14-the-great-banquet/ Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.
Join us in person on Sundays at 8:15 or 10:45am for morning worship with evening worship at 5:00pm at our Plattin Road campus.
This Sunday we come to the parable of the Great Banquet, which is perfect for a communion Sunday. Certainly it should be noted that Jesus is showing us that he loves to throw a great party, but he tells a story of a great party where many are simply "too busy" to come, despite having RSVP'd. So the host invites the beggars to come instead. Unlike the 'important' people, the beggars gladly drop everything to come. This sort of social is what many would purposefully avoid, yet this is what Jesus says the kingdom of God is like? What is he revealing about us, especially about our mistaken notions of what bring lasting joy, or - more directly - about what should be worth rearranging our calendar? Join us as we talk about "The Feast for the Least" (Luke 14:15-24)
In this episode we explore the Parable of the Great Banquet a powerful reminder of God's open invitation to everyone to share in His Kingdom. In this story, Jesus teaches that while many reject God's call, His grace extends to all who are willing to come. Join us as we explore the meaning behind this parable and what it reveals about God's love and mercy for us today.
Every person receives an invitation to the Kingdom, but not everyone responds. In Luke 14, Jesus tells the Parable of the Great Banquet, a powerful picture of God's invitation to salvation. In this message, we're reminded that we may ignore the invitation, but we will not ignore the consequences of doing so. Thank you for listening to the Truth for Today Podcast! For more content from Pastor Terry Fant, click the links below! www.youtube.com/@terryfant885 www.facebook.com/terry.fant.14 www.instagram.com/pastorterryfant
Sermon date: 10-19-25 Location: City Life Church, Grand Rapids, MI
Garth Heckman The David Alliance TDAgiantSlayer@Gmail.com Do you want to be healed? Why this question? Well Jesus sees the heart… we know why he asks because the man starts giving excuses… RATHER THAN:Do you want to be healed - YES!!! The mans problems went beyond physical - they were mindsets. His body was handicapped, but worse his mind was. His excuses we're his real limitations. WHEN FACED WITH A NEW REALITY/THE TRUTH IT PEOPLE HAVE THREE CHOICES WITH IN THIS NEW INFORMATION IN (COGNITIVE DISSONANCE) bAccept the truth - Change Distort the truth - Excuses Deny the truth completely - so you do not have to change your whole identity (the pharisees) Self Mastery What is it? THIS IS THE WORLDS DEFINITION - AND THEY ARE NOT WRONG… They have self mastery Self-Mastery focuses on internal control and external projection, emphasizing the discipline to align your actions, habits, and demeanor with your goals, even in private moments where no one is watching. BIBLICALLY WHAT IS IT? Jesus said I came to do only what my father has told me to do. John 6:38: "For I came down from heaven, not to do my own will, but the will of him that sent me". John 5:30: "I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me". John 4:34: "Jesus said unto them, My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work" **THE ULTIMATE DISCIPLINE OR YOU COULD SAY DISCIPLESHIP IS DOING THE WILL OF THE FATHER AND NOT THE WILL OF THE FLESH. No Excuses Luke 14:18 (NIV): (Part of the Parable of the Great Banquet, illustrating guests making excuses) "But they all alike began to make excuses. The first said, 'I have just bought a field, and I must go and see it. Please excuse me.'" Prov.22:13 The sluggard says, “There's a lion outside! I'll be killed in the public square!” We are prone to excuses: Prov. 23:7 New King James Version For as he thinks in his heart, so is he. “Eat and drink!” he says to you, But his heart is not with you. The original KJV says “as a man thinkers so is he” **The story line behind this verse: A man invites you to dinner pretending to be generous… but in his heart he is watching every bit tallying up how much it will cost him. HIS ACTIONS DO NOT REPRESENT HIS HEART. *A Key to understanding people is this: - Let me ask you a few questions: **YOUR LAST RELATIONSHIP… WHAT DID YOU LEARN FROM IT? ***YOUR LAST JOB… WHAT DID YOU LEARN FROM IT? ***YOUR LAST SCHOOL… WHAT DID YOU LEARN FROM IT? Here is what psychologist tell us: The longer it takes for someone to find themselves as the problem, the less self mastery they have. When people immediately throw themselves under the bus- it shows great insight into who they really are. The man gets healed, Jesus confronts his sin… and he runs to the pharisees…'its not my fault - its his fault!
The invitation to God's kingdom requires a response. --- Jesus told stories to help anyone willing to listen better understand life in the Kingdom of God. These stories meet us where we are and take us to deeper places in our faith. Join us as we listen to Jesus' stories and ask Him to help us grow. Sermon Notes: http://bible.com/events/49503713 Submit a Question: bit.ly/BeyondSundayQuestions
Aaron LeDuc – Luke 14:7-24
School of Ministry – Lesson 29 | Pastor Landon Churchill This session gives an overview of our evangelism focus: starting in Luke 14 (The Great Banquet) and moving through Acts 1:8 and Romans 1:16, Pastor Landon lays out why the church is sent to our own cities first and how the Spirit, the Word, and worship shape everyday witness. Drawing from Nehemiah, we're reminded to build and guard at the same time—doing the work while keeping our hearts. Practical takeaways include praying for your city, carrying simple invites/tracts, opening your home for Scripture, and using seasonal moments to extend the invitation. The aim is simple: say yes to Jesus' call so His house is filled. ComeToFreedom.com
Join Reverend Willis Greene as we delve into her sermon "At the Table: The Great Banquet."
Series: N/AService: Sunday 9:00 a.m.Type: SermonSpeaker: David Flatt
In Luke 14, Jesus gives us a parable full of paradoxes. In the parable, many are invited to a banquet, but only the outcasts and marginalized show up. The paradoxes are that God's greatest blessings can also become our greatest barriers, the gospel is both radically exclusive and radically inclusive, and to dine with Jesus is also to die with Jesus. To become good hearers of this parable and receptive to its gospel truth, we too must wrestle with these paradoxes that remind us God's invitation to His Kingdom is urgent, costly, and worth everything.
In Luke 14, Jesus gives us a parable full of paradoxes. In the parable, many are invited to a banquet, but only the outcasts and marginalized show up. The paradoxes are that God's greatest blessings can also become our greatest barriers, the gospel is both radically exclusive and radically inclusive, and to dine with Jesus is also to die with Jesus. To become good hearers of this parable and receptive to its gospel truth, we too must wrestle with these paradoxes that remind us God's invitation to His Kingdom is urgent, costly, and worth everything.
In Luke 14, Jesus gives us a parable full of paradoxes. In the parable, many are invited to a banquet, but only the outcasts and marginalized show up. The paradoxes are that God's greatest blessings can also become our greatest barriers, the gospel is both radically exclusive and radically inclusive, and to dine with Jesus is also to die with Jesus. To become good hearers of this parable and receptive to its gospel truth, we too must wrestle with these paradoxes that remind us God's invitation to His Kingdom is urgent, costly, and worth everything.
What is the heart of God's great banquet? In this episode of Light + Truth, John Piper opens Luke 14:15–24 to show that the feast is not just food but fellowship with Jesus himself.
Sermon for August 31, 2025 | Preaching text: Luke 14:1, 7-14
A sermon by Rev. Kara Nichols Barrett on Luke 14:1;7-15 in Ordinary Time.
Have you ever felt rejected, overlooked, or left out? Jesus knows that pain — and He has a place for you at His table. In this message, we dive into Luke 14 and explore the Parable of the Great Banquet, where Jesus shows us that His Kingdom is for the outsider, the overlooked, and the broken. While people may push us away, Jesus radically welcomes us in. Whether you've been hurt by rejection, struggled to fit in, or wondered if God really wants you, this sermon is for you.
This week, Pastor Chris shared Jesus on the parable of the Great Banquet to illustrate the open and generous heart of God, who invites all—especially the humble and overlooked—to His eternal banquet. While many respond to this invitation with excuses rooted in worldly distractions, their rejection reveals misplaced priorities and hidden idols. Ultimately, the parable reminds us that God's kingdom is for those who respond in faith and humility, and it challenges us to extend that same invitation to others before it's too late.
07/20/2025: Storyteller - The Great BanquetJoshua Reams
Luke 14:12-24 (ESV)
As we completed hypothesis 32 and considering the fathers' teaching on contrition being a source of spiritual labor and protection, we made a segway into the most beautiful and compelling of stories found in the Evergetinos. The story captures why we must maintain a spirit of humility and contrition to the very end of our lives. Regardless of the depth of our love and mercy or our gratitude toward God and others for their care, the evil one through his relentless provocation can throw us back on our heels to such an extent that we don't know whether we are going or coming. Thus, from our perspective, we may have sought to be loving, to go the extra mile in the service of others and God and that we have been grateful for the gifts that we have received. However, the oppression of the evil one's temptations and our own vulnerability and instability of mind and heart can bring us to a point of turning away from God and others in a spirit of hostility. One of the most powerful aspects of the story in hypothesis 34 about Evlogios and the cripple is that it does not allow us to distance ourselves from the trial that they experience. We are not outside observers but we can see ourselves in both characters - sharing each of their vulnerabilities. After 15 years of living in mutual love and charity and in a spirit of gratitude, the relationship between these two men is torn to pieces. Confusion, resentment, hatred, and rejection rise up in a way that is not only unexpected but does not seem to be rooted in any reality that can be fixed or addressed. It is only the presence and the words of the holy man Saint Anthony the Great that shine a light upon what is happening. His words are like a scalpel and he quickly moves to cut out the disease that threatens them both with spiritual death. The devil‘s actions are fierce and so St. Anthony's words must be direct and severe. He rebukes Evlogios for considering casting out a child of God whom God loves and warns him that God will raise someone up with greater love to care for the cripple. With equal severity, Saint Anthony turns to the cripple, warning him that he is unworthy of heaven and of earth given the fact that it is Christ himself who has been caring for him and it is Christ that he, the cripple, has been abusing verbally. Without being given an opportunity to respond, they are both ordered to return to their home and not to depart from one another for if they do so they will lose the crown that God has prepared for them. We come to see that the love that we are called to is that of the kingdom. It is not going to be rational. In fact in so many ways, it may push us to what seems to be absurdity; to the other worldly love of the Cross itself. Our ascent to Christ, our hope in his promises and our willingness to allow him to draw us along the path he desires must be absolute. To the world this will seem to be foolishness, but to those who have faith it is the shining light of God‘s glory and wisdom. --- Text of chat during the group: 00:07:16 Fr. Charbel Abernethy: August 9th at 7pm 00:11:21 Bob Čihák, AZ: P. 258, # 30 00:11:50 Fr. Charbel Abernethy: Page 258 number 30 00:34:00 Anthony: The difficult thing is to discern the thought & source, briefly, and quickly let it fly away (or chase it away!) 00:37:01 Myles Davidson: Nepsis 00:37:31 Adam Paige: Archimandrite Zacharou's book Flying Over the Abyss is out of stock.. probably because of Fr Charbel ! The monastery says it'll be reprinted in August 00:38:58 Julie: Do you think the evil one uses family, to distract us, that this is more important, to make you feel guilty 00:42:00 Andrew Zakhari: I think about the calls Jesus extends in his teaching and parables. "Let the dead bury the dead..." and the parable of the Great Banquet where people are too busy to accept the invitation. 00:43:24 Forrest Cavalier: The priest's homily at mass yesterday made the point that anger opposes meekness and mildness. I think this paragraph points out that even righteous anger can be enlarged which will eliminate the state of contrition. 00:43:45 Una: How about internal chatter than breaks the silence? 00:44:08 Myles Davidson: Reacted to "How about internal c..." with
Parables are a significant part of Jesus's teaching. These brilliant stories paint a picture of life in the kingdom, teaching us about God, ourselves, and the Lord's presence and activity in the world. But they are not easy. Rather than give us simple platitudes and truisms, Jesus challenges us with parables. They are intended to draw us in. Jesus wants us to wrestle with them, to walk around with, meditate and have conversations about them. In this series, we will dig into the context of parables from Luke's Gospel. We will consider the picture Jesus is painting of God's kingdom, and we will engage these stories through the spiritual practice of visio divina (with some original art from our community). This week, we considered the Parable of the Great Banquet. How does this party demonstrate the incredible grace of God and invite us to respond? And where do we see ourselves in this story? How do we want to imagine ourselves in God's kingdom but when it comes down to it, we want little to do with it? As Dr. Burge asked, how do we say yes to God but refuse to show up? If The Practice Church is your home community, please join the Core Team. If The Practice Church has been meaningful to your journey, would you consider a tax-deductible gift? You can give at https://thepracticechurch.com/give/
Today's Scripture passages are Psalm 52 | Psalm 70 | Psalm 86 | 1 Samuel 23 | Luke 14.Read by Ekemini Uwan.Get in The Word with Truth's Table is a production of InterVarsity Press. For 75 years, IVP has published and created thoughtful Christian books for the university, church, and the world. Our Bible reading plan is adapted from Bible Study Together, and the Bible version is the New English Translation, used by permission.SPECIAL OFFER | As a listener of this podcast, use the code IVPOD25 for 25% off any IVP resource mentioned in this episode at ivpress.com.Additional Credits:Song production: Seaux ChillSong lyrics written by: Seaux Chill, Ekemini Uwan, and Christina EdmondsonPodcast art: Kate LillardPhotography: Shelly EveBible consultant: JM SmithSound engineering: Podastery StudiosCreative producers: Ekemini Uwan and Christina EdmondsonAssistant producer: Christine Pelliccio MeloExecutive producer: Helen LeeDisclaimer: The comments, views, and opinions expressed in this podcast are solely those of the host and/or the guests featured on the podcast and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of InterVarsity Press or InterVarsity Christian Fellowship.
Reading Luke 14:12-24 where Jesus, still as a guest in the house of a Pharisee, tells them a parable about a great banquet at which the most unexpected people will be invited. Visit wwutt.com for all our videos!