As Jesus continues His meal at the Pharisees house he encourages his host to show hospitality to those who cannot repay (v12-14). Loving sacrificially and with no reward in this world brings greater reward in the world to come.

It is easy for us to be kind to those we like, but it is a different thing to show kindness to those we struggle to like or whose company we don’t particularly enjoy. Pray about who you can show sacrificial kindness to?

This intervention from one at the table (v15) seems to be from someone who wanted to sound very spiritual but was not so hot on doing what Jesus had just called for in showing kindness.

In this parable of the banquet (v16-24) Jesus shows the character of God in welcoming the undeserving (v21-23). In showing hospitality to the poor and struggling we are being very Christ-like.

This parable also teaches how those who are brought into the kingdom of God are often not who would be expected and the religious good people are often left out because they refused grace (v17-20; 24).

Entrance to the heavenly banquet is never based on merit but it is all about grace to the underserving. If we don’t grasp this we have no part in it.