What Is the Parable of the Great Supper?
What Is the Parable of the Great Supper? In Luke 14, Jesus told of a man who prepared a great supper—when invited guests made excuses, he sent servants to bring in the poor, maimed, halt, and blind.
Key verse: Luke 14:23 (KJV)
In Luke 14, Jesus told of a man who prepared a great supper—when invited guests made excuses, he sent servants to bring in the poor, maimed, halt, and blind.
In Luke 14, Jesus told of a man who prepared a great supper—when invited guests made excuses, he sent servants to bring in the poor, maimed, halt, and blind.
"And the lord said unto the servant, Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled." — Luke 14:23 (KJV)
Meaning
Plain-language explanation
In Context
Surrounding KJV scripture
Related Verses
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The Biblical Answer
Found in Luke 14:16-24, this parable closely parallels the wedding feast parable but emphasizes different details. A man prepared a great supper and invited many. When the time came, each guest offered excuses—one bought land, another oxen, another had just married. The host, angered by their refusals, sent servants to bring in the poor, maimed, halt, and blind from the streets and highways. The parable illustrates that worldly priorities can cause people to reject God's gracious invitation, and that God will fill His kingdom with those who are willing to come, regardless of their social status.
Key Scripture References
"And the lord said unto the servant, Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled."
"For I say unto you, That none of those men which were bidden shall taste of my supper."
Frequently asked questions
Frequently asked questions
Related Questions
What Is the Parable of the Wedding Feast?
Jesus described a king who invited guests to his son's wedding—those who refused were replaced by people from the streets, illustrating God's open invitation to salvation.
Did Jesus Really Rise from the Dead?
The Bible presents the resurrection as historical fact, supported by eyewitness testimony, an empty tomb, and transformed lives.
Is Jesus God?
Yes — the Bible teaches that Jesus is fully God and fully man, the second person of the Trinity.
What Is the Trinity?
The Trinity is the doctrine that God exists as three persons — Father, Son, and Holy Spirit — in one divine being.
Who Is the Holy Spirit?
The Holy Spirit is the third person of the Trinity — fully God, who indwells, guides, and empowers believers.
Deep Dive Commentary
For a more in-depth study, read our verse-by-verse commentary:
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Read it in context
The answer above sits inside Luke. The 365-day chronological plan reads it in the order the events happened.
Read Luke on day 294 of the chronological Bible reading planKeep the verses to hand
Every verse quoted in “What Is the Parable of the Great Supper?” comes from the King James Version, free to download and print.
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