5. The Great Banquet

Question 1

1. Context

Answer 1

• This Parable occurs in Matthew

- Luke’s version is very different from Matthews…

Question 2

2. Meaning

Answer 2

• Man organizing the banquet is God
• The banquet is the Kingdom of God
• The guests are humans whom God wants to save.
• Luke removes apocalyptic nature of Matthew
• Focuses on the worldly reasons the quests have for declining the invitation
- They resemble different types of soil (parable of the sower)

• Luke includes one servant: Jesus who invites listeners to enter the Kingdom
• The guests who are invited don’t attend
• Invitation is extended to anybody
• Represents the Kingdom being available to the Gentiles since the Jews have refused the offer of salvation

Question 3

3. Matthew’s Version

Answer 3

• Organiser of the feast is a King celebrating his son’s marriage
• Ungrateful guests assault several servants so the King sends his army to destroy their homes
• Matthew has an apocalyptic tone
• Servants are prophets, ungrateful guests are Jews who persecute them
• The son is Jesus
• The army represents the apocalypse with God destroying the world

Question 4

4. Implications

Answer 4

• Text supports Concelmann’s ‘salvation history’

• Apocalyptic symbolism of Matthew has been removed by Luke
- Banquet could be a Heavenly reward in the Afterlife rather than the Apocalypse happening on Earth

• 1st Century Christians: would feel pressure to maintain Christian commitment their whole life so they could be invited to the banquet (Heaven)

• Invitation to ‘the poor, the crippled, the blind and the lame’ reinforces Luke’s social concerns.
- Parable encourages Christians to share their wealth.

Question 5

Summary

Answer 5

1. Context
2. Meaning
3. Matthew’s Version
4. Implications