Guest list

Guest list

Bible:Luke 14:7-14

When you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind,
and you will be blessed (VV.13-14).

Reading

Qumran was a first-century Jewish community that had cut itself off from everyone else so they could prepare for the arrival of the Messiah (God’s promised Saviour). They took great care in keeping their traditions, rituals and strict rules. Ancient documents show that they would not allow the lame, the blind or the crippled into their communities. This was because they believed
that anyone with a disability was unclean. During their feasts, disabled people were never on the guest list.Ironically, at that very time the actual Messiah was at work in the cities and villages of Judea and Galilee. Jesus made His Father’s kingdom known, taught the Bible clearly, comforted those who suffered, healed the disabled and opened the eyes of the blind. He cut right through tradition when He said: “When you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, and will be blessed” (LUKE 14:13-14). It’s important that we pay attention to the difference between Jesus’ words and the guest list of the Qumran ‘spiritual elite’. Anyone is welcome in God’s home—and everyone is invited. No one is too bad; no one is disqualified! But trusting Jesus is the only way in. No one can enter heaven by their own goodness.

GOD’S INVITE IS FOR EVERYONE;
BUT WE MUST CHOOSE TO PUT OUR TRUST
IN JESUS FOR OURSELVES.

Youth Edition – Our Daily Bread Ministries