The Lord spoke this parable, “A man once gave a great banquet, and invited many; and at the time for the banquet he sent his servant to say to those who had been invited, ‘Come, for all is now ready.’

“But, one by one, they all began to make excuses. The first said to him, ‘I have bought a field, and I must go out and see it; I pray you, have me excused.’ And another said, ‘I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I go to examine them; I pray you, have me excused.’ And another said, ‘I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come.’ So the servant came and reported this to his master.

“Then the householder in anger said to his servant, ‘Go out quickly to the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in the poor and maimed and blind and lame.’ And the servant said, ‘Sir, what you commanded has been done, and still there is room.’ And the master said to the servant, ‘Go out to the highways and hedges, and compel people to come in, that my house may be filled. For I tell you, none of those men who were invited shall taste my banquet. For many are called, but few are chosen.’”

1. Have you ever thrown a party? What did you do to get ready for it?

2. After preparing for your party, how would you have felt if none of your guests came?

3. Why is the master in this gospel upset that his guests didn’t come to his dinner? What are the people in the gospel saying is important to them?

4. Who do you think the master in this gospel represents?

5. Who do you think the people in the story represent?

6. What dinner does God invite you to? How can you show God that you value His invitation?