No title time!
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11. God made all things, and made them beautiful in their seasons, and has given men a longing for eternity. But God has made all things unsearchable, from beginning to end.
12. I knew that there is nothing better than to rejoice and do good while men live.
13. I also knew that it is the gift of God that every man eats and drinks and finds pleasure in his hard work
14. All that God does, it endures forever, and it cannot be added to, nor can it be made less from it. I knew that God did these things so that men might fear before him.
15. What is now was of old, and what is to be was of old;
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15. When one of the people eating together heard these words, he said, “Blessed is everyone who eats bread in the kingdom of God.”
16. And he said to them, "Some man made a great banquet and invited many.
17. At the time of the feast, he sent his servants to those who had invited him, saying, Come, everything is ready.
18. All agreed, and one of them said, "I have bought a field, and I must go out to see it, so I beg you to understand me."
19. Another said, “I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I am going to try it, so please forgive me.”
20. Another said, "I am married, therefore I cannot go."
21. When the servant returned and told the same to his master, the owner of the house became angry and said to the servant, “Go quickly to the streets and alleys of the city, and bring the poor, the handicapped, the blind and the lame.”
22. The servant said, "Master, you have done as you commanded, but there is still room."
23. The master said to the servant, Go out through the roads and hedges, and compel the men to take me and fill my house.
24. I tell you, not one of those whom I invited before will taste my banquet.
Content
Subject: No time!
Text: Ecclesiastes 3:11-15, Luke 14:15-24
The three years of Jesus' public ministry were a special opportunity in the history of Israel. Because there were events that reminded us of the re-creation, the exodus, and the return from captivity. All of these were works through Jesus Christ. Such was the ministry that was revealed along with the teachings. Luke, a former physician, dealt with the ministry of disease in a meaningful way in the Gospel accounts. Through the Word, the heart and soul were healed, and sick bodies were healed. These are the stories of banquets and festivals, which are the “sites of joy” characteristic of the Gospel of Luke. There was a force that hindered this festival of joy. This is the story of the Sabbath controversy. It was a problem with Jesus, who was sick even on the Sabbath. The New Testament text (Luke 14:15-24) was also related to the healing of the bloat on the Sabbath (Luke 14:1-6). The work of salvation was a change of daily life.
It was the words of a man who was listening to Jesus. “Blessed are they who eat bread in the kingdom of God” (Luke 14:15). Jesus' response to this is the content of the text. When I announced the invitation to the feast, finished the preparations and announced that I would attend, they all refused. These are the reactions that start with ‘All in agreement, they declined and said,’ (Luke 14:18a). These were excuses that presupposed forgiveness (Luke 14:18-20). It's an excuse that I don't have time to attend the feast because I have other things to do. Therefore, the prepared positions became vacant, and the vacant positions were filled with unqualified people. These are the words of the wrathful master. “I tell you, not one of those whom I invited before will taste my banquet” (Luke 14:24). It was a feast that should not be denied. Not being able to even taste the feast is the result of regret.
“There is no time!” is an urgent matter. It's a desperate situation. It is an unexpected emergency and contingency in life's journey. It's not something you make up with your head. It is the cry of the heart, the cry of intuition. It's something you can't afford to include as excuses. It is a word to be used with caution. It's something you should listen to. The meaning of the parable that Jesus was speaking at that time was a deplorable response from the Jews. It is a rebellion that after receiving the invitation, he changes his words when the feast is held. He rebuked pride and treason, thinking only of the privileges of the chosen people and forgetting their mission. The result is a tragedy in which they do not even taste the feast under their excuses. Because the host of the feast refuses to take part in excuses. There is an opportunity to hear the gospel and have faith. That opportunity is today, not tomorrow, and it's here, not there.
There is a thirst that has been given to all human beings created to resemble God's image. It is ‘a heart longing for eternity’ (Ecclesiastes 3:11). This thirst is the thirst that made us seek God. He made the joy and happiness we seek to be there. “You who thirst, come to the water. Come even those who have no money. Come ye, buy and eat; come and buy wine and milk without money and without price... obey me. Then you will eat what is good, and you will find joy in the fatness of your hearts. Incline your ear and come to me and listen. Then your soul will live. I will make with you an everlasting covenant, the sure grace of David” (Isaiah 55:1-3). This love, receiving this grace and enjoying it is the best life. “There is no time” for this blessed and holy work is only a foolish gimmick of man.