Current interpretation of Jesus's teachings

[Blither]

In my Parish magazine, there was a cartoon illustration that appears to be very much out of touch with what the Bible actually states. No name is attributed with producing this A5 page of moral cartoon story, i am not sure exactly what to make of that, but i would be interested with peoples thoughts on this interpretation.

The parable comes from Luke 14.



Writing in brackets is what the picture shows, after that, is what the writing underneath the picture reads.



(Title) The Big Bash!

(illustration of Jesus) Jesus often told stories with hidden meanings

(ill. of rich man) One story was about a rich man who decided to have a party

(pile of invitations) He sent out lots of invitations

(rich man reads an invitation and exclaims “oh! No!!”) But people started making excuses

(ill. of man with tape measure and field) One man said he had bought a field, but needed to measure

(ill. of man and oxen) Another man said he needed to test drive the oxen he has just paid for.

(ill. of small man, and large woman) Another man said he had just got married – and his wife wouldn’t let him out!

(ill. of beggars) So the rich man invited all the poor and needy instead.

(hand holding invitation which reads “Yes – I can come to your party”) This parable means we shouldn’t make excuses for not following Jesus.



My main point is how on earth the illustrator/writer of this cartoon can come to the conclusion in the final line. It seems to have no link with what has gone before it in the cartoon. I cannot understand how that story can possibly be used to teach that “we shouldn’t make excuses for not following Jesus”.



I have also read the bible passage for this parable, but I do not clearly understand it either. And it certainly does not help to clear up what the cartoon illustrator/writer was trying to say. I would be interested in any interpretation or thoughts that people have. Do you think that it is wrong that people are allowed to publish things such as this in Parish magazines as if they have some kind of authority? When it would appear that they are only causing confusion, and that here is in fact a danger that they are misleading people.

 

[HelpMe]

i agree with you, but i think i understand the parable.

 

[robtex]

I don't know Blither..looking for deeper meaning in a cartoon seems sorta frutile. Even if we correctly intrepret what he said where does that get us? Cartoons are kinda like poetry with pictures.....its the emotional response they are appealing to rather than the intellect.

 

[Scuba Pete]

I think this is a GREAT parable.

What if the President of the US invited you to a party at the Whitehouse?

No, I've got to______________.

a) Go measure land that I have already had surveyed.
b) Go test drive a car I have already purchased.
c) Wash my hair.
d) Make a post on Religious Forums.

Which excuse would YOU use?

But God has prepared an INCREDIBLE BANQUET for us. We get to have heaping portions of Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness and Self Control. Food for our soul that we can't get anywhere else!

So since the people we THOUGHT were supposed to be GODLY (the rich) have found better things to do... God has asked you and me instead... along with a HOST of sinners to attend the banquet which the religious of this world feel they have no need to attend.

Did I mention that I like this parable?

 

[Greyprophet]

The one's called but did not listen are the Jews.....Those grafted in are the gentiles.

Peace.

 

[Doodlebug02]

That is an interesting interpretation of the parable. Personally, I think there can be many interpretations to different Bible verses and such. I'm not sure if that interpretation is correct or not but it might be. Still, it is interesting.

 

[pensive]

Might it be wise to look at the entire chapter to see where Christ's mindset was at when he4 told this parable? Here's a quick rundown of the Chapter:

In verse 1, Luke tells us that Jesus enters into the house of one of the leaders of the Pharisees. He also tells us it is the Sabbath. Jesus finds a man in need of healing. Jesus challenges the Pharisees to tell him whether it is wrong to heal on the Sabbath. Jesus heals the man, pointing out that one would not leave an ox trapped in a well overnight just because it's the Sabbath. Jesus seems to be pointing out that sometimes, there is an immediate need for things to be done.

Starting in verse 7, Luke tells of us Jesus's next thought. Jesus now notices that people are jockeying for the "place of honor" at the dinner table. He criticizes them and goes on to point out that if one takes himself to be too "honored," one could find oneself shamed by being asked to take a seat of less honor. In this, Jesus seems to be making it clear that people should not think too highly of themselves.

Then in verse 12, Luke tells us that Jesus flows into discussing who they should invite to their feasts. He points out that inviting friends and relatives who will repay them brings little reward, but that greater reward comes for those who invite those who are poor and in severe need and cannot repay them.

It's after this that Jesus introduces the parable of the dinner after a brief comment comparing the dinner he is attending to "the feast of the Lord." In this, we have the case where those originally invited refused with various excuses. It seems to me that the point here isn't exactly excuses, but the fact that they all have things that they considered more important than the dinner. So the master turns from them and invites the poor and destitute. These will surely come because they know they have nothing more important to do. They know they need this feast, an they appreciate it.

The passage then turns to Jesus giving warning to any who would be potential followers that they must be ready to give up much.

The overall theme seems to be "awareness of need." Christ is trying to make the point that those who do not become aware of their need for "the feast of God" will miss it. So in a sense, the simplistic statement of "don't make excuses" seems spot on to me. The "excuses" are the things that people would put before the importance of following God. They are the things that people use to cover up their need. In the end, Jesus is asking, "are you the high honorable person who thinks they have it all, or do you recognize yourself as the beggar in need of what I can give you?"

But that's just what I get out of it.

 

[Annon11]

We know that the bible was written a few thousand years ago. We have had many individual views on what one word meant opposed to another. The mere fact that the pope in December of 2004, stated that a man who lusts for his wife and does not have procreation in mind, shows just how far out of touch he is.

Religion is a path to living and loving each other rather than a unique and devine path to the hereafter. Is it possible that an all Knowing and Powerful God would sacrifice so many souls that believed other than most? I sincerely doubt it.

It is time for a new holy book. Maybe we should get started?

 

[nicolaj]

In the Bible the King (God) is giving a wedding feast for his son...(Jesus)the invite to the Kingdom of heaven.

First all invitations go out to his choosen guests for his sons wedding.....the Jews...but the Jews turn down their invitations...Llike they did Jesus...
Many times the servants where sent out with this invitations inviting the jews...and many times they turned down their invite...like they did to Jesues...and still do.

So the King...(God)...has this massive wedding party ready, he has arranged......(The KIngdom of Heaven) but with no one to come...to eat it's beautiful foods, and fine wines...

So the King sends out his servants...and invites...everyone all to attend his sons wedding..(Heaven)

Us the gentiles where finaily given an invite...to the Kings wedding feast for his son...
Amen


Jesus tells in Matthew 15: 22-28...that at first, his message (invite) was not for the gentiles. He had come to save, the lost sheep of the house of Israel only...





15:22 And, behold, a woman of Canaan came out of the same coasts, and cried unto him, saying, Have mercy on me, O Lord, [thou] son of David; my daughter is grievously vexed with a devil.
<A href="http://www.divineplan.org/htdbv5/kjv0040.htm#0512">15:23 But he answered her not a word. And his disciples came and besought him, saying, Send her away; for she crieth after us.
<A href="http://www.divineplan.org/htdbv5/kjv0040.htm#0513">15:24 But he answered and said, I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel.
<A href="http://www.divineplan.org/htdbv5/kjv0040.htm#0514">15:25 Then came she and worshipped him, saying, Lord, help me.
<A href="http://www.divineplan.org/htdbv5/kjv0040.htm#0515">15:26 But he answered and said, It is not meet to take the children's bread, and cast [it] to dogs.
<A href="http://www.divineplan.org/htdbv5/kjv0040.htm#0516">15:27 And she said, Truth, Lord: yet the dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from their masters' table.
<A href="http://www.divineplan.org/htdbv5/kjv0040.htm#0517">15:28 Then Jesus answered and said unto her, O woman, great [is] thy faith: be it unto thee even as thou wilt. And her daughter was made whole from that very hour.

 

[GCC]

I think what the Apostle Paul said in 2nd Timothy - Chapter 6 already answers your questions. Take a look.

 

[firelane]

I've got a couple of points:

1) No scripture is of any private interpretation. (1 or 2 Peter)

2) As already said, it sounds like the cartoon is on the right track, but just doesn't drive it home. Ending in a silly, basicly meaningless, way.

3) I only had two, but I'm going to try to make up a third. What's a Parish.

 

[lockyfan]

The meaning of the word “compel” in Luke 14:23 can best be appreciated against the background of the parable of the “grand evening meal” of which this text is part. This parable is comparable to the parable of the wedding feast set forth in Matthew 22:1-14. There it is made clear that the “certain man” who made the grand evening meal and invited many was a king who had prepared a marriage feast for his son. He sent out invitations, but when the invitations to the marriage feast were turned down with varying excuses by the invitees, then the king turned to other means to have the feast well attended. Since he was king and all the people of the realm were his subjects, he had a right to send out his servants and now, instead of just asking indiscriminate individuals in the streets and lanes of the city, including the poor, crippled, lame and blind, to come to the feast, he as their sovereign lord compelled them to come. He doubtless compelled them because, being just ordinary people of the street, they would be wary of accepting an invitation, thinking themselves to be unworthy of attending such a great event, to which originally the elite of the land had been invited. This means that a lot of persuading had to be done.

This is what has taken place in the fulfillment of the picture. While each one is left to his own free will, there has had to be much persuading to be done and that with great vigor and expenditure of energy and effort on the part of those carrying the good news of the kingdom and inviting people with hearing ears to come to the great spiritual feast that Jehovah has arranged for in his kingdom. This urgent action toward these responsive people compares with the action of the angels who visited Lot in Sodom and who on the day of the destruction of the city had to take Lot and his lingering family by the hand and bring them out of the city and station them outside of it and then urge them to escape to the mountains in order that they might not be swept away into destruction.—Gen. 19:15-17.

Today the great King, Jesus Christ, is having a like urgent message given by the anointed remnant to the other sheep class, who in turn join in giving this message to still others. Realizing what is involved—the vindication of Jehovah’s name and the everlasting life of their hearers—those bringing this message make it as strong as they can, urging, constraining, obligating, compelling, as it were, their hearers to act and take their stand for Jehovah and his kingdom. Of course, while thus stressing the urgency and importance of their message, they do not override the free choice of such people whom they approach with the message of salvation. In this regard a comparison might be made with Lydia’s hospitality toward Paul and his companions and concerning which Luke wrote: “She just made us come.” She could not have coerced Paul and his companions had they in fact been determined not to accept her hospitality. So Christians in witnessing by not being easily discouraged do “compel” or “make” people come to the waters of life.—Acts 16:15; Rev. 22:17.

 

[Dunemeister]

I think it's a mistake to think that this point has the post-resurrection Jew/Gentile church in mind. Thus it's a mistake to think that this parable is saying anything about "the Jews" rejecting Jesus' message and "the Gentiles" accepting it.

As typical, Jesus is using a parable to respond to challenges from SUBSETS of the Jewish people to his ministry. His followers claimed he was the Messiah but he was not acting in the expected ways. No armies, no glories. Only a ragtag group of ne'er-do-wells and social misfits having parties everywhere. Jesus was always partying and telling stories about parties to illustrate what was happening THERE and THEN in what HE was DOING. Keep that in mind as you think what a parable means.

 

[lockyfan]

I think it's a mistake to think that this point has the post-resurrection Jew/Gentile church in mind. Thus it's a mistake to think that this parable is saying anything about "the Jews" rejecting Jesus' message and "the Gentiles" accepting it.

It is actually what is applies to today.

As typical, Jesus is using a parable to respond to challenges from SUBSETS of the Jewish people to his ministry. His followers claimed he was the Messiah but he was not acting in the expected ways. No armies, no glories. Only a ragtag group of ne'er-do-wells and social misfits having parties everywhere. Jesus was always partying and telling stories about parties to illustrate what was happening THERE and THEN in what HE was DOING. Keep that in mind as you think what a parable means.

No not neccesarily. Because the parable aobut the fine seed mmixed with the weeds spreads down to today as well. Because we are still reaping that harvest. Same as this one, the Jews were first invited and when they didnt accept the invitation, then other nations were invited as well. It is not just for his time, but for hte times afterwards as well.

 

[Harvey]

Here is what Jesus told a prophet what the parable actually meant: The parable is for non-denominational christians to come to marry Jesus. The denominations all rejected his word!
Isnt this good news for you? Amazing how inspiration had you put this up here.
here is the actual prophets writings on the matter.
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Under the parable of a great supper, our Saviour shows that many will choose the world above himself, and will, as the result, lose heaven. The gracious invitation of our Saviour was slighted. He had been to the trouble and expense of making a great preparation at an immense sacrifice; then he sent his invitations. But they with one consent began to make excuses. "I have bought a piece of ground, and I must needs go and see it; I pray thee have me excused. And another said, I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I go to prove them; I pray thee have me excused. And another said, I have married a wife, therefore I cannot come." The Lord then turns from the wealthy and the world-loving, whose lands and oxen and wives were of so great value in their estimation as to outweigh the advantages they would gain by accepting the gracious invitation he had given them to eat of his supper. The master of the house is angry, and turns from those who had thus insulted the bounty offered them; turns to a class who are not full, who are poor, who are hungry, who are not in possession of lands and houses; they are maimed and lame, halt and blind, and they will appreciate the bounties provided, and in return will render the master sincere gratitude, unfeigned love and devotion. And yet there is room. The command is to 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." Here is a class rejected of God because they despised the invitation of the Master. The Lord declared to Eli, Them that honor me I will honor, and they that despise me shall be lightly esteemed. Says Christ, "If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be; if any man serve me, him will my Father honor." God will not be trifled with. Those who have the light and reject it, or neglect to follow it out, to them it will become darkness. An immense sacrifice was made on the part of God's dear Son, that he might have power to rescue fallen man and exalt him to his own right hand, make him an heir of the world, and a possessor of the eternal weight of glory. Language will fail of estimating the value of the immortal inheritance.

 

[Harvey]

Again, and again, as I always say, it is all about the LOVE OF GOD, do you really love Jesus?
Have you fallen in love with this wonderful God? He died to give himself for you and he looked down on us and with infinit love gave up all heaven to come here to tell you how much he loved you. Sin will be eliminated, and those who want to give up sin with all their hearts to be like Jesus will be given the power, the wedding vow and the unity in divinity by the holy spirit to become bride to God for eternity, and he will ever be by your side to help you never remember anything about sin again.
When we read the Bible, pray to the father that he send his holy spirit to open your eyes to see what he means, and now go read it again. You will see this is the correct meaning.