Parable of the Great Banquet
Luke 14:15-24
Luke.14.15 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- Ακουσας: VERB,aor,act,part,nom,m,sg
- δε: CONJ
- τις: PRON,nom,sg,?
- των: ART,gen,pl,m
- συνανακειμενων: VERB,pres,mid,part,gen,pl,m
- ταυτα: PRON,acc,pl,n
- ειπεν: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,sg
- αυτω·Μακαριος: PRON,dat,sg,m;ADJ,nom,sg,m
- οστις: PRON,nom,sg,m
- φαγεται: VERB,fut,mid,ind,3,sg
- αρτον: NOUN,acc,sg,m
- εν: PREP
- τη: ART,dat,sg,f
- βασιλεια: NOUN,nom,sg,f
- του: ART,gen,sg,n
- θεου: NOUN,gen,sg,m
Parallels
- Matthew 8:11 (verbal): Promises that many will 'recline at table with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven'—a close verbal and thematic echo of eating in God's kingdom.
- Luke 13:29 (verbal): Speaks of people coming from east and west to 'recline at table in the kingdom of God,' using nearly identical banquet imagery within Luke's eschatological language.
- Matthew 22:1-14 (structural): Parable of the wedding banquet—a king's invitation, rejected guests, and a messianic feast—structurally parallels Luke's parable of the great banquet context surrounding 14:15.
- Revelation 19:9 (allusion): 'Blessed are those who are called to the marriage supper of the Lamb'—later Christian eschatological fulfillment of the banquet motif and the blessing on those who eat at God's feast.
- Isaiah 25:6 (thematic): Prophetic depiction of the Lord preparing a lavish feast for all peoples—an Old Testament precedent for the divine banquet imagery adopted in Luke.
Alternative generated candidates
- When one of those reclining with him heard this, he said to him, "Blessed is everyone who will eat bread in the kingdom of God!"
Luke.14.16 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ο: ART,nom,sg,m
- δε: CONJ
- ειπεν: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,sg
- αυτω·Ανθρωπος: PRO,dat,sg,3,m+NOUN,nom,sg,m
- τις: PRON,nom,sg,?
- εποιει: VERB,impf,act,ind,3,sg
- δειπνον: NOUN,acc,sg,n
- μεγα: ADJ,acc,sg,n
- και: CONJ
- εκαλεσεν: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,sg
- πολλους: ADJ,acc,pl,m
Parallels
- Matthew 22:1-14 (structural): A closely related parable (the wedding feast) with the same basic outline: a great banquet, invited guests who refuse to come, and subsequent summons to others; Matthew emphasizes the king and adds the wedding garment motif.
- Matthew 22:8-10 (verbal): Parallel episode in Matthew where servants are sent out to call the invited to the feast and report on their refusal — similar wording and narrative sequence to Luke's account of the supper and the invitations.
- Isaiah 25:6 (allusion): Prophetic image of the Lord preparing a ‘feast of rich food’ for all peoples; provides Old Testament background for Jesus' banquet imagery and the messianic/eschatological promise of a great meal.
- Revelation 19:9 (thematic): The ‘marriage supper of the Lamb’ as the eschatological fulfillment of banquet imagery — thematically linked to Jesus' parables about a great supper and the invited guests.
Alternative generated candidates
- And he said to him, "A man once gave a great banquet and invited many."
Luke.14.17 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- και: CONJ
- απεστειλεν: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,sg
- τον: ART,acc,sg,m
- δουλον: NOUN,acc,sg,m
- αυτου: PRON,gen,sg,m
- τη: ART,dat,sg,f
- ωρα: NOUN,nom,sg,f
- του: ART,gen,sg,n
- δειπνου: NOUN,gen,sg,n
- ειπειν: VERB,aor,act,inf
- τοις: ART,dat,pl,n
- κεκλημενοις·Ερχεσθε: PTCP,perf,pass,dat,pl,m
- οτι: CONJ
- ηδη: ADV
- ετοιμα: ADJ,nom,pl,n
- εστιν: VERB,pres,act,ind,3,sg
Parallels
- Matthew 22:4 (verbal): Synoptic parallel to Luke’s parable of the banquet—king sends servants to summon the invited with the same basic summons that 'all things are ready; come.'
- Luke 14:21 (structural): Immediate narrative continuation in the same parable: the servant reports the invited guests' refusal, showing the sequence begun by the summons in v.17.
- Isaiah 25:6 (thematic): Prophetic image of a divinely prepared feast for all peoples; provides Old Testament background for the eschatological banquet motif.
- Isaiah 55:1 (allusion): Universal, urgent invitation language ('Come, buy and eat') echoes the motif of a summons to partake of what is ready and freely offered.
- Revelation 19:9 (thematic): The 'marriage supper of the Lamb' draws on the same banquet/wedding-feast imagery as Luke’s parable to portray the consummation of God’s kingdom and the invited guests who partake.
Alternative generated candidates
- And when the time came for the banquet, he sent his servant to say to those who had been invited, 'Come; for everything is now ready.'"
Luke.14.18 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- και: CONJ
- ηρξαντο: VERB,aor,mid,ind,3,pl
- απο: PREP
- μιας: NUM,gen,sg,f
- παντες: ADJ,nom,pl,m
- παραιτεισθαι: VERB,pres,mid,inf
- ο: ART,nom,sg,m
- πρωτος: ADJ,nom,sg,m
- ειπεν: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,sg
- αυτω·Αγρον: PRON,dat,sg,m+NOUN,acc,sg,m
- ηγορασα: VERB,aor,act,ind,1,sg
- και: CONJ
- εχω: VERB,pres,act,ind,1,sg
- αναγκην: NOUN,acc,sg,f
- εξελθων: VERB,aor,act,ptc,nom,sg,m
- ιδειν: VERB,aor,act,inf
- αυτον·ερωτω: PRON,acc,sg,m+VERB,pres,act,ind,1,sg
- σε: PRON,acc,sg,2
- εχε: VERB,pres,act,imp,2,sg
- με: PRON,acc,sg,1
- παρητημενον: VERB,perf,pass,part,acc,sg,m
Parallels
- Luke 14:19-20 (verbal): Immediate continuation of the same parable—additional guests offer similar excuses (buying oxen, recent marriage), showing the repeated pattern of refusal begun in v.18.
- Matthew 22:1-14 (structural): A parallel parable (the wedding feast) with the same banquet/invitation motif: invited guests refuse to come and are replaced, highlighting judgment on those who reject God's invitation.
- Luke 9:57-62 (thematic): Other Luke passages where prospective followers offer reasons/delays for not following Jesus (e.g., burying father, saying farewell), echoing the motif of excuses that prevent participation in the kingdom.
- Mark 12:1-12 (cf. Matthew 21:33-46, Luke 20:9-19) (thematic): The parable of the wicked tenants likewise depicts servants and a son sent by a landowner who are rejected and abused by those expected to receive them—another story about refusal of rightful invitees and ensuing judgment.
Alternative generated candidates
- But they all alike began to make excuses. The first said to him, 'I have bought a field, and I must go out and see it; please have me excused.'"
Luke.14.19 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- και: CONJ
- ετερος: ADJ,nom,sg,m
- ειπεν·Ζευγη: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,sg+NOUN,acc,pl,n
- βοων: NOUN,gen,pl,m
- ηγορασα: VERB,aor,act,ind,1,sg
- πεντε: NUM,acc,pl,m
- και: CONJ
- πορευομαι: VERB,pres,mid,ind,1,sg
- δοκιμασαι: VERB,aor,act,inf
- αυτα·ερωτω: PRON,acc,pl,n+VERB,pres,act,ind,1,sg
- σε: PRON,acc,sg,2
- εχε: VERB,pres,act,imp,2,sg
- με: PRON,acc,sg,1
- παρητημενον: PART,perf,pass,acc,sg,m
Parallels
- Luke 14:18 (verbal): Immediate parallel in the same parable: another invited person excuses himself, saying he has bought a field and must go see it—one of the series of refusals.
- Luke 14:20 (verbal): Immediate parallel in the same parable: a different excuse—having just married—mirrors the sequence of reasons given for declining the host's invitation.
- Matthew 22:5 (thematic): In the Parable of the Wedding Banquet guests also reject the invitation, citing occupations/commitments (e.g., to their farm or business); thematically parallels the refusals in Luke 14:16–24.
- Matthew 22:8-10 (structural): After initial invitees refuse, the master orders his servants to bring others from the streets/paths—structurally parallels Luke 14:21–23 where the host fills the banquet with the poor, maimed, and outcasts.
Alternative generated candidates
- And another said, 'I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I am going to test them; please have me excused.'"
Luke.14.20 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- και: CONJ
- ετερος: ADJ,nom,sg,m
- ειπεν·Γυναικα: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,sg+NOUN,acc,sg,f
- εγημα: VERB,aor,act,ind,1,sg
- και: CONJ
- δια: PREP
- τουτο: PRON,nom,sg,n
- ου: PART,neg
- δυναμαι: VERB,pres,mid,ind,1,sg
- ελθειν: VERB,pres,act,inf
Parallels
- Luke 14:18-19 (verbal): Immediate parallel within the same parable listing other excuses ("I have bought a field... I have bought five yoke of oxen"), sharing the same formulaic refusals as v.20.
- Luke 14:21 (structural): Continuation of the banquet parable showing the host's response to the refusals (sending servants to bring in the poor and outcasts), providing the narrative resolution to the excuses including v.20.
- Matthew 22:1-14 (structural): Parable of the wedding feast: a similar feast-invitation motif where invited guests refuse or are unworthy, parallel in theme and structure to Luke's banquet and its refusals.
- Luke 9:57-62 (thematic): Other sayings about following Jesus where would-be followers offer reasons/excuses for delay (e.g., 'let me first go and bid them farewell'), thematically linked to Luke 14:20's excuse about marriage and the priority of discipleship.
Alternative generated candidates
- And another said, 'I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come.'"
Luke.14.21 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- και: CONJ
- παραγενομενος: VERB,aor,mid,part,nom,sg,m
- ο: ART,nom,sg,m
- δουλος: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- απηγγειλεν: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,sg
- τω: ART,dat,sg,m
- κυριω: NOUN,dat,sg,m
- αυτου: PRON,gen,sg,m
- ταυτα: PRON,acc,pl,n
- τοτε: ADV
- οργισθεις: PART,aor,pass,nom,m,sg
- ο: ART,nom,sg,m
- οικοδεσποτης: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- ειπεν: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,sg
- τω: ART,dat,sg,m
- δουλω: NOUN,dat,sg,m
- αυτου·Εξελθε: PRON,gen,sg,m+VERB,aor,act,imp,2,sg
- ταχεως: ADV
- εις: PREP
- τας: ART,acc,pl,f
- πλατειας: NOUN,acc,pl,f
- και: CONJ
- ρυμας: NOUN,acc,pl,f
- της: ART,gen,sg,f
- πολεως: NOUN,gen,sg,f
- και: CONJ
- τους: ART,acc,pl,m
- πτωχους: NOUN,acc,pl,m
- και: CONJ
- αναπειρους: NOUN,acc,pl,m
- και: CONJ
- τυφλους: ADJ,acc,pl,m
- και: CONJ
- χωλους: NOUN,acc,pl,m
- εισαγαγε: VERB,aor,act,imp,2,sg
- ωδε: ADV
Parallels
- Luke 14:13-14 (verbal): Same pericope: Jesus had instructed inviting the poor, lame, blind, and crippled to a feast (direct verbal and thematic overlap within Luke).
- Matthew 22:9-10 (structural): Parable of the wedding banquet: master sends servants into the streets/highways to bring in guests — a parallel narrative structure of widening the invitation to outsiders.
- Luke 4:18 (cf. Isaiah 61:1) (quotation): Jesus cites Isaiah about bringing good news to the poor and freedom to the oppressed — connects the invitation to the messianic mission to reach the needy and afflicted.
- Isaiah 35:5-6 (allusion): Prophetic imagery of the blind seeing and the lame leaping echoes the categories (blind, lame) and the theme of restoration present in Luke's invitation to the marginalized.
Alternative generated candidates
- So the servant returned and reported these things to his master. Then the master of the house became angry and said to his servant, 'Go out quickly into the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in the poor and crippled and blind and lame.'"
Luke.14.22 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- και: CONJ
- ειπεν: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,sg
- ο: ART,nom,sg,m
- δουλος·Κυριε: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- γεγονεν: VERB,perf,act,ind,3,sg
- ο: ART,nom,sg,m
- επεταξας: VERB,aor,act,ind,2,sg
- και: CONJ
- ετι: ADV
- τοπος: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- εστιν: VERB,pres,act,ind,3,sg
Parallels
- Luke 14:21 (verbal): Earlier in the same parable the servant reports to his master with the same formula (‘Κύριε, γεγονέν’/‘Lord, it is done’), creating a direct verbal/structural parallel within the narrative.
- Luke 14:23 (structural): Immediate continuation of 14:22 — the master's command to send the servant out into the streets follows the report that there is still room, showing the logical and narrative link.
- Matthew 22:4 (thematic): Parable of the wedding banquet: the king sends out servants to summon guests and broaden the invitation, paralleling Luke’s theme of invited guests refusing and the call to others.
- Isaiah 25:6 (thematic): Prophetic image of a great feast prepared for all peoples; provides an Old Testament background for Jesus’ banquet imagery and its eschatological implications.
- Revelation 19:9 (allusion): ‘The marriage supper of the Lamb’ continues the biblical banquet motif — the invited/accepted guests motif echoes the parable’s final gathering and eschatological banquet theme.
Alternative generated candidates
- And the servant said, 'Sir, what you commanded has been done, and there is still room.'"
Luke.14.23 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- και: CONJ
- ειπεν: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,sg
- ο: ART,nom,sg,m
- κυριος: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- προς: PREP
- τον: ART,acc,sg,m
- δουλον·Εξελθε: NOUN,acc,sg,m;VERB,aor,act,imp,2,sg
- εις: PREP
- τας: ART,acc,pl,f
- οδους: NOUN,acc,pl,f
- και: CONJ
- φραγμους: NOUN,acc,pl,m
- και: CONJ
- αναγκασον: VERB,aor,act,imp,2,sg
- εισελθειν: VERB,pres,mid,inf
- ινα: CONJ
- γεμισθη: VERB,aor,pass,subj,3,sg
- μου: PRON,gen,sg,1
- ο: ART,nom,sg,m
- οικος·: NOUN,nom,sg,m
Parallels
- Luke 14:16-24 (structural): The wider parable of the great banquet of which v.23 is a part; verse 23 is the host's injunction to invite others so that his house may be filled.
- Matthew 22:9-10 (verbal): In the parallel wedding-feast parable Jesus commands servants to go into the highways and invite all found—very close language and action to Luke 14:23.
- Matthew 21:43 (thematic): After Israel's refusal the kingdom/privilege is transferred to others—echoes the motive for inviting outsiders in Luke's banquet parable.
- Isaiah 56:7 (allusion): God's house as a place for all peoples ('my house shall be called a house of prayer for all nations'), resonating with the banquet's expansion to outsiders so the house is filled.
- Acts 13:46 (thematic): Paul's turning to the Gentiles when Jews reject the word parallels the parable's summons to invite others beyond the original guests.
Alternative generated candidates
- And the master said to the servant, 'Go out to the roads and hedges and compel people to come in, so that my house may be filled.'"
Luke.14.24 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- λεγω: VERB,pres,act,ind,1,sg
- γαρ: PART
- υμιν: PRON,dat,pl,2
- οτι: CONJ
- ουδεις: PRON,nom,sg,m
- των: ART,gen,pl,m
- ανδρων: NOUN,gen,pl,m
- εκεινων: PRON,gen,pl,m
- των: ART,gen,pl,m
- κεκλημενων: ADJ,perf,pass,gen,pl,m
- γευσεται: VERB,fut,mid,ind,3,sg
- μου: PRON,gen,sg,1
- του: ART,gen,sg,n
- δειπνου: NOUN,gen,sg,n
Parallels
- Matthew 22:1-14 (structural): A closely related parable (the wedding feast) with the same plotline: initial invitees refuse, others are invited in their place; both address rejection of God's invitation.
- Matthew 22:8-10 (verbal): Kingdom‑banquet language and action parallel—those originally bidden are found unworthy and servants are sent to invite others (echoes Luke's statement that the invited will not taste the dinner).
- Luke 13:28-30 (thematic): Warnings about exclusion from the eschatological banquet/kingdom and the reversal of expectations (those presumed in may be cast out; 'last will be first'), thematically linked to Luke 14's refusal and replacement motif.
- Revelation 19:9 (thematic): The 'marriage supper of the Lamb' image frames the eschatological banquet motif; Revelation celebrates those invited to the final feast, providing a theologically related contrast to Luke's note of rejected invitees.
- Isaiah 25:6 (allusion): Prophetic banquet imagery (the Lord preparing a rich feast for all peoples) provides Old Testament background for New Testament banquet/parables and their eschatological hospitality themes.
Alternative generated candidates
- For I tell you, none of those men who were invited shall taste my supper.'
When one of those who were at table with him heard this, he said to him, 'Blessed is everyone who will eat bread in the kingdom of God.' But he said to him, 'A man once gave a great supper and invited many.' And at the hour of the supper he sent his servant to say to those who had been invited, 'Come; for everything is now ready.' But they all alike began to make excuses. The first said to him, 'I have bought a field, and I must go out and see it; please have me excused.' And another said, 'I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I am going to test them; I beg you, have me excused.' And another said, 'I have married a wife, and for that reason I cannot come.'
The servant came and reported these things to his master. Then the master of the house, being angry, said to his servant, 'Go out quickly into the streets and lanes of the town and bring in the poor and the crippled and the lame and the blind.' And the servant said, 'Sir, what you commanded has been done, and there is still room.'
Then the master said to the servant, 'Go out into the highways and hedgerows, and compel people to come in, so that my house may be filled.'
For I tell you, none of those men who were invited shall taste my supper.'