An instance of this we have in the 14th verse: “And when one of them that sat at meat with him heard these things, he said unto him, Blessed is he that shall eat bread in the kingdom of GOD.” Happy they who shall be recompenced at that resurrection of the just, which thou hast been speaking of. A very pertinent saying this! every way suitable to persons sitting down to eat bread on earth, which we should never do, without talking of, and longing for that time, when we shall sit down and eat bread in the kingdom of heaven. This opened to our LORD a fresh topic of conversation, and occasioned the parable, which is to be the more immediate subject of your present meditation. As though he had said to the person that spoke last, Thou sayest right: blessed are they indeed, who shall sit down to eat bread in the kingdom of GOD: But alas! most men, especially you Pharisees, act as if you did not believe this; and therefore he said unto him, “A certain man made a great supper, and bade many;” by the certain man making a great supper, we are to understand GOD the Father, who has made provision for perishing souls, by the obedience and death of his beloved Son CHRIST JESUS. This provision is here represented under the character of a supper, because the _Cæna_ or supper, among the ancients, was their grand meal: Men could never have made such provision for themselves, or angels for them. No, our salvation is all from GOD, from the beginning to the end. He made it, and not we ourselves; and it is wholly owing to the divine wisdom, and not our own, that we are become GOD’s people, and the sheep of his pasture. This provision for perishing souls, may be justly called _great_, because there is rich and ample provision made in the gospel for a great many souls. For however CHRIST’s flock may be but a little flock, when asunder, yet when they come all together, they will be a multitude which no man can number. And it is especially called _great_, because it was purchased at so great a price, the price of CHRIST’s most precious blood. And therefore, when the apostle would exhort the christians to glorify GOD in their souls and bodies, he makes use of this glorious motive, “That they were bought with a price.” He does not say what price, but barely a _price_, emphatically so called; as though all the prices in the world were nothing (as indeed they are not) when compared to this price of CHRIST’s most precious blood.
For these reasons, JESUS said in the parable, “A certain man made a great supper, and bade many, and sent his servant at supper-time, to say to them that were bidden, Come, for all things are now ready.” He bade many; the eternal GOD took the _Jews_ for his peculiar people, under the _Mosaic_ dispensation; and by types, shadows, and prophesies of the Old Testament, invited them to partake of the glorious privileges of the gospel. “But at supper-time,” in the fulness of time, which GOD the Father had decreed from eternity, in the evening of the world (for which reason the gospel times are called the last times) “he sent his servant,” CHRIST his Son, here called his servant, because acting as Mediator he was inferior to the Father; therefore says the prophet _Isaiah_, “Behold my servant whom I have chosen:” “to say to them that were bidden,” to the professing _Jews_, called by St. _John_, “his own,” that is, his peculiar professing people――with this message, “Come;” repent and believe the gospel. Nothing is required on man’s part, but to come, or accept of the gospel offer. It is not according to the old covenant, “Do and live;” but only “come, believe, and thou shalt be saved.” All things are ready. Nothing is wanting on GOD’s part. “All things are now ready.” There seems to be a particular emphasis to be put upon NOW, implying, this was an especial season of grace, and GOD was now exerting his last efforts, to save lost man. Well then, if the great GOD be at so great an expence, to make so great a supper, for perishing creatures, and sends so great a person as his own Son, in the form of a servant, to invite them to come to it; one would imagine, that all who heard these glad tidings, should readily say, LORD, lo we come. But instead of this, we are told, “They all, (the greatest part of the _Jews_) with one consent began to make excuse.” Conscience told them they ought to come, and in all probability they had some faint desire to come; and they had nothing, as we hear of, to object either against the person who prepared the supper, or the person that invited them, or the entertainment itself; neither do we hear that they treated either with contempt, as is the custom of too many in the days wherein we live. In all probability, they acknowledged all was very good, and that it was kind in that certain man, to send them such an invitation. But being very busy, and as they thought very lawfully engaged, they begun to make excuse.