“Go into the Highways and Hedges”
137
joy of true hospitality, the people were throughout the year to care for
the bereaved and the poor. And these feasts
“Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters,
and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea,
come, buy wine and milk without money and without price.
Wherefore do ye spend money for that which is not bread?
and your labour for that which satisfieth not? hearken
diligently unto Me, and eat ye that which is good, and let
your soul delight itself in fatness.”
Isaiah 55:1, 2
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had a wider lesson. The spiritual blessings given to Israel were not for
themselves alone. God had given the bread of life to them, that they
might break it to the world.
This work they had not fulfilled. Christ’s words were a rebuke to
their selfishness. To the Pharisees His words were distasteful. Hoping
to turn the conversation into another channel, one of them, with a
sanctimonious air, exclaimed, “Blessed is he that shall eat bread in
the kingdom of God.” This man spoke with great assurance, as if
he himself were certain of a place in the kingdom. His attitude was
similar to the attitude of those who rejoice that they are saved by Christ,
when they do not comply with the conditions upon which salvation is
promised. His spirit was like that of Balaam when he prayed, “Let me
die the death of the righteous, and let my last end be like his.”
Numbers
23:10
. The Pharisee was not thinking of his own fitness for heaven
but of what he hoped to enjoy in heaven. His remark was designed
to turn away the minds of the guests at the feast from the subject of
their practical duty. He thought to carry them past the present life to
the remote time of the resurrection of the just.
Christ read the heart of the pretender, and fastening His eyes upon
him He opened before the company the character and value of their
present privileges. He showed them that they had a part to act at that
very time, in order to share in the blessedness of the future.
“A certain man,” He said, “made a great supper, and bade many.”
When the time of the feast arrived, the host sent his servant to the
expected guests with a second message, “Come; for all things are now
ready.” But a strange indifference was shown. “All with one consent
began to make excuse. The first said unto him, I have bought a piece