Luke 13-14

“People will come from east and west and north and south and will take their places at the feast in the kingdom of God” (13:29). The religious people of Jesus’ day thought they were “in” with God, so it shocked them to hear Jesus say that they misunderstood the nature of God’s kingdom (13:24-30). Jesus longed to show mercy (13:34), and those who reached out for it were often not the “right people,” but instead “the poor, the crippled, the blind and the lame” (14:21).

“Come, for everything is now ready” (14:17). We enter God’s kingdom not by saying a formula or belonging to the right group, but by recognizing our spiritual desperation and eagerly responding to his invitation.