Who will eat at the great Banquet in the Kingdom of God? To the Jews the banquet is a picture of the final state of salvation, the fulfillment of all God's promises of eternal life. It was what they all hoped for at the resurrection of the dead - to be welcomed to the Banquet table in the Kingdom. They were confident they would sit at that table - as they were certainly the kind of person that God will welcome to His feast. But Jesus teaches that it is in fact going to be the outcasts and the outsiders, who will sit at that table - the poor, the crippled, the foreigner (Gentile), because they are refusing the Banquet that is set before them even now. What they thought they wanted from afar off, is not of interest to them when they see it up close and personal. The Kingdom HAS come in Christ - but the things of this world are far too important to them, and they will not turn away from these, in order to come to the banquet. Not only are they to pre-occupied with the world to enter the Kingdom, but they are hostile toward it. Their refusal to come is public disgrace to the one who invited them. They are of "one mind" to make sure the banquet does not take place. If no one comes, then there can be no feast - so they think. But, God's plans will not be stopped. If the invited guests will not come, He will bring in the outcasts and Gentiles.
