And sent his servant at supper time to say to them that were bidden, Come; for all things are now ready.
LUKE 14:17KJVWhat does Luke 14:17 mean?
Luke 14:17 describes a moment in one of Jesus’ parables where a man sends his servant to tell invited guests that the meal is ready and they should come. The verse shows that the host has prepared everything and now calls those who were already invited to join the supper.
In the setting of Luke 14, Jesus is speaking to people at a meal, using a story to illustrate a deeper point about God’s invitation. The “servant” is sent at “supper time,” meaning the moment has arrived for the guests to respond. The verse highlights the readiness of the host’s preparations and the expectation that those invited will now come without delay.
The Greek behind Luke 14:17
- “Servant” (δοῦλος, doulos): This Greek word means a slave or servant, emphasizing the servant’s role as someone sent on behalf of the master, not acting on his own.
- “Bidden” (κεκλημένοις, keklēmenois): This word means “those who have been called or invited.” It shows that the guests had already received an invitation before this moment.
- “Ready” (ἕτοιμα, hetoima): The Greek word here means fully prepared or set in order, stressing that nothing more needs to be done—everything is in place for the meal.
Why Luke 14:17 matters
- Luke 14:17 clears up that the invitation is not sudden or random; the guests had already been invited, and now the host is simply announcing that everything is prepared.
- The verse emphasizes the generosity and readiness of the host, which, in the context of Jesus’ teaching, points to God’s readiness to welcome people.
- This verse sets up the tension in the parable, as the response of those invited becomes the focus of the lesson that follows.