London City Mission wants to see Jesus Christ known in every community in London. They exist to share the good news of Jesus Christ with those least likely to hear it. This involves a particular focus on those who are on the margins of society.

I thank God for that mission. It is a great one, I’m sure you agree.

But I want to make the case that reaching those on the margins of society with the good news of Jesus should be our focus, too. That’s our goal. And to see that, we will look at three truths from this parable of the wedding feast in Luke 14:12-24.

The parable offers a profound message that challenges our understanding of who will likely accept the gospel.

1. The Reluctance of the “satisfied” to accept the gospel

The parable starts with a man preparing a great banquet and inviting many guests. But when the time comes, those who had initially accepted the invitation begin to make excuses. One has just bought a field, another has acquired five oxen, and a third has just married.

Each has a seemingly legitimate reason for not attending the banquet. Still, these reasons reveal something more profound — an attachment to the comforts and successes of this life that makes the invitation to God’s banquet seem unnecessary or inconvenient.

Imagine receiving a long-awaited package from Amazon. You've been anticipating its arrival, perhaps saving up for it for months. When it finally comes, you’re excited to open the box and try it out. The thrill of that new purchase consumes your attention.

This is exactly how the first group of guests in the parable felt—they were too preoccupied with their new “purchases” to bother with the banquet. It’s not that their actions were sinful, but their hearts were so full of their own interests that they had no room for the feast that the master had prepared.

How often are we, or those around us, too “full” of the pleasures and responsibilities of this life to respond to God’s invitation?

It’s like being asked to come to a feast when you’ve just stuffed yourself at Christmas dinner. No matter how delicious the food might be, you’re just not interested — you’re already full. The third-course-down, stuffed-to-the-eyeballs full.

Similarly, people who are satisfied with the success and comfort of this world often find it hard to see their need for the gospel. They are not spiritually hungry, making them unlikely guests at God’s table.

2. The receptiveness of those on the margins

In contrast, when the original guests refuse the invitation, the master sends his servant to the streets and alleys to bring in the poor, the disabled, the blind, and the lame—people on the margins of society.

These individuals did not receive a “save the date” card. They were not the first choice; they weren’t even considered initially.

Yet, when the invitation reaches them, they respond immediately. They have no competing interests. No distractions. No “Amazon packages” to open. They are ready and willing to come because they know their need.

Jesus’ teaching is clear: We are to go out to the highways and byways, to seek out the overlooked and forgotten, and to invite them to the feast.

Often, we are quick to spiritualise this, thinking Jesus means only the “spiritually” poor and blind. But Jesus is talking about real people, those who are financially poor, physically disabled, or socially marginalised. They are the ones God invites because they are often the most aware of their need and willing to accept the gospel.

3. God will fill his house

The final point is this. God will fill his house when we are faithful and go to the margins as he commands.

The master in the parable is determined that his banquet will be full, and so he sends his servant out again, this time to the country roads, compelling anyone he finds to come in. This shows God’s heart and determination. He desires his house to be full and will fill it as we faithfully extend his invitation.

Now, imagine you’re planning a party. You carefully decide who to invite. Instead of sending electronic invites, you opt for traditional mail. You drop your invitations off at the post office, assuming your guests will receive them in time. But later, you discover that many people didn’t get their invitations.

Why? The postman decided to deliver the invitations to people he thought would be better suited for the party. He took your invitations and gave them to his friends instead.

You would be outraged! “It’s not your party!” you would exclaim. “You don’t get to decide who gets the invite!”

This is precisely the point of the parable. We are not the hosts of the banquet. We are the postmen delivering God’s invitations to his party.

Our job is not to decide who we think should be invited but to faithfully deliver the invitations to those God has chosen, especially those on the margins. We can trust that God will fill his house as long as we faithfully deliver them.

History has shown that the gospel often takes root and flourishes among those on the margins of our community. Think of the great revivals—they have often started with the working class, the poor, and the oppressed. As we go to these places, God will do his work, drawing people to himself and filling his house.

Let us be faithful

The parable of the wedding feast challenges us to reconsider who we think will respond to the gospel. Those who are “full” of this world’s successes and comforts are often the least receptive, while those on the margins, who know their need, are the most open. As we faithfully go out as God’s “postmen”, delivering his invitations to those he has chosen, we can be confident that God will fill his house.

This is not just the mission of the London City Mission or any other organisation — it is the call for all who follow Christ.

Let us be faithful postmen, delivering God’s invitations, trusting that he will fill his house with guests for the great banquet.