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Banquets and Feasts

Rejecting Invitations

"COMPELLING" GUESTS TO ATTEND The following words of CHRIST's parable need to be understood from an Oriental point of view: "And the Lord said unto the servant, Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled" (Luke 14:23). The usual brief invitation in America, and the ready acceptance of it would be ...

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Outer Darkness

WHY EXCLUSION FROM A FEAST WAS CONSIDERED TO BE SO TERRIBLE Ancient banquets were usually held at night in rooms which were brilliantly lighted, and anybody who was excluded from the feast was said to be cast out of the lighted room into the "outer darkness" of the night. In the teachings of JESUS, such exclusion is likened unto the day of judgmen...

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Eating Posture at Feasts

POSTURE WHILE EATING AT FEASTS It has already been observed that on ordinary occasions the people of the Bible age mostly sat or squatted on the floor around a low table at mealtime. In the king's circle, or at other times of special ceremony, seats were sometimes provided. The prophet Amos is the first sacred writer to refer to the custom of "[st...

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Places of Honor

PLACES OF HONOR AT THE TABLE When the Pharisees were invited to a banquet, they were very covetous of having the highest places of distinction at the table. JESUS condemned them for this proud spirit. He said concerning them: They " . . . love the uttermost rooms at feasts" (Matthew 23:6). When JESUS was guest at a meal in a Pharisee's house, He g...

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