Luke 14:17
New International Version
At the time of the banquet he sent his servant to tell those who had been invited, ‘Come, for everything is now ready.’

New Living Translation
When the banquet was ready, he sent his servant to tell the guests, ‘Come, the banquet is ready.’

English Standard Version
And at the time for the banquet he sent his servant to say to those who had been invited, ‘Come, for everything is now ready.’

Berean Standard Bible
When it was time for the banquet, he sent his servant to tell those who had been invited, ‘Come, for everything is now ready.’

Berean Literal Bible
And at the hour of the supper, he sent his servant to say to those having been invited, 'Come, for now it is ready.'

King James Bible
And sent his servant at supper time to say to them that were bidden, Come; for all things are now ready.

New King James Version
and sent his servant at supper time to say to those who were invited, ‘Come, for all things are now ready.’

New American Standard Bible
and at the dinner hour he sent his slave to tell those who had been invited, ‘Come, because everything is ready now.’

NASB 1995
and at the dinner hour he sent his slave to say to those who had been invited, ‘Come; for everything is ready now.’

NASB 1977
and at the dinner hour he sent his slave to say to those who had been invited, ‘Come; for everything is ready now.’

Legacy Standard Bible
And at the dinner hour he sent his slave to say to those who had been invited, ‘Come, for everything is ready now.’

Amplified Bible
and at the dinner hour he sent his servant to tell those who had been invited, ‘Come, because everything is ready now.’

Christian Standard Bible
At the time of the banquet, he sent his servant to tell those who were invited, ‘Come, because everything is now ready.’

Holman Christian Standard Bible
At the time of the banquet, he sent his slave to tell those who were invited, Come, because everything is now ready.’

American Standard Version
and he sent forth his servant at supper time to say to them that were bidden, Come; for all things are now ready.

Contemporary English Version
When the banquet was ready, he sent a servant to tell the guests, "Everything is ready! Please come."

English Revised Version
and he sent forth his servant at supper time to say to them that were bidden, Come; for all things are now ready.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
When it was time for the banquet, he sent his servant to tell those who were invited, 'Come! Everything is ready now.'

Good News Translation
When it was time for the feast, he sent his servant to tell his guests, 'Come, everything is ready!'

International Standard Version
When it was time for the banquet, he sent his servant to tell those who were invited, 'Come! Everything is now ready.'

Majority Standard Bible
When it was time for the banquet, he sent his servant to tell those who had been invited, ‘Come, for everything is now ready.’

NET Bible
At the time for the banquet he sent his slave to tell those who had been invited, 'Come, because everything is now ready.'

New Heart English Bible
And he sent his servant at the hour for supper to tell those who were invited, 'Come, for everything is ready now.'

Webster's Bible Translation
And sent his servant at supper-time, to say to them that were invited, Come, for all things are now ready.

Weymouth New Testament
At dinner-time he sent his servant to announce to those who had been invited, "'Come, for things are now ready.'

World English Bible
He sent out his servant at supper time to tell those who were invited, ‘Come, for everything is ready now.’
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
and he sent his servant at the hour of the dinner to say to those having been called, Be coming, because now all things are ready.

Berean Literal Bible
And at the hour of the supper, he sent his servant to say to those having been invited, 'Come, for now it is ready.'

Young's Literal Translation
and he sent his servant at the hour of the supper to say to those having been called, Be coming, because now are all things ready.

Smith's Literal Translation
And he sent his servant at the hour of the supper to say to the called, Come; for all things are already prepared.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And he sent his servant at the hour of supper to say to them that were invited, that they should come, for now all things are ready.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And he sent his servant, at the hour of the feast, to tell the invited to come; for now everything was ready.

New American Bible
When the time for the dinner came, he dispatched his servant to say to those invited, ‘Come, everything is now ready.’

New Revised Standard Version
At the time for the dinner he sent his slave to say to those who had been invited, ‘Come; for everything is ready now.’
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And he sent his servant at supper time to tell those who were invited, Behold, everything is made ready for you, come.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
“He sent his servant at the time of the supper to say to those who were invited, 'Behold, everything is ready for you; Come.' “
NT Translations
Anderson New Testament
And he sent his servant at the hour of supper, to say to those who had been invited, Come, for all things are now ready.

Godbey New Testament
and at the hour, of the supper he sent his servants to say to those who were invited, Come; because they are now ready.

Haweis New Testament
and sent his servants at supper-time to say to the invited, Come; for all things are now ready.

Mace New Testament
at supper-time he sent his servant to tell the guests to come, because every thing was ready.

Weymouth New Testament
At dinner-time he sent his servant to announce to those who had been invited, "'Come, for things are now ready.'

Worrell New Testament
And he sent forth his servant, at the hour of the supper, to say to those invited, 'Come; because all things are now ready.'

Worsley New Testament
and sent his servant at supper-time to say to them that were invited, Come, for all things are now ready.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Parable of the Banquet
16But Jesus replied, “A certain man prepared a great banquet and invited many guests. 17 When it was time for the banquet, he sent his servant to tell those who had been invited, ‘Come, for everything is now ready.’ 18But one after another they all began to make excuses. The first one said, ‘I have bought a field, and I need to go see it. Please excuse me.’…

Cross References
Matthew 22:3-4
He sent his servants to call those he had invited to the banquet, but they refused to come. / Again, he sent other servants and said, ‘Tell those who have been invited that I have prepared my dinner. My oxen and fattened cattle have been killed, and everything is ready. Come to the wedding banquet.’

Revelation 19:9
Then the angel told me to write, “Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.” And he said to me, “These are the true words of God.”

Isaiah 55:1
“Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters; and you without money, come, buy, and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost!

Proverbs 9:1-5
Wisdom has built her house; she has carved out her seven pillars. / She has prepared her meat and mixed her wine; she has also set her table. / She has sent out her maidservants; she calls out from the heights of the city. ...

Matthew 22:8-10
Then he said to his servants, ‘The wedding banquet is ready, but those I invited were not worthy. / Go therefore to the crossroads and invite to the banquet as many as you can find.’ / So the servants went out into the streets and gathered everyone they could find, both evil and good, and the wedding hall was filled with guests.

Isaiah 25:6
On this mountain the LORD of Hosts will prepare a lavish banquet for all the peoples, a feast of aged wine, of choice meat, of finely aged wine.

Matthew 11:28
Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.

John 6:37
Everyone the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will never drive away.

Romans 10:21
But as for Israel he says: “All day long I have held out My hands to a disobedient and obstinate people.”

Matthew 8:11
I say to you that many will come from the east and the west to share the banquet with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven.

Revelation 3:20
Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in and dine with him, and he with Me.

Isaiah 65:1-2
“I revealed Myself to those who did not ask for Me; I was found by those who did not seek Me. To a nation that did not call My name, I said, ‘Here I am! Here I am!’ / All day long I have held out My hands to an obstinate people who walk in the wrong path, who follow their own imaginations,

John 1:11-12
He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him. / But to all who did receive Him, to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God—

Acts 13:46
Then Paul and Barnabas answered them boldly: “It was necessary to speak the word of God to you first. But since you reject it and do not consider yourselves worthy of eternal life, we now turn to the Gentiles.

Romans 9:30-31
What then will we say? That the Gentiles, who did not pursue righteousness, have obtained it, a righteousness that is by faith; / but Israel, who pursued a law of righteousness, has not attained it.


Treasury of Scripture

And sent his servant at supper time to say to them that were bidden, Come; for all things are now ready.

his.

Luke 3:4-6
As it is written in the book of the words of Esaias the prophet, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight…

Luke 9:1-5
Then he called his twelve disciples together, and gave them power and authority over all devils, and to cure diseases…

Luke 10:1
After these things the Lord appointed other seventy also, and sent them two and two before his face into every city and place, whither he himself would come.

Come.

Matthew 11:27-29
All things are delivered unto me of my Father: and no man knoweth the Son, but the Father; neither knoweth any man the Father, save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal him

Matthew 22:3,4
And sent forth his servants to call them that were bidden to the wedding: and they would not come…

John 7:37
In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink.

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Luke 14
1. Jesus heals the dropsy on the Sabbath;
7. teaches humility;
12. to feast the poor;
15. under the parable of the great supper,
23. shows how worldly minded men shall be shut out of heaven.
25. Those who will be his disciples, to bear their cross must make their accounts beforehand,
31. lest with shame they revolt from him afterward;
34. and become altogether unprofitable, like salt that has lost its flavor.














At the time of the banquet
This phrase sets the scene for a significant event, a banquet, which in biblical times was a grand occasion often symbolizing the kingdom of God. The Greek word for "banquet" is "δεῖπνον" (deipnon), which refers to the main meal of the day, typically held in the evening. In the context of Luke 14, this banquet represents the eschatological feast, a future event where God gathers His people. Historically, banquets were not just about food but were social events that reinforced community bonds and status. In the biblical narrative, this banquet symbolizes the invitation to partake in the blessings of God's kingdom.

he sent his servant
The "servant" in this parable is a key figure, representing those who are sent by God to deliver His message. The Greek word for "servant" is "δοῦλος" (doulos), which can also mean "slave" or "bondservant." This term emphasizes humility and obedience, reflecting the role of prophets, apostles, and evangelists who are tasked with spreading the Gospel. The act of sending the servant highlights God's initiative in reaching out to humanity, underscoring His desire for all to come to the banquet, or salvation.

to tell those who had been invited
This phrase indicates that the invitation had already been extended, and now it is time for the guests to respond. The Greek word for "invited" is "κεκλημένους" (keklēmenous), which is a perfect passive participle, suggesting a completed action with ongoing results. This reflects the ongoing call of God to His people, a call that requires a response. Historically, invitations to banquets were sent in two stages: an initial invitation followed by a reminder when the feast was ready. This mirrors the prophetic call of the Old Testament and the fulfillment in Christ.

Come
The simple yet profound invitation, "Come," is a call to action. The Greek word "ἔρχεσθε" (erchesthe) is an imperative, urging immediate response. This reflects the urgency and importance of accepting God's invitation. In the broader scriptural context, "come" is a recurring theme, inviting people to draw near to God, to enter into His rest, and to partake in His promises. It is an open invitation, emphasizing God's grace and the accessibility of His kingdom to all who will respond.

for everything is now ready
This phrase signifies the completion and readiness of the banquet, symbolizing the fulfillment of God's promises. The Greek word for "ready" is "ἕτοιμα" (hetoima), indicating preparation and readiness. In the context of the Gospel, this readiness points to the completed work of Christ, who through His life, death, and resurrection, has made all things ready for our salvation. Historically, the readiness of a banquet was a signal for guests to arrive, paralleling the readiness of God's kingdom for those who accept His invitation. This phrase reassures believers of the certainty and sufficiency of God's provision.

(17) And sent his servant.--The servant stands in this parable as the representative of the whole order of prophets and apostles--of all who, like the Baptist and the Twelve, had been sent to invite men to the Kingdom. "The time of supper" is, in the primary application, the time of our Lord's coming, when the Kingdom of Heaven was first proclaimed as nigh at hand. All things--pardon, peace, blessedness--were now ready for those who would accept them.

Verses 17-20. - Come; for all things are now ready. And they all with one consent began to make excuse. The excuses, viewed as a whole, are paltry, and "if," as it has been well said, "as a mere story of natural life it seems highly improbable, it is because men's conduct with regard to the Divine kingdom is not according to right reason... The excuses are all of the nature of pretexts, not one of them being a valid reason for non-attendance at the feast." The fact was, the invited were pleased to be invited, but there the matter ended with them. The banquet, which they were proud to have been asked to share in, had no influence upon their everyday lives. They made their engagements for pleasure and for business without the least regard to the day or the hour of the banquet: indeed, they treated it with perfect indifference. The key to the parable is easily found. The Jews were "solemn triflers in the matter of religion. They were under invitation to enter the kingdom, and they did not assume the attitude of men who avowedly cared nothing for it. On the contrary, they were pleased to think that its privileges were theirs in offer, and even gave themselves credit for setting a high value on them. But in truth they did not. The kingdom of God had not by any means the first place in their esteem. They were men who talked much about the kingdom of heaven, yet cared little for it; who were very religious, yet very worldly - a class of which too many specimens exist in every age" (Professor Bruce, 'Parabolic Teaching'). I have bought a piece of ground... I have bought five yoke of oxen... I have married a wife, etc. These excuses, of course, by no means exhaust all possible cases. They simply represent examples of usual everyday causes of indifference to the kingdom of God. To all these excuses one thing is common - in each a present good is esteemed above the heavenly offer; in other words, temporal good is valued higher than spiritual. The three excuses may be classed under the following heads.

(1) The attraction of property of different kinds, the absorbing delight of possessing earthly goods.

(2) The occupations of business, the pleasure of increasing the store, of adding coin to coin, or field to field.

(3) Social ties, whether at home or abroad, whether in general society or in the home circle; for even in the latter case it is too possible for family and domestic interests so completely to fill the heart as to leave no room there for higher and more unselfish aims, no place for any grander hopes than the poor narrow home-life affords. The primary application of all this was to the Jews of the Lord's own time. It was spoken, we must remember, to a gathering of the Rite of the Israel of his day. In the report of the servant detailing to the master the above-recorded excuses, it has been beautifully said, "we may hear the echo of the sorrowful lamentation uttered by Jesus over the hardening of the Jews during his long nights of prayer." The invitation to the feast was neglected by the learned and the powerful among the people.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Greek
[When it was]
τῇ (tē)
Article - Dative Feminine Singular
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

time
ὥρᾳ (hōra)
Noun - Dative Feminine Singular
Strong's 5610: Apparently a primary word; an 'hour'.

for the
τοῦ (tou)
Article - Genitive Neuter Singular
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

banquet,
δείπνου (deipnou)
Noun - Genitive Neuter Singular
Strong's 1173: A dinner, an afternoon or evening meal. From the same as dapane; dinner, i.e. The chief meal.

he sent
ἀπέστειλεν (apesteilen)
Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 649: From apo and stello; set apart, i.e. to send out literally or figuratively.

his
αὐτοῦ (autou)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 846: He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons.

servant
δοῦλον (doulon)
Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular
Strong's 1401: (a) (as adj.) enslaved, (b) (as noun) a (male) slave. From deo; a slave.

to tell
εἰπεῖν (eipein)
Verb - Aorist Infinitive Active
Strong's 2036: Answer, bid, bring word, command. A primary verb; to speak or say.

those
τοῖς (tois)
Article - Dative Masculine Plural
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

who had been invited,
κεκλημένοις (keklēmenois)
Verb - Perfect Participle Middle or Passive - Dative Masculine Plural
Strong's 2564: (a) I call, summon, invite, (b) I call, name. Akin to the base of keleuo; to 'call'.

‘Come,
Ἔρχεσθε (Erchesthe)
Verb - Present Imperative Middle or Passive - 2nd Person Plural
Strong's 2064: To come, go.

for
ὅτι (hoti)
Conjunction
Strong's 3754: Neuter of hostis as conjunction; demonstrative, that; causative, because.

[everything] is
ἐστιν (estin)
Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 1510: I am, exist. The first person singular present indicative; a prolonged form of a primary and defective verb; I exist.

now
ἤδη (ēdē)
Adverb
Strong's 2235: Already; now at length, now after all this waiting. Apparently from e and de; even now.

ready.’
ἕτοιμά (hetoima)
Adjective - Nominative Neuter Plural
Strong's 2092: Ready, prepared. From an old noun heteos; adjusted, i.e. Ready.


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NT Gospels: Luke 14:17 He sent out his servant at supper (Luke Lu Lk)
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