This is a challenging parable of judgment. As with any parable, there’s probably more on the page than could ever be mined and it doesn’t always have to be internally consistent. Jesus often spoke in very broad terms–camels passing through the eye of the needle, people harvesting enormous amounts of grain, and so on.
What makes this parable so important, in my view, is that this is a parable about the Kingdom of heaven. In some ways, THE touchstone of Jesus’ preaching. There was no topic more important to his ministry and his way of responding to God’s call than this idea–that the Kingdom of Heaven is coming, that God is in control, and that God’s Kingdom is like the greatest banquet you’ve ever been to.
For the sermon, click below:
Emmanuel Reformed Church of the United Church of Christ 