Charles Ellicott Commentary Luke 14:16

"But he said unto him, A certain man made a great supper; and he bade many:" — Luke 14:16 (ASV)

A certain man made a great supper.—Historically, this has the interest of being the first occurrence of the “feast” imagery in our Lord’s teaching. Here, as with so many of His parables, it is suggested by the occasion. Afterwards, as in Matthew 22:1-13, it is reproduced in an altered and expanded form. Here, as there, the giver of the feast is God.

And bade many.—The sequel determines the primary application of the word to the Jewish people. But it need hardly be said that it admits of manifold secondary, or even tertiary, applications through the whole history of the many churches of Christendom.