Speaking to Jesus, someone at the dinner says, "Happy is the person who shall eat bread in the Kingdom of God!" This means that 'the person' will take part in the Resurrection Of The Just. Jesus responds by telling the Parable of The Great Dinner, in which He indicates that many could take part in the Resurrection Of The Just yet their excuses will prevent them from His salvation which leads to Resurrection.
The first man to give an excuse begs to be excused because of his own will. The second pleads assumed personal responsibilities. The third says that it is impossible for him to attend. And all these are lawful excuses under Moses yet their choices to make excuses has consequences. They make excuses because they're not listening to Jesus. It matters: Who they are listening to.
When we listen to Jesus then excuses fall away. As we listen to Christ He enables us with courage to push the excuses aside and follow Him in secure trust. We come to Him with repentant hearts and are Baptized to feast on His Kingdom Presence poured into us-- Holy Spirit fire lights us up. And at His dinner table we feast on His Presence-- Jesus prepares a table before us in the presence of our enemies (Psalm 23:5). And there is one more thought I offer you here.
Before falling asleep last night the Lord directed me to share John 8:42 with you. This is where Jesus speaks to those who use the excuse of Abraham to miss salvation. 'Jesus says to them, "If God were your Father, you would love Me, for I came from God and now I am here. I did not come on My own, but He sent me."' God sent His only Son to each of us so that you and I live the best life possible-- in salvation with Him. We love His dinner table. It looks like a wedding dinner table. Attendance without excuses. Joining Him.
Then Jesus said to him, “Someone gave a great dinner and invited many. At the time for the dinner he sent his slave to say to those who had been invited, ‘Come; for everything is ready now.’ But they all alike began to make excuses. The first said to him, ‘I have bought a piece of land, and I must go out and see it; please accept my regrets.’ Another said, ‘I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I am going to try them out; please accept my regrets.’ Another said, ‘I have just been married, and therefore I cannot come.’ So the slave returned and reported this to his master.
Then the owner of the house became angry and said to his slave, ‘Go out at once into the streets and lanes of the town and bring in the poor, the crippled, the blind, and the lame.’ And the slave said, ‘Sir, what you ordered has been done, and there is still room.’ Then the master said to the slave, ‘Go out into the roads and lanes, and compel people to come in, so that my house may be filled. For I tell you, none of those who were invited will taste my dinner.’” Luke 14:16-24