Luke 14:24

None of those men. This strongly worded exclusion of the originally invited guests is the declaration of the host of the parable. But this does not mean that Heaven arbitrarily excludes anyone. The gracious host of the story simply cancels his original invitation that had been so rudely refused. Evidently his house is now “filled” (verse 23), and there is no more room. But in the kingdom of heaven there is ample room for all who are willing to enter (see on verse 22).

Jesus does not teach by this parable that earthly possessions are necessarily incompatible with the kingdom of heaven, but rather that inordinate affection for the things of earth disqualifies a person from entering heaven — in fact, it leaves him with no desire for heavenly things. A man cannot “serve two masters” (see on Matthew 6:19-24). Those who put forth their first and best efforts to accumulate earthly possessions or to enjoy earth’s pleasures will be shut out on the basis that their heart’s affection is on earthly rather than heavenly things (cf. Matthew 6:25-34). Covetousness for the things of earth eventually eliminates a desire for the things of heaven (see on Luke 12:15-21), and when covetous men are called upon to share their accumulated wealth they go away “sorrowful” (see on Matthew 19:21, 22). It is “hard” for “a rich man” to “enter into the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 19:23) for the simple reason that usually he does not sufficiently desire to enter in.

Taste of my supper. That is, in case they should change their minds at a later time. Salvation consists of the invitation extended by God, and man’s acceptance of it. Neither can be effective without the other. The Scriptures repeatedly present the possibility that those who have made light of the grace of God may seem to change their minds when it is too late, that is, when the gospel call no longer sounds (see Jeremiah 8:20; Matthew 25:11, 12; Luke 13:25). That call is finally withdrawn, not because any temporal limit to the mercy of God has been exceeded, but rather because those excluded have made a final, conclusive decision. If they later change their minds, that change is confined to a realization that they have made the wrong choice as far as results to themselves go, and does not mean that they have suddenly acquired a genuine desire to live in obedience to God.