Jesus Teachs about Parties

In Luke 14 Jesus reels off a series of parables at a Sabbath Dinner Party.  Three of the stories were about parties/banquets. Like always, Jesus uses current events, common activities and cultural examples to amplify his teaching.
1. In Luke 7, Jesus teaches us about being a guest at a party.  His message?  Be humble. When you are the invited guest...remember you are the guest.  You are there at someone's invitation.  The host is extending grace and hospitality to you at their cost.  God is God...and you are not...He is our host...we are His guest....remember that He is the one that extends an invitation to us.
2.In Luke 12, Jesus then teaches about being a party host.  Don't make it a scoreboard when you invite guests that can help you...so they owe you.  Love people and invite those who can't pay you back. In fact He says, "But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind..." Jesus is teaching us to be more like Him.  Love those who are the "least of these", those who can't pay us back!
3.The next parable is about the Father's great banquet at the end of time.  This parable is about the great love of the Father and about the attitude of those who will be with Him in Eternity.  Many religious people who are invited...won't attend because of their many excuses.  (My mother always told me, "Even your best friend won't attend your wedding if they have something better to do.")
This exaggerated example stresses that most people have there own agenda....they want to follow Jesus if it is convenient and they don't have anything else going on.  The invited guest that the Lord is looking for...is interested in the host...and will show up...they are willing to follow and will attend the great banquet.