In the following passage, we gain insight into why the temple in Israel will become desolate. The Pharisees, who are religious leaders, fail to comprehend or accept God's will, as exemplified by Jesus. This is evident in their disputes over how to observe the Sabbath. During a dinner at a Pharisee's home, Jesus encounters mistrust instead of a warm welcome. A man with dropsy is present, and Jesus asks if it's permissible to heal him on the Sabbath. Rather than answer, the Pharisees demonstrate the stubbornness of their hearts. Jesus goes ahead and heals the man, reminding them they would save a son or ox that fell into a well on the Sabbath. Despite their lack of a response, they persist in opposing Jesus, further highlighting their hearts' hardness.

During the dinner party with the Pharisees, Jesus observes that the guests are vying for seats of honor, highlighting the importance of honor and shame in the culture. Jesus teaches that it is better to take a humble seat and be promoted than to take an honored seat and be demoted. He addresses the Pharisees about the true meaning of inviting others to dinner. Instead of asking the wealthy and well-connected to receive future invitations, Jesus suggests inviting the poor and disabled to demonstrate God's love. This act of kindness will be rewarded in the resurrection.

The dinner conversation shifts to the topic of the messianic feast in the kingdom, with one guest expressing excitement about the blessings that will come from eating there. However, Jesus tells a parable about a grand banquet where many are invited but make excuses not to attend, focusing instead on their possessions and family. The host becomes angry and invites the poor and disabled in their place. Even when there is still room, those initially invited are not included, while others from unexpected places are. Jesus is using this parable to explain that those who claim to be interested in the kingdom feast may not have true delight in it.

The great banquet parable teaches us that some who claim to love the kingdom feast do not truly value it. In this section, Jesus highlights the cost of discipleship and clarifies what it truly means to love the kingdom. Notably, Jesus addresses discipleship when large crowds follow him, as being drawn to Jesus does not necessarily mean one is a disciple. Jesus asks for complete dedication, including saying no to family and being willing to sacrifice one's life for him. Two examples are introduced to illustrate the nature of discipleship. The first likens building a tower without calculating the costs of producing a half-built and mocked structure. The second explains that a king would not go to war with a superior army without good reason to believe he could win. Jesus calls for people to give up everything to become his disciples. Discipleship is also compared to salt, as a disciple who loses their salt by not following Jesus is as useless as tasteless salt and will be judged.