Go out quickly into the highways and hedgerows and make people come in so that my home may be filled. Following Jesus’ short “lecture” on who should be included in the list of invited guests to a banquet (cf. Luke 14:12-14), one of his fellow guests rightly remarked how blessed are they who will have a seat around the banquet table in heaven. Jesus must have agreed with his input, for he proceeded to tell them a parable that explains the extent to which God goes in order to have seats reserved for everybody at the heavenly banquet. In the parable, the host invited many to a great dinner. Unfortunately, some of those invited failed to show up at the agreed upon time. But since the dinner had already been prepared, the host directed his servants to go to the streets and to invite as many as could fill the banquet hall, for the dinner had to proceed as had been planned. 
As with the other parables of Jesus, this one was also meant to invite those gathered bout him to some deep reflection. It was a parable that was aimed at inviting the audience to enter into the story so as to re-evaluate their stance as regards to the kingdom. Since those at the table with him were the invited guests, Jesus wanted them to identify themselves with the characters in the story who had been privileged to be given early invitations but failed to give honor to their election. Jesus wanted them to realize that their invitation was not simply a privilege but part of God’s plan for them. As God’s sons and daughters, they were definitely integral to the coming to fulfillment of God’s promises. However, they were not think that they were the movers of God’s plan. God’s plan did not depend on them, for were they to choose to place themselves outside of God’s plan, God would find others to take their places at the table. And when that happens, they were to be sure of one thing: they shall have forfeited their places at the heavenly banquet. Consequently, they were not to take their pre-election for granted. They were not to risk losing their privileged places. All that was required of them was to honor the invitation that had been extended to them by God.