Luk 22:71 | TNotes | STEP | 22:71 Why do we need other witnesses? The high council regarded Jesus’ confirmation that he was both the Messiah and the Son of God as a blasphemous claim and thus as proof of his guilt. Thematic note: The Messianic Banquet Through his teaching and miracles, Jesus announced that the messianic banquet was about to be served. All may come and feast at the table of salvation in God’s Kingdom. Jesus described his ministry as a wedding feast, with himself as the groom (Luke 5:33-35 ) and the Kingdom of God as a great banquet. All were invited, but some refused to come (Luke 14:15-24 ; see also Matt 8:11-12 ). Jesus often ate with diverse people, from despised tax collectors to pious Pharisees (5:29-32 ; 7:36-50 ; 11:37-41 ; 14:1-6 ). Jesus also used imagery of feasting and banquets in his teaching and parables (5:33-35 ; 12:35-38 ; 14:7-14 , 15-24 ; 17:7-10 ; 22:28-30 ). And he fed vast multitudes with a few loaves and fishes (9:10-17 ). The Old Testament background to this feasting imagery is Isa 25:6 , where God’s final salvation is described as a great feast for all people: “The Lord of Heaven’s Armies will spread a wonderful feast for all the people of the world. It will be a delicious banquet, with clear, well-aged wine and choice meat” (see also Isa 65:13-14 ). Jesus’ public ministry marked the invitation to the banquet and its inauguration. Through his death and resurrection, he achieved salvation. All people can now come to God’s banquet table and receive the spiritual blessings of the Kingdom. At the same time, this banquet awaits its final consummation in the future Kingdom, when Jesus’ disciples will “eat and drink at my table in my Kingdom” and “sit on thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel” (Luke 22:30 ; see also Rev 19:7-9 ). Passages for Further Study Isa 25:6 ; 65:13-14 ; Luke 5:29-35 ; 6:21 ; 7:36-50 ; 9:10-17 ; 11:37-41 ; 12:35-40 ; 13:24-30 ; 14:1-24 ; 17:8 ; 22:30

22:71 ^a Why do we need other witnesses? The high council regarded Jesus’ confirmation that he was both the Messiah and the Son of God as a blasphemous claim and thus as proof of his guilt.

Thematic note: The Messianic Banquet
Through his teaching and miracles, Jesus announced that the messianic banquet was about to be served. All may come and feast at the table of salvation in God’s Kingdom.
Jesus described his ministry as a wedding feast, with himself as the groom (Luke 5:33-35 ^b) and the Kingdom of God as a great banquet. All were invited, but some refused to come (Luke 14:15-24 ^c; see also Matt 8:11-12 ^d). Jesus often ate with diverse people, from despised tax collectors to pious Pharisees (5:29-32 ^e; 7:36-50 ^f; 11:37-41 ^g; 14:1-6 ^h). Jesus also used imagery of feasting and banquets in his teaching and parables (5:33-35 ⁱ; 12:35-38 ^j; 14:7-14 ^k, 15-24 ^l; 17:7-10 ^m; 22:28-30 ⁿ). And he fed vast multitudes with a few loaves and fishes (9:10-17 ^o).
The Old Testament background to this feasting imagery is Isa 25:6 ^p, where God’s final salvation is described as a great feast for all people: “The Lord of Heaven’s Armies will spread a wonderful feast for all the people of the world. It will be a delicious banquet, with clear, well-aged wine and choice meat” (see also Isa 65:13-14 ^q).
Jesus’ public ministry marked the invitation to the banquet and its inauguration. Through his death and resurrection, he achieved salvation. All people can now come to God’s banquet table and receive the spiritual blessings of the Kingdom. At the same time, this banquet awaits its final consummation in the future Kingdom, when Jesus’ disciples will “eat and drink at my table in my Kingdom” and “sit on thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel” (Luke 22:30 ^r; see also Rev 19:7-9 ^s).

Passages for Further Study
Isa 25:6 ^t; 65:13-14 ^u; Luke 5:29-35 ^v; 6:21 ^w; 7:36-50 ^x; 9:10-17 ^y; 11:37-41 ^z; 12:35-40 ^aa; 13:24-30 ^ab; 14:1-24 ^ac; 17:8 ^ad; 22:30 ^ae