19
"Another said, 'I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I'm going to try them out. I ask you to excuse me.'
20
"And another said, 'I just got married, and therefore I'm unable to come.'
21
"So the slave came back and reported these things to his master. Then in anger, the master of the house told his slave, 'Go out quickly into the streets and alleys of the city, and bring in here the poor, maimed, blind, and lame!'
22
" 'Master,' the slave said, 'what you ordered has been done, and there's still room.'
23
"Then the master told the slave, 'Go out into the highways and lanes and make them come in, so that my house may be filled.
24
For I tell you, not one of those men who were invited will enjoy my banquet!' "
The Cost of Following Jesus
25 Now great crowds were traveling with Him. So He turned and said to them:
26
"If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his own father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters-yes, and even his own life-he cannot be My disciple.
27
Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple.
28
"For which of you, wanting to build a tower, doesn't first sit down and calculate the cost to see if he has enough to complete it?
29
Otherwise, after he has laid the foundation and cannot finish it, all the onlookers will begin to make fun of him,