17
And at the time for the banquet he 1sent his servant[a] to say to those who had been invited, 'Come, for everything is now ready.'
18
But they all alike began to make excuses. The first said to him, 'I have bought a field, and I must go out and see it. Please have me excused.'
19
And another said, 'I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I go to examine them. Please have me excused.'
20
And another said, 2'I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come.'
21
So the servant came and reported these things to his master. Then the master of the house became angry and said to his servant, 'Go out quickly to the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in 3the poor and crippled and blind and lame.'
22
And the servant said, 'Sir, what you commanded has been done, and still there is room.'
23
And the master said to the servant, 'Go out to the highways and hedges and compel people to come in, that my house may be filled.
24
For I tell you,[b]4none of those men who were invited shall taste my banquet.'"
The Cost of Discipleship
25 Now great crowds accompanied him, and he turned and said to them,
26
5"If anyone comes to me and 6does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, 7yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple.
27
8Whoever does not 9bear his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple.