22
"The servant said, 'Sir, what you've ordered has been done. But there is still room for more people.'
23
"Then the master told his servant, 'Go to the roads and paths! Urge the people to come to my house. I want it to be full.
24
I can guarantee that none of those invited earlier will taste any food at my banquet.'"
25
Large crowds were traveling with Jesus. He turned to them and said,
26
"If people come to me and are not ready to abandon their fathers, mothers, wives, children, brothers, and sisters, as well as their own lives, they cannot be my disciples.
27
So those who do not carry their crosses and follow me cannot be my disciples.
28
"Suppose you want to build a tower. You would first sit down and figure out what it costs. Then you would see if you have enough money to finish it.
29
Otherwise, if you lay a foundation and can't finish the building, everyone who watches will make fun of you.
30
They'll say, 'This person started to build but couldn't finish the job.'
31
"Or suppose a king is going to war against another king. He would first sit down and think things through. Can he and his 10,000 soldiers fight against a king with 20,000 soldiers?
32
If he can't, he'll send ambassadors to ask for terms of peace while the other king is still far away.