22
Later the servant said to him, 'Master, I did what you commanded, but we still have room.'
23
The master said to the servant, 'Go out to the roads and country lanes, and urge the people there to come so my house will be full.
24
I tell you, none of those whom I invited first will eat with me.'"
25
Large crowds were traveling with Jesus, and he turned and said to them,
26
"If anyone comes to me but loves his father, mother, wife, children, brothers, or sisters -- or even life -- more than me, he cannot be my follower.
27
Whoever is not willing to carry the cross and follow me cannot be my follower.
28
If you want to build a tower, you first sit down and decide how much it will cost, to see if you have enough money to finish the job.
29
If you don't, you might lay the foundation, but you would not be able to finish. Then all who would see it would make fun of you,
30
saying, 'This person began to build but was not able to finish.'
31
"If a king is going to fight another king, first he will sit down and plan. He will decide if he and his ten thousand soldiers can defeat the other king who has twenty thousand soldiers.
32
If he can't, then while the other king is still far away, he will send some people to speak to him and ask for peace.