17
and at the time for the banquet he sent his servant to say to those who had been invited, 'Come; for all 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; I pray you, have me excused.'
19
And another said, 'I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I go to examine them; I pray you, have me excused.'
20
And another said, 'I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come.'
21
So the servant came and reported this to his master. Then the householder in anger said to his servant, 'Go out quickly to the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in the poor and maimed 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, none of those men who were invited shall taste my banquet.'"
25
Now great multitudes accompanied him; and he turned and said to them,
26
"If any one comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and 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.