AND it came to pass, as he went into the house of one of the principal
Pharisees, to eat bread on the sabbath, that they were watchfully
observant of him. (2)And, behold, there was a certain man who had a
dropsy, before him. (3)And Jesus addressing himself to the teachers of
the law and the Pharisees, spake, saying, Is it lawful to perform cures
on the sabbath? (4)And they said nothing. And he took him, and healed
him, and sent him away; (5)and addressing them, said, Whose ass or ox
is fallen into a pit, and doth he not immediately pull him out on the
sabbath-day? (6)And they were unable to answer him in opposition to
these things.
(7)Then he spake to those who were invited, a parable, when he observed
how they chose the principal seats; saying unto them, (8)When thou art
invited of any person to a marriage entertainment, recline not on the
principal couch; lest a more honourable personage than thyself be
invited by him; (9)and he that invited thee and him, coming say to
thee, Yield this person the place; and so thou shalt begin with shame
to go down to the lowest place. (10)But when thou art invited, go and
sit down in the lowest place; that when he who invited thee comes, he
may say to thee, Friend, go up higher; then shalt thou have respect in
the presence of those who are seated with thee. (11)For every one who
exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be
exalted.
(12)Then said he also to the person who had invited him, When thou
makest a dinner or a supper, invite not thy friends, nor thy brethren,
nor thy relations, nor thy rich neighbours; lest they also invite thee
again, and a recompence be made to thee. (13)But when thou makest an
entertainment, invite the poor, the maimed, the halt, the blind:
(14)and thou shalt be blessed; because they cannot recompense thee: for
a recompence shall be made thee at the resurrection of the just.
(15)Then one of those who sat at table hearing these things, said to
him, Blessed is he who shall eat bread in the kingdom of God. (16)And
he said unto him, A certain man made a great supper, and invited many:
(17)and sent his servants at supper-time to say to the invited, Come;
for all things are now ready. (18)And they all began with one voice to
frame excuses. The first said to him, I have bought a field, and I must
of necessity go and survey it: I pray thee hold me excused. (19)And
another said, I have bought five yoke of oxen, and am going to make a
trial of them: I pray thee accept my excuse. (20)And another said, I
have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come. (21)And that servant
returning, informed his master of these things. Then the master of the
family, being highly incensed, said to his servant, Go out instantly
into the streets and alleys of the city, and bring in hither the poor,
and the maimed, and the halt, and the blind. (22)And the servant said,
Sir, it is done as thou orderedst, and yet there is room. (23)And the
master said to the servant, Go out into the highways and hedges, and
urge them to come in, that my house may be filled. (24)For I say unto
you, That not one man of those who were invited shall taste of my
supper.
(25)And great multitudes followed him about: and he turned, and spoke
to them, (26)If any man cometh after me, and hateth not father, and
mother, and wife and children, and brothers, and sisters, yea, and his
own life also, he cannot be my disciple. (27)And whosoever doth not
bear his cross, and come after me, he cannot be my disciple. (28)For
what man of you designing to erect a tower, doth not first sitting down
calculate the expence, if he have sufficient to complete the work?
(29)lest haply, after having laid the foundation, and being unable to
finish it, all who look upon it begin to ridicule him, (30)saying, This
man began to build, and was not able to finish. (31)Or what king, going
forth to encounter another king in battle, doth not sit down first, and
consult if he is able with ten thousand men to meet him who is coming
against him with twenty thousand? (32)and if he be not, whilst he is
still at a distance, he sendeth an embassy, and desires terms of peace.
(33)So then, every one of you who will not part with all his
possessions, cannot be my disciple.
(34)Salt is good: but if the salt become insipid, by what shall it be
seasoned? (35)It is neither fit for the land, nor for manure; but they
cast it out. He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.