The Parable of the Great Banquet

15 When one of the men reclining at the table with Jesus heard these things, he said to him, “Blessed is [fn]he who will eat [fn]at the feast in the kingdom of God.” 16 Jesus said to him, “A man prepared a great banquet and invited many guests. 17 At the time for the banquet he sent his servant to tell those who had been invited, ‘Come, for [fn]everything is now ready.’ 18 But they all alike began to make excuses. The first one said to him, ‘I have bought a field, and I need to go out and see it. I ask yoʋ to have me excused.’ 19 Another said, ‘I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I am on my way to try them out. I ask yoʋ to have me excused.’ 20 Still another said, ‘I have married a woman, and for that reason I cannot come.’ 21 So the servant came back and told these things to his master. Then the master of the house became angry and said to his servant, ‘Go out quickly into the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in the poor, the maimed, the [fn]lame, and the blind.’ 22 The servant said, ‘Master, [fn]it has been done as yoʋ commanded, and there is still room.’ 23 So the master said to the servant, ‘Go out to the highways and hedges and compel people to come in, so that my house may be filled. 24 For I tell you that none of those men who were invited shall taste my banquet.’ [fn]For many are called, but few are chosen.”