The Parable of the Banquet

(Matthew 22:1–14)

15 When one of those reclining with [Him] heard [this], he said to [Jesus], “Blessed [is everyone] who will eat at the feast in the kingdom of God.”

16 But [Jesus] replied “A certain man prepared a great banquet and invited many [guests]. 17 [When it was] time for the banquet, he sent his servant to tell those who had been invited, ‘Come, for [everything] is now ready.’

18 But one after another they all began to make excuses. The first [one] said ‘I have bought a field, and I need to go see it. Please excuse me.’

19 Another said, ‘I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I am going to try them [out]. Please excuse me.’

20 Still another said, ‘I have married a wife, so I cannot come.’

21 The servant returned [and] reported all this to his master. Then the owner of the house became angry [and] said to his servant, ‘Go out quickly into the streets and alleys of the city, and bring in the poor, [the] crippled, [the] blind, and [the] lame.’

22 ‘Sir,’ the servant replied, ‘what you ordered has been done, and there is still room.’

23 [So] the master told [his] servant, ‘Go out to the highways and hedges and compel [them] to come in, so that my house will be full. 24 For I tell you not one of those men who were invited will taste my banquet.’ ”