15 Now one of the people at the meal heard all that and commented, “Blessed is anyone who gets to have a meal in God’s kingdom.”

16 But Yeshua (Jesus; Grk. Yesus) responded, “There was a home-owner who was putting on a large dinner and invited many people. 17 When the meal was ready, he sent out his slave to go and tell everyone who’d been invited, ‘Come over now because the food is ready.’ 18 However they all started giving excuses. The first one said, ‘I bought a field and I need to go and inspect it. Please excuse me.’ 19 Another one said, ‘I’ve bought five pairs of oxen and I need to check them out. Please excuse me.’ 20 Yet another said, ‘I just got married so I can’t really come.’ 21 So when the slave got back, he reported all that to his master. The home-owner got angry and told the slave, ‘Well then, hurry out into the roads and streets of the city and bring back the poor and crippled and blind and lame people.’ 22 When he’d done that, the slave said, ‘Master, I’ve done what you instructed and there’s still room at the table.’ 23 So the master instructed him, ‘Well go along the roads and fences and force them to come so that my house will fill up, 24 because I’m telling you that none of those invited guests will get a taste of this meal of mine.’ ”