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

16 But Yeshua 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 this 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.’ ”

22 Yeshua, still answering them, told another parable: 2 “The kingdom of the heavens is like a king who prepared the wedding reception for his son 3 and he sent out some of his slaves to remind those who’d been invited, but they didn’t want to come. 4 So he sent out some other slaves, instructing them, ‘Tell those who’re invited: Listen, I’ve prepared the dinner, including some of my grain-fed beef and everything’s now ready. Come to the wedding and celebrate.’ 5 But they ignored the message and went their various ways—one went off to his field to work and another went into his business. 6 Still others grabbed the slaves and mistreated them, and even killed them.

7 “Now the king was angry and sent in his soldiers to destroy those murderers and to burn their city. 8 Then he told his slaves, ‘Well, the wedding reception is ready but those that were invited aren’t worthy to come. 9 So spread out on the roads and invite everywhere that you find to come to the reception.’ 10 So those slaves went out onto the roads and invited everyone they found—both evil and good people, and then the seats at the wedding reception were all full.