Luke 14:1-35
14 And it came to pass when he entered into the house of one of the rulers of the Pharisees on a Sabbath to eat bread that they were narrowly watching him.
2 And lo! there was a certain man who had the dropsy before him.
3 And Jesus answering spake unto the Lawyers and Pharisees, saying—Is it allowed on the Sabbath to cure, or not? But they held their peace.
4 And taking hold [of him] he healed and dismissed him,—
5 and unto them said—Which of you shall have a son or an ox that into a pit shall fall, and will not straightway pull him up on the day of rest?
6 And they could not return an answer unto these things.
7 And he went on to speak unto the invited a parable,—observing how the first couches they were choosing; saying unto them—
8 Whensoever thou hast been invited by anyone unto a marriage feast do not recline on the first couch; lest once a more honourable than thou have been invited by him,
9 and he that invited both thee and him should come and say unto thee—Give unto this one place! and then thou shouldst begin with shame the last place to occupy.
10 But whensoever thou hast been invited pass on and fall back into the last place, that whensoever he that hath invited thee shall come he may say unto thee—Friend! come close up higher. Then shalt thou have honour before all who are reclining together with thee.
11 Because everyone who exalteth himself shall be abased; And he that abaseth himself shall be exalted.
12 Moreover he went on to say unto him also who had invited him—Whensoever thou mayest be making a dinner or a supper do not call thy friends or thy brothers, or thy kinsfolk or rich neighbours,—lest once they also invite thee in return and it become a recompense unto thee.
13 But whensoever an entertainment thou mayest be making invite the destitute, the tried, the lame, the blind;
14 and happy shalt thou be that they have not wherewith to recompense thee, for it shall be recompensed unto thee in the resurrection of the righteous.
15 And one of those reclining together hearing these things said unto him—Happy whoever shall eat bread in the kingdom of God!
16 But he said unto him—A certain man was making a great supper, and invited many;
17 and he sent out his servant at the hour of the supper to say unto the invited—Be coming! because even now is it ready.
18 And they all began one after another to excuse themselves. The first said unto him—A field have I bought and have need to go out and see it: I request thee hold me excused.
19 And another said—Five yoke of oxen have I bought and am going my way to prove them; I request thee hold me excused.
20 And another said—A wife have I married, and for this cause I cannot come!
21 And going near, the servant reported unto his lord these things. Then provoked to anger the master of the house said unto his servant—Go out quickly into the broadways and streets of the city,—and the destitute and tried, and blind and lame bring thou in here.
22 And the servant said—Lord! what thou didst order hath been done; and yet there is room.
23 And the lord said unto the servant—Go out among the highways and fences, and compel them to come in; that my house may be filled.
24 For I say unto you—Not one of those men who had been invited shall taste of my supper.
25 And there were journeying together with him many multitudes; and turning he said unto them—
26 If anyone cometh unto me, and hateth not his own father and mother, and wife and children, and brothers and sisters, further also even his own life he cannot be my disciple.
27 Whoever beareth not his own cross and cometh after me cannot be my disciple.
28 For who from among you wishing to build a tower doth not first sit down and count the cost,—whether he hath sufficient for completion;
29 lest once he having laid a foundation, and not being able to finish all who are looking on should begin to mock at him,
30 saying—This man began to build, and was not able to finish!
31 Or what king moving on to encounter another king in battle will not sit down first and take counsel, whether he is able with ten thousand to meet him who with twenty thousand is coming against him.
32 And if not, by any means while he is yet afar off he sendeth an embassy, and requesteth the conditions of peace.
33 Thus therefore everyone from amongst you who doth not bid adieu unto all his own possessions cannot be my disciple.
34 Good therefore is the salt; but if even the salt become tasteless wherewith shall it be seasoned?
35 Neither for land nor for manure is it fit: outside they cast it! He that hath ears to hear let him hear.