Luke, Chapter 14

1. And it came to pass, as he went into the house of one of the chief Pharisees to eat bread on the sabbath day, that they watched him.    2. And, behold, there was a certain man before him who had the dropsy.    3. And Jesus answering spoke to the lawyers and Pharisees, saying, Is it lawful to heal on the sabbath day?    4. And they held their peace. And he took him, and healed him, and let him go;    5. And answered them, saying, Which of you shall have an ass or an ox fallen into a pit, and will not at once pull him out on the sabbath day?    6. And they could not answer him back to these things.    7. And he put forth a parable to those who were invited, when he observed how they chose out the chief places; saying to them,    8. When you are invited by any man to a wedding, do not sit down in the highest place; lest a more honorable man than you be invited by him;    9. And he that invited you and him comes and says to you, Give this man place; and you begin with shame to take the lowest place.    10. But when you are invited, go and sit down in the lowest place; that when he that invited you comes, he may say to you, Friend, go up higher: then shall you have honor in the presence of those who sit at dinner with you.    11. For whoever exalts himself shall be humbled; and he who humbles himself shall be exalted.    12. Then said he also to him that invited him, When you make a dinner or a supper, do not ask your friends, nor your brothers, neither your kinfolk, nor your rich neighbors; lest they also invite you again, and a recompense be made to you.    13. But when you make a feast, call the poor, the maimed, the lame, the blind:    14. And you shall be blessed; for they cannot repay you: for you shall be repaid at the resurrection of the just.    15. And when one of those who sat at dinner with him heard these things, he said to him, Blessed is he that shall eat bread in the kingdom of God.    16. Then said he to him, A certain man made a great supper, and invited many:    17. And sent his servant at supper time to say to those who were invited, Come; for all things are now ready.    18. And they all with one accord began to make excuses. The first said to him, I have bought a piece of ground, and I really have to go and see it: I pray you have me excused.    19. And another said, I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I am going to try them out: I pray you have me excused.    20. And another said, I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come.    21. So that servant came, and told his lord these things. Then the master of the house being angry said to his servant, Go out quickly into the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in here the poor, and the maimed, and the lame, and the blind.    22. And the servant said, Lord, it is done as you have commanded, and yet there is room.    23. And the lord said to the servant, Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled.    24. For I say to you, That none of those men who were invited shall taste of my supper.    25. And there went great multitudes with him: and he turned, and said to them,    26. If any man comes to me, and does not hate his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brothers, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple.    27. And whoever does not carry his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple.    28. For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not sit down first, and count the cost, whether he has enough to finish it?    29. Lest perhaps, after he has laid the foundation, and is not able to finish it, all that see it begin to mock him,    30. Saying, This man began to build, and was not able to finish.    31. Or what king, going to make war against another king, does not sit down first, and consult whether he is able with ten thousand to meet him that comes against him with twenty thousand?    32. Or else, while the other is yet a great way off, he sends ambassadors, and requests conditions of peace.    33. So likewise, whoever he is of you who does not forsake all that he has, he cannot be my disciple.    34. Salt is good: but if the salt has lost its flavor, with what shall it be seasoned?    35. It is neither fit for the land, nor yet for the dunghill; but men throw it out. He that has ears to hear, let him hear.