17. When it was time to eat, he sent his servant to tell the guests, ‘Come. The food is ready.’
18. But all the guests said they could not come. Each one made an excuse. The first one said, ‘I have just bought a field, so I must go look at it. Please excuse me.’
19. Another man said, ‘I have just bought five pairs of work animals; I must go and try them out. Please excuse me.’
20. A third man said, ‘I just got married; I can’t come.’
21. “So the servant returned and told his master what happened. The master was angry. He said, ‘Hurry! Go into the streets and alleys of the town. Bring me the poor, the crippled, the blind, and the lame.’
22. “Later, the servant said to him, ‘Master, I did what you told me to do, but we still have places for more people.’
23. The master said to the servant, ‘Go out to the highways and country roads. Tell the people there to come. I want my house to be full!
24. I tell you, not one of those people I invited first will eat any of this food I prepared.’”
25. Many people were traveling with Jesus. He said to them,
26. “If you come to me but will not leave your family, you cannot be my follower. You must love me more than your father, mother, wife, children, brothers, and sisters—even more than your own life!
27. Whoever will not carry the cross that is given to them when they follow me cannot be my follower.