16. Jesus said to him, “A man gave a big banquet and invited many people.
17. When it was time to eat, the man sent his servant to tell the guests, ‘Come! Everything is ready!’
18. “But all the guests said they could not come. Each man made an excuse. The first one said, ‘I have just bought a field, and I must go look at it. Please excuse me.’
19. Another man said, ‘I have just bought five pairs of oxen; I must go and try them. Please excuse me.’
20. A third man said, ‘I just got married; I can’t come.’
21. So the servant returned. He told his master what had happened. Then the master became angry and said, ‘Go at once into the streets and alleys of the town. Bring in the poor, the crippled, the blind, and the lame.’