11. For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”
12. Then Jesus said to his host, “When you give a luncheon or dinner, do not invite your friends, your brothers or sisters, your relatives, or your rich neighbors; if you do, they may invite you back and so you will be repaid.
13. But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind,
14. and you will be blessed. Although they cannot repay you, you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.”
15. When one of those at the table with him heard this, he said to Jesus, “Blessed is the one who will eat at the feast in the kingdom of God.”
16. Jesus replied: “A certain man was preparing a great banquet and invited many guests.
17. At the time of the banquet he sent his servant to tell those who had been invited, ‘Come, for everything is now ready.’
18. “But they all alike began to make excuses. The first said, ‘I have just bought a field, and I must go and see it. Please excuse me.’
19. “Another said, ‘I have just bought five yoke of oxen, and I’m on my way to try them out. Please excuse me.’
20. “Still another said, ‘I just got married, so I can’t come.’
21. “The servant came back and reported this to his master. Then the owner of the house became angry and ordered his servant, ‘Go out quickly into the streets and alleys of the town and bring in the poor, the crippled, the blind and the lame.’