The Parable of the Large Banquet

15 When(A) one of those who reclined at the table with Him heard these things, he said to Him, “The one who will eat bread in the kingdom of God(B) is blessed!”

16 Then He told him: “A man was giving a large banquet and invited many. 17 At the time of the banquet, he sent his slave to tell those who were invited, ‘Come, because everything is now ready.’

18 “But without exception[a] they all began to make excuses. The first one said to him, ‘I have bought a field, and I must go out and see it. I ask you to excuse me.’

19 “Another said, ‘I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I’m going to try them out. I ask you to excuse me.’

20 “And another said, ‘I just got married,[b](C) and therefore I’m unable to come.’

21 “So the slave came back and reported these things to his master. Then in anger, the master of the house told his slave, ‘Go out quickly into the streets and alleys of the city, and bring in here the poor, maimed, blind, and lame!’(D)

22 “‘Master,’ the slave said, ‘what you ordered has been done, and there’s still room.’

23 “Then the master told the slave, ‘Go out into the highways and lanes and make them come in, so that my house may be filled. 24 For I tell you, not one of those men who were invited will enjoy my banquet!’”

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Footnotes

  1. Luke 14:18 Lit And from one (voice)
  2. Luke 14:20 Lit I have married a woman

15 Now when[a] one of those reclining at the table with him heard these things, he said to him, “Blessed is everyone who[b] will eat bread in the kingdom of God!” 16 But he said to him, “A certain man was giving a large banquet and invited many. 17 And he sent his slave at the hour of the banquet to say to those who have been invited, ‘Come, because now it is ready!’ 18 And they all alike[c] began to excuse themselves. The first said to him, ‘I have purchased a field, and I must[d] go out to look at it. I ask you, consider me excused.’ 19 And another said, ‘I have purchased five yoke of oxen, and I am going to examine them. I ask you, consider me excused.’ 20 And another said, ‘I have married a wife, and for this reason I am not able to come.’ 21 And the slave came and[e] reported these things to his master. Then the master of the house became angry and[f] said to his slave, ‘Go out quickly into the streets and alleys of the city and bring in here the poor and crippled and blind and lame!’ 22 And the slave said, ‘Sir, what you ordered has been done, and there is still room.’ 23 And the master said to the slave, ‘Go out into the highways and hedges and press them[g] to come in, so that my house will be filled! 24 For I say to you that none of those persons who were invited will taste my banquet!’”

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Footnotes

  1. Luke 14:15 Here “when” is supplied as a component of the participle (“heard”) which is understood as temporal
  2. Luke 14:15 Literally “whoever”
  3. Luke 14:18 Literally “by one”
  4. Luke 14:18 Literally “I have necessity”
  5. Luke 14:21 Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“came”) has been translated as a finite verb
  6. Luke 14:21 Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“became angry”) has been translated as a finite verb
  7. Luke 14:23 Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation