(15)And a certain one of those who reclined at table with him, hearing these things, said to him: Happy is he, who shall eat bread in the kingdom of God! (16)And he said to him: A certain man made a great supper, and bade many. (17)And he sent his servant, at the hour of the supper, to say to those who were bidden: Come, for all things are now ready. (18)And they all, with one mind, began[14:18] to excuse themselves. The first said to him: I bought a piece of ground, and I must needs go out and see it; I pray thee let me be excused. (19)And another said: I bought five yoke of oxen, and I am going to make trial of them; I pray thee let me be excused. (20)And another said: I married a wife; and therefore I can not come. (21)And the servant came, and reported these things to his lord. 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 hither the poor, and maimed, and lame, and blind. (22)And the servant said: Lord, it is done as thou didst command, and yet there is room. (23)And the Lord said to the servant: Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them[14:23] to come in, that my house may be filled; (24)for I say to you, that none of those men who were bidden shall taste of my supper. (25)And great multitudes were going with him; and turning, he said to them: (26)If any one comes to me, and hates not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brothers, and sisters, and even his own life besides, he can not be my disciple. (27)And whoever does not bear his cross, and come after me, can not be my disciple. (28)For who of you, intending to build a tower, does not first sit down, and count the cost, whether he has sufficient to finish it? (29)Lest haply, when he has laid a foundation, and is not able to finish, all that behold 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 first sit down and consult, whether he is able, with ten thousand, to meet him who comes against him with twenty thousand? (32)Else, while he is yet a great way off, he sends an embassy, and desires conditions of peace. (33)So then, whoever of you forsakes not all that he has can not be my disciple. (34)Salt therefore is good; but if even the salt has become tasteless, wherewith shall it be seasoned? (35)It is fit neither for the land, nor for the dunghill; they cast it out. He that has ears to hear, let him hear. XV. AND there were drawing near to him all the publicans and the sinners to hear him. (2)And the Pharisees and the scribes murmured, saying: This man receives sinners, and eats with them.