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When
one of those at the table with him heard this, he said to Jesus,
"Blessed is the man who will eat at the feast in the kingdom
of God."
Jesus replied: "A certain man was preparing a great banquet
and invited many guests. At the time of the banquet he sent his
servant to tell those who had been invited, 'Come, for everything
is now ready.'
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.'
Another said, 'I have just bought five yoke of oxen, and I'm on my
way to try them out. Please excuse me.'
Still another said, 'I just got married, so I can't come.'
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.'
" 'Sir,' the servant said, 'what you ordered has been done,
but there is still room.'
Then the master told his servant, 'Go out to the roads and country
lanes and make them come in, so that my house will be full. 24I
tell you, not one of those men who were invited will get a taste
of my banquet.' "
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