and say to thee, Give
place to this man; and then thou shalt begin with shame to take the
lowest place. (10)But when thou art bidden, go and recline in the
lowest place; that when he that bade thee comes, he may say to thee,
Friend, go up higher. Then shalt thou have honor in the presence of
those who recline at table with thee. (11)For every one that exalts
himself shall be humbled; and he that humbles himself shall be
exalted.

(12)And he said also to him who bade him: When thou makest a dinner or
a supper, call not thy friends, nor thy brothers, nor thy kinsmen, nor
rich neighbors; lest they also bid thee again, and a recompense be
made thee. (13)But when thou makest a feast, call the poor, the
maimed, the lame, the blind. (14)And happy shalt thou be, because they
can not recompense thee; for thou shalt be recompensed at the
resurrection of the righteous.

(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,