The Life of Jesus

And he sent his servant at the hour of supper to say to them that were invited, that they should come: for now all things are ready.

And they began all at once to make excuse. The first said to him: I have bought a farm and I must needs go out and see it. I pray thee, hold me excused.

And another said: I have bought five yoke of oxen and I go to try them. I pray thee, hold me excused.

And another said: I have married a wife; and therefore I cannot come.

And the servant returning, told 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 the feeble and the blind and the lame.

And the servant said: Lord, it is done as thou hast commanded; and yet there is room.

And the Lord said to the servant: Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled.

But I say unto you that none of those men that were invited shall taste of my supper.

And there went great multitudes with him. And turning, he said to them:

If any man come to me, and hate not his father and mother and wife and children and brethren and sisters, yea and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple.

And whosoever doth not carry his cross and come after me cannot be my disciple.

For which of you, having a mind to build a tower, doth not first sit down and reckon the charges that are necessary, whether he have wherewithal to finish it:

Lest, after he hath laid the foundation and is not able to finish it, all that see it begin to mock him,

Saying: This man began to build and was not able to finish.

Or, what king, about to go to make war against another king, doth not first sit down and think whether he be able, with ten thousand, to meet him that, with twenty thousand, cometh against him?

Or else, while the other is yet afar off, sending an embassy, he desireth conditions of peace.

So likewise every one of you that doth not renounce all that he possesseth cannot be my disciple.

Salt is good. But if the salt shall lose its savour, wherewith shall it be seasoned?

It is neither profitable for the land nor for the dunghill: but shall be cast out. He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.

Now the publicans and sinners drew near unto him to hear him.

And the Pharisees and the scribes murmured, saying: This man receiveth sinners and eateth with them.

And he spoke to them this parable, saying:

What man of you that hath an hundred sheep, and if he shall lose one of them, doth he not leave the ninety-nine in the desert and go after that which was lost, until he find it?

And when he hath found it, lay it upon his shoulders, rejoicing?

And coming home, call together his friends and neighbours, saying to them: Rejoice with me, because I have found my sheep that was lost?