¶ And it chanced that he went into the house of one of the chief pharises to eat bread, on a saboth day: and they watched him. And behold there was a man before him, which had the dropsy. And Iesus answered and spake unto the lawyers and pharises, saying: is it lawful to heal on the saboth day? And they held their peace. He took the man and healed him, and let him go: And answered them saying: which of you shall have an ass, or an ox, fallen into a pit, and will not straightway pull him out on the saboth day? And they could not answer him again to that.
¶ He put forth a similitude to the guests, when he marked how they pressed to the highest rooms, and said unto them: When thou art bidden to a wedding of any man, sit not down in the highest room, lest a more honorable man than thou be bidden of him, and he that bade both him and thee, come and say to thee: give this man room. And thou then begin with shame to take the lowest room. But rather when thou art bidden, go and sit in the lowest room, that when he that bade thee cometh, he may say unto thee: friend sit up higher. Then shalt thou have praise in the presence of them that sit at meat with thee. For whosoever exalteth himself, shall be brought low. And he that humbleth himself, shall be exalted.
¶ Then said he also to him that had desired to him to dinner: When thou makest a dinner, or a supper: call not thy friends, nor thy brethren, neither thy kinsmen, nor yet rich neighbours: lest they bid thee again, and make thee recompense. But when thou makest a feast, call the poor, the maimed, the lame, and the blind, and thou shalt be happy: For they cannot recompense thee. But thou shalt be recompensed at the resurrection of the just men.
¶ When one of them that sat at meat also heard that, he said unto him: happy is he that eateth bread in the kingdom of God. Then said he to him: A certain man ordained a great supper, and bade many, and sent his servant at supper time, to say to them that were bidden, come: for all things are now ready. And they all at once began to make excuse. The first said unto him: I have bought a farm, and I must needs go and see it, I pray thee have me excused. And another said: I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I must go to prove them, I pray thee have me excused. The third said: I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come. And the servant went again, and brought his master word thereof.
¶ Then was the good man of the house displeased, and said to his servant: Go out quickly into the streets and quarters of the city, and bring in hither the poor, and the maimed, and the halt, and the blind. And the servant said: lord it is done as thou commandedst, 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. For I say unto you, that none of those men which were bidden, shall taste of my supper.
¶ There went a great company with him, and he turned and said unto them: If a man come to me, and hate not his father and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, moreover and his own life, he cannot be my disciple. And whosoever bear not his cross, and come after me cannot be my disciple.
¶ Which of you is he that is disposed to build a tower, and sitteth not down before and counteth the cost: Whether he have sufficient to perform it? lest after he hath laid the foundation, and is not able to perform it, all that behold it, begin to mock him saying: This man began to build, and was not able to make an end. What king goeth to make battle against another king, and sitteth not down first, and casteth in his mind, whether he be able with ten thousand to meet him that cometh against him with twenty thousand, or else while the other is yet a great way off, he will send ambassadors, and desire peace. So likewise, none of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, can be my disciple.
¶ Salt is good, but if salt be corrupt, what shall be seasoned therewith? It is neither good for the land, nor yet for the dunghill, men cast it out at the doors. He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.
© Faith of God
William Tyndale 1526