Luke:14

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* One Sabbath , Jesus went to the house of a leader of the Pharisees to eat a meal . The guests were watching Jesus closely . * A man whose body was swollen with fluid suddenly appeared in front of him . * So Jesus asked the Pharisees and experts in the law ,“Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath or not ?” * But they kept silent . So he took hold of the man , healed him , and sent him away . * Then he asked them ,“If your sonor ox falls into a well on the Sabbath day , you would pull him out immediately , wouldn 't you ?” * And they couldn 't argue with him about this . * When Jesus noticed how the guests were choosing the places of honor , he told them a parable . * “When you are invited by someone to a wedding banquet , don 't sit down at the place of honor in case someone more important than you was invited by him . * Then the host who invited both of you would come to you and say , ‘Give this person your place .’ In disgrace , you would have to take the place of least honor . * But when you are invited , go and sit down at the place of least honor . Then , when your host comes , he will tell you , ‘Friend , move up higher ,’ and you will be honored in the presence of all who eat with you . * For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled , but the person who humbles himself will be exalted .” * Then he told the man who had invited him ,“When you give a luncheon or a dinner , stop inviting onlyyour friends , brothers , relatives , or rich neighbors . Otherwise , they may invite you in return and you would be repaid . * Instead , when you give a banquet , make it your habit to invite the poor , the crippled , the lame , and the blind . * Then you will be blessed because they can 't repay you . For you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous .” * Now one of those eating with him heard this and said to him , “How blessed is the person who will eat in the kingdom of God !” * Jesus said to him ,“A man gave a large banquet and invited many people . * When it was time for the banquet , he sent his servant to tell those who were invited , ‘Come ! Everything is now ready .’ * Every single one of them began asking to be excused . The first said to him , ‘I bought a field , and I need to go out and inspect it . Please excuse me .’ * Another said , ‘I bought five pairs of oxen , and I 'm on my way to try them out . Please excuse me .’ * Still another said , ‘I recently got married , and that 's why I can 't come .’ * “So the servant went back and reported this to his master . Then the master of the house became angry and told his servant , ‘Go quickly into the streets and alleys of the town and bring back the poor , the crippled , the blind , and the lame .’ * The servant said , ‘Sir , what you ordered has been done , and there is still room .’ * Then the master told the servant , ‘Go out into the streets and the lanes and make the people come in , so that my house may be full . * For I tell all of you ,none of those men who were invited will taste anything at my banquet .’” * Now large crowds were traveling with Jesus . He turned and said to them , * “If anyone comes to me and does not hate his father , mother , wife , children , brothers , and sisters , as well as his own life , he can 't be my disciple . * Whoeverdoesn 't carry his cross and follow me can 't be my disciple . * “Suppose one of you wants to build a tower . He will first sit down and estimate the cost to see whether he has enough money to finish it , won 't he ? * Otherwise , if he lays a foundation and can 't finish the building ,everyone who watches will begin to ridicule him * and say , ‘This person started a building but couldn 't finish it .’ * “Or suppose a king is going to war against another king . He will first sit down and consider whether with 10 ,000 men he can oppose the one coming against him with 20 ,000 men , won 't he ? * If he can 't , he will send a delegation to ask for terms of peace while the other kingis still far away . * In the same way , none of you can be my disciple unless he gives up all his possessions .” * “Now , salt is good . But if the salt should lose its taste , how can its flavor be restored ? * It is suitable neither for the soil nor for the manure pile . Peoplethrow it away . Let the person who has ears to hear , listen !”

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