¹And Jesus answering, again spake to them in similes, saying, ²‘The reign of the heavens was likened to a man, a king, who made marriage-feasts for his son, ³and he sent forth his servants to call those having been called to the marriage-feasts, and they were not willing to come.

⁴‘Again he sent forth other servants, saying, Say to those who have been called: Lo, my dinner I prepared, my oxen and the fatlings have been killed, and all things are ready, come ye to the marriage-feasts; ⁵and they, having disregarded it, went away, the one to his own field, and the other to his merchandise; ⁶and the rest, having laid hold on his servants, did insult and slay them.

⁷‘And the king having heard, was wroth, and having sent forth his soldiers, he destroyed those murderers, and their city he set on fire; ⁸then saith he to his servants, The marriage-feast indeed is ready, and those called were not worthy, ⁹be going, then, on to the cross-ways, and as many as ye may find, call ye to the marriage-feasts.

¹⁰‘And those servants, having gone forth to the ways, did gather all, as many as they found, both bad and good, and the marriage-feast apartment was filled with those reclining.

¹¹‘And the king having come in to view those reclining, saw there a man not clothed with clothing of the marriage-feast, ¹²and he saith to him, Comrade, how didst thou come in hither, not having clothing of the marriage-feast? and he was speechless.

¹³‘Then said the king to the ministrants, Having bound his feet and hands, take him up and cast forth to the outer darkness, there shall be the weeping and the gnashing of the teeth; ¹⁴for many are called, and few chosen.’

Read in Logos

Public Domain.