The Parable of the Great Supper^(A)

¹⁵ Now when one of those who sat at the table with Him heard these things, he said to Him, ^(B)“Blessed is he who shall eat ^[a]bread in the kingdom of God!”

^16 (C)Then He said to him, “A certain man gave a great supper and invited many, ¹⁷ and ^(D)sent his servant at supper time to say to those who were invited, ‘Come, for all things are now ready.’ ¹⁸ But they all with one accord began to make excuses. The first said to him, ‘I have bought a piece of ground, and I must go and see it. I ask you to have me excused.’ ¹⁹ And another said, ‘I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I am going to test them. I ask you to have me excused.’ ²⁰ Still another said, ‘I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come.’