Parable of the Wedding Banquet

Jesus spoke to them again in parables, and said, “The kingdom of heaven is like a certain king who arranged for the marriage of his son. When the wedding date arrived, he sent his servants to call the guests to attend, but they would not come. Again, he sent other servants, saying, ‘Tell them they are invited. Look, the dinner is prepared. I’ve killed the oxen and sheep that I’ve fattened. Everything is ready. Come to the marriage feast.’

“But they saw it as insignificant and continued with their affairs; one to his farm, another to his business. Some of the others abused his servants—even killed some. When the king heard how they responded, he was angry and sent his armies which destroyed those murderers and burned up their city.

“Then said he to his servants, ‘The wedding is ready, but those invited were not worthy. So, go out into the highways, and whomever you find, invite them to the marriage.’

“So those servants went out into the highways and gathered everyone they could find—both good and bad—and the wedding had ample guests.

“When the king came in to greet the guests, he saw a man there who was not dressed properly for a wedding, and said to him, ‘Friend, how did you get in without a wedding suit?’ And he was speechless.

“Then said the king to the servants, ‘Tie him up, hand and foot. Take him away and cast him into outer darkness where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’ For many are called, but few are chosen.”