「天國好比一個國王，為自己的兒子辦婚宴。他打發僕人，去召叫被請的人，來赴婚宴，被請的人，卻不願意來。

「國王又派自己的僕人，說：『你們對被請的人說：看，我已經預備好了我的盛宴，我的公牛和肥畜都宰殺了，一切都齊備了，你們來赴婚宴吧！』

「被請的人卻不理：有的去耕田，有的去做自己的生意，其餘的竟捉住僕人，凌辱後殺死了。

「於是，國王大怒，派自己的軍隊，消滅了那些殺人凶手，焚毀了他們的城市。

「然後，對僕人說：『婚宴已經齊備了，但是被請的人，都不配。現在，你們到各路口去，凡是你們所遇到的，都請來赴婚宴。』

「那些僕人就出去，到大路上，凡遇到的，無論壞人好人，都召集來了，婚宴就坐滿了客人。

「國王進來，巡視參加婚宴的客人，看見在那裡，有一個沒有穿婚宴禮服的人，便對他說：『朋友，你到這裡來，怎麼不穿婚宴禮服？』那人無言以對。國王於是對僕役說：『你們捆起他的手腳，把他丟在外面的黑暗中；在那裡必有哀號和切齒。』

「因為被召的人多，被選的人少。」

The rest laid hold of his servants, mistreated them, and killed them. The king was enraged and sent his troops, destroyed those murderers, and burned their city. Then he said to his servants, ‘The feast is ready, but those who were invited were not worthy to come. Go out, therefore, into the main roads and invite to the feast whomever you find.’ The servants went out into the streets and gathered all they found, bad and good alike, and the hall was filled with guests. But when the king came in to meet the guests, he saw a man there not dressed in a wedding garment. The king said to him, ‘My friend, how is it that you came in here without a wedding garment?’ But he was reduced to silence. Then the king said to his attendants, ‘Bind his hands and feet, and cast him into the darkness outside, where there will be wailing and grinding of teeth.’ Many are invited, but few are chosen.”