"The Realm of heaven," he said, "may be compared to a king who gave a marriage-banquet in honour of his son.

Once more he sent some other servants, saying, 'Tell the invited guests, here is my supper all prepared, my oxen and fat cattle are killed, everything is ready; come to the marriage-banquet.'

Then he said to his servants, 'The marriage-banquet is all ready, but the invited guests did not deserve it.

So go to the byeways and invite anyone you meet to the marriage-banquet.'

And those servants went out on the roads and gathered all they met, bad and good alike. Thus the marriage-banquet was supplied with guests.

Now while they were away buying oil, the bridegroom arrived; those maidens who were ready accompanied him to the marriage-banquet, and the door was shut.