Luke 14:19 kjv

And another said, I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I go to prove them: I pray thee have me excused.

Luke 14:19 nkjv

And another said, 'I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I am going to test them. I ask you to have me excused.'

Luke 14:19 niv

"Another said, 'I have just bought five yoke of oxen, and I'm on my way to try them out. Please excuse me.'

Luke 14:19 esv

And another said, 'I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I go to examine them. Please have me excused.'

Luke 14:19 nlt

Another said, 'I have just bought five pairs of oxen, and I want to try them out. Please excuse me.'

Luke 14 verses

Luke 14 19 Meaning

The verse Luke 14:19 presents an excuse offered by a man invited to a great banquet, stating he has recently purchased five yoke of oxen and must go to examine them, thereby requesting to be excused. In the context of the Parable of the Great Banquet, this excuse represents a prioritization of worldly responsibilities and material possessions over a divine invitation to the Kingdom of God. It highlights a common human tendency to be preoccupied with earthly concerns, even seemingly legitimate ones, at the expense of spiritual matters and the call of God. This man's reason, though sounding practical in the world, reflects a spiritual indifference to the significance of the invitation.

Luke 14 19 Context

Luke 14:19 is part of the Parable of the Great Banquet (Lk 14:15-24), which Jesus tells during a Sabbath meal at the house of a prominent Pharisee. The parable is prompted by a guest's pious remark, "Blessed is everyone who will eat bread in the kingdom of God!" (Lk 14:15). In response, Jesus illustrates what it truly means to be "blessed" in the kingdom, often contrasting those who outwardly appear religious with those who are truly willing to enter. Historically and culturally, a two-stage invitation to a major feast was common: an initial heads-up, then a final summons when the meal was ready. Refusing the final call without compelling reason was considered a grave insult to the host. The three excuses given in the parable, including this one about the oxen, are thinly veiled and reveal priorities that place earthly pursuits above the honor of the invitation. The parable subtly critiques the religious leaders and privileged groups in Israel (represented by the first invited guests) who, due to their self-importance, material attachments, and social commitments, were failing to recognize and accept the divine invitation to the Kingdom of God, thus opening the door for the marginalized and Gentiles (the "poor, crippled, blind, and lame") to be invited instead.

Luke 14 19 Word analysis

• And another said (καὶ ἕτερος εἶπεν, kai heteros eipen): Part of a series, signifying a common human response of prioritizing personal gain. The use of "another" indicates a distinct but equally self-focused rejection of the invitation.
• I have bought (ἠγόρασα, ēgorasa): Aorist tense, highlighting a completed action—a new acquisition. This immediate, fresh commitment to property shows how newly acquired responsibilities or ambitions can overshadow divine calls.
• five yoke of oxen (πέντε ζεύγη βοῶν, pente zeugē boōn):
  • πέντε (pente): The number 'five' emphasizes a significant quantity, totaling ten oxen.
  • ζεύγη (zeugē): Refers to pairs, specifically of animals yoked for plowing, vital for agrarian wealth and productivity.
  • βοῶν (boōn): "Of oxen." This represents a considerable agricultural investment, demonstrating the man's substantial wealth and his entanglement in managing his new possessions. The perceived need to attend to this valuable new asset overrides the invitation.
• and I must go examine them (καὶ πορεύομαι δοκιμάσαι αὐτά, kai poreuomai dokimasai auta):
  • πορεύομαι (poreuomai): "I must go," suggesting an imperative or perceived immediate necessity from the speaker's viewpoint, though not necessarily an emergency.
  • δοκιμάσαι (dokimasai): "To examine," "to test," or "to approve." This verb often carries a nuance of proving worthiness. In this context, it suggests the man's self-imposed task to verify his new investment's quality, a task that could likely be postponed. His focus is on verifying material value rather than accepting a greater spiritual value.
• I ask you, please have me excused (ἐρωτῶ σε, ἔχε με παρῃτημένον, erōtō se, eche me paraitēmenon):
  • ἐρωτῶ σε (erōtō se): "I ask you," a polite formal request, yet a firm refusal.
  • παρῃτημένον (paraitēmenon): Literally, "having begged off" or "excused myself," derived from paraitaomai which means "to ask to be excused," "to decline," or "to reject a request." It signifies a deliberate act of seeking an exemption, highlighting his unwillingness, not inability, to attend.
• Words-group analysis:
  • "I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I must go examine them": This phrase clearly reveals the man's focus on material acquisition and his immediate engagement with its practicalities. His recent significant purchase creates a "duty" that he elevates above the social and symbolic importance of the banquet, illustrating how the cares of newly acquired wealth can hinder responsiveness to divine invitation. The excuse points to self-absorption with one's own affairs.
  • "I ask you, please have me excused": This concluding phrase, despite its polite phrasing, serves as a polite but firm rejection. It frames his unwillingness as a reasonable request, indicating his skewed priorities where personal business triumphs over honor and relationship. The underlying attitude is one of convenience, sacrificing the opportunity for the mundane.

Luke 14 19 Bonus section

The seemingly practical nature of the man's excuse, while understandable in a secular business context, actually highlights its flimsiness within the framework of an essential social invitation, especially one given ample forewarning. One typically inspects livestock before a purchase, or at least before missing an important event. The prompt need to "examine them" could suggest a sudden urgency only perceived by the guest himself, a lack of trust in his purchase, or simply a convenient rationalization for an underlying unwillingness. This deliberate prioritization of mundane "duty" over significant engagement underscores the central theme that human self-interest and entanglement with earthly affairs serve as powerful distractions, preventing access to the divine blessing and kingdom experience. This type of "legitimate" worldly commitment is a primary "thorn" that chokes the word of God.

Luke 14 19 Commentary

Luke 14:19 unveils a subtle yet profound challenge posed by worldly commitments to spiritual invitations. The man's excuse, rooted in the perceived necessity of examining newly purchased oxen, reflects a common human tendency to allow material possessions and their associated responsibilities to become primary concerns, overshadowing opportunities for fellowship with God. It is not necessarily the possession itself that is sinful, but the inordinate focus and priority given to it, which leads to a dismissal of greater spiritual calling. The seemingly reasonable nature of the excuse makes it particularly poignant, illustrating how even ordinary life demands, when elevated above the divine call, can become powerful impediments to spiritual participation. This parable warns against the insidious way the world's cares can choke out a desire for the kingdom, leading to polite but definitive rejection of God's gracious banquet. The core issue is one of priorities: valuing personal affairs and acquisitions over the eternal feast of the Kingdom.