Luke 14:20 kjv

And another said, I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come.

Luke 14:20 nkjv

Still another said, 'I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come.'

Luke 14:20 niv

"Still another said, 'I just got married, so I can't come.'

Luke 14:20 esv

And another said, 'I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come.'

Luke 14:20 nlt

Another said, 'I just got married, so I can't come.'

Luke 14 verses

Luke 14 20 Meaning

Luke 14:20 describes a guest invited to a great banquet who makes an excuse for his absence based on his recent marriage. This verse, part of the parable of the Great Banquet, illustrates the human tendency to prioritize worldly commitments, even legitimate and good ones like marriage, over the divine invitation to the Kingdom of God. It highlights a refusal driven by perceived inability due to new earthly ties.

Luke 14 20 Context

Luke 14:20 is part of Jesus' parable of the Great Banquet, recounted in Luke 14:15-24. The parable is told immediately after a Pharisee exclaims, "Blessed is everyone who will eat bread in the kingdom of God!" Jesus uses the parable to explain who actually responds to God's invitation and who does not. It follows Jesus' teachings on humility (Luke 14:7-11) and who to invite to a feast (Luke 14:12-14), setting up the contrast between earthly banquets and the heavenly one. The three excuses presented (buying land, buying oxen, marrying a wife) progress from economic interests to more personal and socially acceptable reasons, yet all represent an underlying rejection of the host's generosity. This verse specifically represents the final, most seemingly "legitimate" worldly excuse. Historically, in Jewish culture, new grooms were often exempt from certain civic and military duties for a year (Deut 24:5), making this excuse appear socially valid. However, in the spiritual context of God's urgent call, even such "valid" reasons are rendered insufficient.

Luke 14 20 Word analysis

• And another (καὶ ἄλλος, kai allos): This phrase introduces the third and final excuse-maker. The use of "another" (ἄλλος) signifies a continuation of the pattern of refusal, highlighting a widespread human tendency to decline the divine invitation. It emphasizes that this is not an isolated incident but part of a common rejection.
• said (εἶπεν, eipen): A direct, stated refusal. The simplicity of the verb suggests a firm declaration without hesitation.
• I have married (ἐγάμησα, egamēsa): This is an aorist active indicative verb, denoting a completed action that has immediate and current implications. The individual recently acquired a new status—being married. This is significant because marriage is a good and divinely instituted relationship (Gen 2:24, Heb 13:4), yet here it becomes an obstacle. The problem is not marriage itself, but the man's heart's attachment and prioritization.
• a wife (γυναῖκα, gynaika): Refers to the marital partner. This highlights that the new relationship is a person, making the excuse seemingly more personal and socially weighty than the previous ones concerning possessions.
• and therefore (καὶ διὰ τοῦτο, kai dia touto): This conjunction phrase establishes a direct causal link. It's crucial as it shows the man explicitly stating that his marriage is the reason he cannot accept the invitation. This connection is the essence of his self-imposed barrier. It reflects his conscious decision to let a good thing prevent him from a greater good.
• I cannot come (οὐ δύναμαι ἐλθεῖν, ou dynamai elthein): The phrase combines the negative particle (οὐ) with "I am able" (δύναμαι) and the infinitive "to come" (ἐλθεῖν). Literally, "I am not able to come." This is a strong declaration of inability, but in the context of the parable and Jesus' broader teachings, it is an inability rooted in an unwillingness. The "cannot" is not due to physical restraint but due to a misplaced priority and lack of desire to rearrange his life for the banquet. It reveals a heart resistant to the call.

Words-group analysis

• "I have married a wife, and therefore": This phrase encapsulates the core issue: the transformation of a legitimate, blessed life event (marriage) into an explicit barrier to responding to a spiritual call. The "and therefore" exposes the man's decision to allow his new earthly relationship to supersede the invitation to the ultimate divine banquet, prioritizing temporal comfort over eternal blessing.
• "I cannot come": This powerful phrase signifies a perceived inability, yet in the parable, it clearly denotes an underlying unwillingness. The man has the physical capacity but lacks the spiritual resolve and desire to rearrange his life or priorities for the feast. It represents the self-deception and rationalization people often employ when excusing themselves from God's claims.

Luke 14 20 Bonus section

• Progression of Excuses: This third excuse is particularly poignant because it moves from material possessions (land, oxen) to a deep personal relationship (marriage). While the earlier excuses involved transactional property, this one involves a new intimate bond. It underscores that human relationships, though divinely ordained and valuable, can become idols or primary concerns that eclipse God's supreme call, demonstrating how subtle the pull of the world can be.
• Polemics against Complacency: This parable, including verse 20, acts as a subtle polemic against spiritual complacency within Jesus' audience. Many would have assumed their religious lineage or current commitments guaranteed their place in God's Kingdom. Jesus shows that such assumptions are false; active, urgent response is required. The "invited" in the parable often represent those who thought they were guaranteed a place, implying a warning to those with religious advantages (e.g., Pharisees).
• The Nature of the Invitation: The invitation to the great banquet represents the call to enter into God's salvation, eternal fellowship, or the Kingdom. Refusing it, regardless of the 'reason', means missing out on something profoundly glorious and eternally significant. The seemingly legitimate excuse simply conceals a lack of desire or understanding of the immense value of what is being offered.

Luke 14 20 Commentary

Luke 14:20 powerfully illustrates how even the most blessed and legitimate aspects of life, such as marriage, can become stumbling blocks to accepting God's gracious invitation to His kingdom. The man's excuse, "I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come," is socially acceptable and seems reasonable by worldly standards, especially considering a new husband's typical exemptions (Deut 24:5). However, in the context of the parable, it reveals a heart that prioritizes worldly attachments and personal convenience over the call of the Host. The 'cannot' is a self-imposed limitation, revealing a deeper 'will not'. This verse warns against letting any earthly relationship, no matter how good, occupy the supreme place in one's life that belongs only to God. It highlights the profound commitment required for genuine discipleship—a commitment that demands putting God first above all things and all people. It serves as a reminder that spiritual lukewarmness and procrastination often mask a fundamental rejection of God's abundant grace.