PrevLuke 14:20Next

Luke 14

And it came to pass, as he went into the house of one of the chief Pharisees to eat bread on the sabbath day, that they watched him.

And, behold, there was a certain man before him which had the dropsy.

And Jesus answering spake unto the lawyers and Pharisees, saying, Is it lawful to heal on the sabbath day?

And they held their peace. And he took him, and healed him, and let him go;

And answered them, saying, Which of you shall have an ass or an ox fallen into a pit, and will not straightway pull him out on the sabbath day?

And they could not answer him again to these things.

And he put forth a parable to those which were bidden, when he marked how they chose out the chief rooms; saying unto them,

When thou art bidden of any man to a wedding, sit not down in the highest room; lest a more honourable man than thou be bidden of him;

And he that bade thee and him come and say to thee, Give this man place; and thou begin with shame to take the lowest room.

But when thou art bidden, go and sit down in the lowest room; that when he that bade thee cometh, he may say unto thee, Friend, go up higher: then shalt thou have worship in the presence of them that sit at meat with thee.

For whosoever exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.

Then said he also to him that bade him, When thou makest a dinner or a supper, call not thy friends, nor thy brethren, neither thy kinsmen, nor thy rich neighbours; lest they also bid thee again, and a recompence be made thee.

But when thou makest a feast, call the poor, the maimed, the lame, the blind:

And thou shalt be blessed; for they cannot recompense thee: for thou shalt be recompensed at the resurrection of the just.

And when one of them that sat at meat with him heard these things, he said unto him, Blessed is he that shall eat bread in the kingdom of God.

Then said he unto him, A certain man made a great supper, and bade many:

And sent his servant at supper time to say to them that were bidden, Come; for all things are now ready.

And they all with one consent began to make excuse. The first said unto him, I have bought a piece of ground, and I must needs go and see it: I pray thee have me excused.

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

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

So that servant came, and shewed his lord these things. Then the master of the house being angry said to his servant, Go out quickly into the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in hither the poor, and the maimed, and the halt, and the blind.

And the servant said, Lord, it is done as thou hast commanded, and yet there is room.

And the lord said unto the servant, Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled.

For I say unto you, That none of those men which were bidden shall taste of my supper.

And there went great multitudes with him: and he turned, and said unto them,

If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple.

And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple.

For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it?

Lest haply, after he hath laid the foundation, and is not able to finish it, all that behold it begin to mock him,

Saying, This man began to build, and was not able to finish.

Or what king, going to make war against another king, sitteth not down first, and consulteth whether he be able with ten thousand to meet him that cometh against him with twenty thousand?

Or else, while the other is yet a great way off, he sendeth an ambassage, and desireth conditions of peace.

So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple.

Salt is good: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be seasoned?

It is neither fit for the land, nor yet for the dunghill; but men cast it out. He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.

What does Luke 14:20 mean?

Explanation

Luke 14:20 relates a part of Jesus' parable of the Great Banquet.

In this verse, a person invited to the banquet justifies his inability to attend because he has married a wife.

The verse exposes a common human tendency to prioritize personal life events or relationships over spiritual or divine invitations. The literal meaning is straightforward: a man excuses himself from attending an important event due to his recent marriage.

However, the deeper meaning reveals the potential hindrances that personal attachments and obligations can pose on one's spiritual journey or response to God's calling.

Top Rated Luke Books

Historical Context

Luke 14:20 is part of the larger narrative of Luke's Gospel, written to a Greek-speaking audience between 80 and 110 AD.

This parable is told by Jesus in the setting of a meal at a Pharisee's house, where He teaches about humility and the importance of inviting the marginalized to banquets.

At the time, marriages had significant social importance, and the initial year of marriage had particular resonance, with some Jewish customs suggesting certain exemptions from public duties for those in their first year of matrimony.

Theological Insights

Different theological viewpoints offer insights into this verse:

Traditional Christian Commentators often perceive this as an illustration of excuses that prevent people from accepting God's invitation to the Kingdom.
Liberation Theology might see this as prioritizing a personal agenda over the justice and equality represented in God's feast.
Covenant Theology sees the Great Banquet as symbolizing God's covenant with His people and any excuses as a rejection of that covenant relationship.

Practical Applications

This verse can prompt practical considerations such as:

Evaluating personal priorities to ensure they align with one's spiritual values.
Being mindful of the ease at which legitimate aspects of life, such as relationships, can become excuses for neglecting important spiritual practices or community responsibilities.
Reflecting on one's own excuses that avoid deeper engagement with faith and community service.

Cross-References

Matthew 22:1-14 - Another parable of a wedding feast where invitees make excuses.
Revelation 19:7-9 - The imagery of marriage related to the celebration of God's kingdom, known as the "marriage supper of the Lamb."
Deuteronomy 24:5 - Law concerning a newly married man not having to go to war or be charged with any business except being happy with his wife.

Language Study

The key phrase in the original Greek text is γυναῖκα ἔγημα (gunaika egēma), which means "I have married a wife." The verb ἔγημα (egēma) is the first person singular perfect active indicative of γαμέω (gameō), signifying a completed action with ongoing effects.

The emphasis is on the present state derived from a past action (the marriage), which the man uses to justify his absence from the banquet.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

In comparing to other cultural and religious narratives:

Ancient Roman and Greek festivities also held marriage and related celebrations in high regard.
In Hinduism, the concept of 'Grihastha' or the householder stage, places emphasis on marriage as a sacred duty that includes religious obligations.
Buddhism, on the other hand, might interpret this as attachment and desire causing one to miss out on spiritual opportunities.

Scientific Perspectives

From a scientific perspective, this verse might invoke consideration of the psychological aspects of attachment and commitment.

Behavioral science recognizes that personal relationships and social obligations have significant influence on decision-making processes and prioritizing of one's time and resources.

Commentaries

Various expert commentaries provide insight on this verse:

John Calvin comments that Jesus uses everyday events to show how people prioritize temporal affairs over divine ones.
William Barclay notes the validity of the man's excuse in worldly terms but emphasizes that nothing should be placed above the Kingdom of God.
Matthew Henry interprets that the new relationship became idolized, and thus, a barrier to accepting the divine invitation.

Luke 14

Luke 14

What does Luke 14:20 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Luke Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

Commentaries

Want more context?

What does Luke 14:20 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Luke Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

Commentaries

Want more context?