Luke 14:20 Meaning and Explanation
“And another said, I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →The third guest says he has married a wife and therefore cannot come.
What Does Luke 14:20 Mean?
The third refusal is the shortest and the only one without apology — no 'I pray thee,' simply 'I cannot come.' The reason given is a marriage: a good gift of God, the gladdest of the three excuses, here invoked as if it barred the door to the banquet.
The parable saves its bluntest refusal for the best excuse, because the things most worth loving make the most persuasive rivals. A marriage is not opposed to the feast; nothing good is. But even the dearest earthly love cannot stand in for answering God, and was never meant to. Brought along to the table, every good gift is blessed; held up against the invitation, it becomes a wall.
Frequently Asked Questions About Luke 14:20
What does Luke 14:20 mean?
The third guest says he has married a wife and therefore cannot come.