But they all alike began to make excuses. The first said to him, ‘I have bought a field, and I must go out and see it. Please have me excused.’
English Standard Version (ESV)
The excuses given by those invited highlight that even seemingly minor, lawful earthly pursuits can become absolute barriers to God's invitation. Their failure wasn't in what they were doing, but in prioritizing the "must do" of their earthly lives over the "come now" of God's kingdom. This reveals that our deepest attachments, not just our outright sins, can prevent us from truly engaging with God's call.
But they all alike began to make excuses. The first said to him, ‘I have bought a field, and I must go out and see it. Please have me excused.’
English Standard Version (ESV)
Jesus is at a dinner party in the house of a prominent Pharisee, and the conversation turns to blessings in God's kingdom. In response, Jesus tells a parable about a man who prepared a great feast and invited many guests. When his servants go to summon the invited guests, they all make excuses and refuse to come, leading the master of the house to invite others who are poor and marginalized instead.
Ever said 'I'll try' when you really meant 'no'? In this parable, the invited guests used words that sounded reasonable, but their hearts weren't in it.
Jesus tells the story of a great banquet, a picture of God's kingdom. When the host sends out a final call, the invited guests don't outright refuse. Instead, they offer seemingly legitimate excuses.
These aren't evil deeds; they are ordinary, even good, aspects of life. The problem isn't the field, the oxen, or the marriage itself, but that they are elevated above God's gracious invitation.
Have you ever felt a 'must' pulling you away from spiritual responsibilities? This parable highlights how the world can create a powerful sense of urgency for its own affairs.
Ask a follow-up
The phrase 'I must needs go' is key here. It doesn't just mean 'I want to,' but 'I am compelled to.' This sense of obligation reveals a critical issue:
The Illusion of Urgency
These excuses aren't about outright rebellion; they're about perceived necessities. The man who bought the field feels a necessity to see it. The one with the oxen feels a necessity to test them. These are presented as unavoidable demands.
Worldly Priorities Over Divine Invitation
Jesus uses these examples to show how earthly concerns can create a compelling sense of urgency that overshadows spiritual invitations. The kingdom of God, a matter of eternal significance, is sidelined by immediate, tangible needs or desires.
It’s a stark reminder that what we deem 'necessary' often reflects our deepest values. When worldly tasks consistently take precedence over time with God or serving others, it signals a reordering of our priorities.
The invited guests made excuses, but the host didn't give up. His banquet was too important to be empty!
The parable doesn't end with the excuses. The host, understandably upset, takes decisive action.
From Contempt to Compensation
The original guests, who were 'invited,' were accustomed to the honor and assumed their place was guaranteed. Their excuses revealed their contempt for the host and his generosity. Because they disdained the invitation, the host declares, 'none of those men who were invited shall taste of my supper.'
The Expanding Invitation
But the story continues with an incredible expansion of grace:
This shift from exclusive invitations to open doors shows the boundless nature of God's grace. Those who reject Him are replaced not by the deserving, but by the desperate and overlooked, demonstrating that God's provision is more than enough.
Understand the original words
paraiteomai · Greek Verb
To renounce, decline, or offer a pretext for refusing a call or obligation; in a spiritual sense, it represents the human tendency to prioritize worldly concerns over the urgent invitation of God.
agros · Greek Noun
A piece of land or property; in a biblical context, it often relates to earthly possessions, stewardship, or physical inheritance which can sometimes distract from eternal priorities.
The excuses given in the parable reflect the common, everyday preoccupations of people in Jesus' time—purchasing land, business dealings, and family matters—which were seen as legitimate reasons to be busy, but which Jesus contrasts with the urgent and all-encompassing call to enter God's kingdom.
Early 1st century AD— this verse
Jesus Teaches in Galilee and Judea
Jesus travels and teaches, often in synagogues and to crowds. He also dines with various people, including Pharisees and tax collectors, leading to confrontations and parables.
Early 1st century AD
Pharisee Hosts a Banquet
Jesus is invited to eat at the house of a prominent Pharisee. This setting provides the backdrop for Jesus' teachings on humility and the nature of God's kingdom.
Early 1st century AD
Matthew's Gospel Written
Matthew records a similar parable about a great banquet, though with some differences in details and emphasis, possibly at a slightly different time or for a different audience.
This passage from Matthew parallels Luke's account directly, showing invited guests who were too busy with their own affairs—their farm and their business—to attend the king's feast, mirroring the excuses given in Luke.
Luke 14:26Jesus immediately follows this with a strong statement about the necessity of hating one's own family and life to be his disciple, highlighting the extreme level of commitment required, which stands in stark contrast to the flimsy excuses presented.
Matthew 13:22Jesus describes how the 'cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word,' which perfectly explains the underlying reason why the invited guests in Luke's parable made excuses instead of accepting the invitation.
Hebrews 12:25This verse warns against refusing the one who speaks from heaven, directly echoing the theme of rejecting God's invitation and the severe consequences that follow, as illustrated by the parable in Luke.
barnesLuke 14:18: "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."
I have bought a piece of ground - Perhaps he had purchased it on condition that he found it as good as it had been represented to him. I must needs go - I have necessity, or am obliged to go and see it; possibly pleading a contract or an agreement that he would go soon and examine it. However, we may learn from t…
calvinLuke 14:15-24: "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."
- And Jesus answering, spoke again by parables, and said, 2. The kingdom of heaven is like a human king who made a marriage for his son, 3. And sent out his servants to call those who were invited to the marriage, and they refused to come. 4. Again he sent out other servants, saying, Tell those who are invited, Lo, I have prepared my di…
The excuses given by those invited highlight that even seemingly minor, lawful earthly pursuits can become absolute barriers to God's invitation. Their failure wasn't in what they were doing, but in prioritizing the "must do" of their earthly lives over the "come now" of God's kingdom. This reveals that our deepest attachments, not just our outright sins, can prevent us from truly engaging with God's call.
Jesus is at a dinner party in the house of a prominent Pharisee, and the conversation turns to blessings in God's kingdom. In response, Jesus tells a parable about a man who prepared a great feast and invited many guests. When his servants go to summon the invited guests, they all make excuses and refuse to come, leading the master of the house to invite others who are poor and marginalized instead.
Jesus is at a dinner party in the house of a prominent Pharisee, and the conversation turns to blessings in God's kingdom. In response, Jesus tells a parable about a man who prepared a great feast and invited many guests. When his servants go to summon the invited guests, they all make excuses and refuse to come, leading the master of the house to invite others who are poor and marginalized instead.
"But they all alike began to make excuses. The first said to him, ‘I have bought a field, and I must go out and see it. Please have me excused.’" — The excuses given by those invited highlight that even seemingly minor, lawful earthly pursuits can become absolute barriers to God's invitation. Their failure wasn't in what they were doing, but i…
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Last reviewed October 2026