Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Luke 14:20
And another said, I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come.
20. I cannot come ] The ‘I cannot,’ as in Luk 11:7, is only an euphemism for ‘I will not.’ He thinks his reason so strong that there can be no question about it. He relies doubtless on the principle of the exemption from war, granted to newly-married bridegrooms in Deu 24:5. Perhaps St Paul is alluding to this parable in 1Co 7:29-33, “The time is short: it remaineth, that both they that have wives be as though they had none;…and they that buy, as though they possessed not; and they that use this world, as not using it to the full.” Thus the three hindrances are possessions, wealth, pleasures. But, as Bengel says, neither the field (Mat 13:44), nor the plowing (Luk 9:62), nor the wedding (2Co 11:2) need have been any real hindrance. The ‘sacred hate’ of Luk 14:26 would have cured all these excuses.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
I have married a wife … – Our Saviour here doubtless intends to teach us that the love of earthly relatives and friends often takes off the affections from God, and prevents our accepting the blessings which he would bestow on us. This was the most trifling excuse of all; and we cannot but be amazed that such excuses are suffered to interfere with our salvation, and that people can be satisfied for such reasons to exclude themselves from the kingdom of God.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
And another said, I have married a wife,…. And his pretence might be, that he had his own marriage feast, and friends to attend, nor could he leave his wife directly; but his circumstances were such as made an invitation to a feast the more agreeable, and he might have brought his wife and friends along with him, who would have been as welcome as himself:
and therefore I cannot come. The Arabic version renders it, “therefore I will not go”: this man is more rustic and rude than the former; he does not so much as desire to be excused; and represents such who are fond of their sensual lusts and pleasures, and are resolved to indulge them, and will not be taken off from them by any means whatever.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
I cannot come ( ). Less polite than the others but a more plausible pretence if he wanted to make it so. The law excused a newly married man from war (De 24:5), “but not from social courtesy” (Ragg). The new wife would probably have been glad to go with him to the feast if asked. But see 1Co 7:33. There is here as often a sharp difference between the excuses offered and the reasons behind them.
Fuente: Robertson’s Word Pictures in the New Testament
I cannot. A newly married man had special indulgence allowed him. See Deu 24:5. Herodotus relates how Croeus refused for his son an invitation to a hunt on this ground. “But Croesus answered, ‘Say no more of my son going with you; that may not be in anywise. He is but just joined in wedlock, and is busy enough with that'” (i. 36). The man who had the most plausible excuse returned the surliest and most peremptory answer. Compare 1Co 7:33.
Fuente: Vincent’s Word Studies in the New Testament
1) “And another said,” (kai heteros eipen) “And another of another kind of business, said,” explained, excused his ingratitude to the supper invitation by saying:
2) N have married a wife,” (gunaika egema) “I just married a wife,” and have a family obligation.
3) “And therefore I cannot come.” (kai dia touto ou dunamai elthein) “And because or on account of this priority I am not able to come,” at all, at this late hour. In essence he did not choose to accept the friendship invitation. Mosaic law excused a newly married man from the hardships of war for one year, Deu 25:5, or from military service. But marriage was not a Biblical basis for slighting a gesture of friendship, 1Co 7:29. Even a new wife is no good reason for rejecting Jesus. Though each of the three excusing parties may have had some materially plausible ground for their excuses, it is made clear that no earthly ground of excuse is justified in rejecting God’s invitation to the feast to honor His Son in salvation and service, Mat 6:33.
Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary
(20) I have married a wife.It may be noted that the Law of Moses allowed men to plead this, and the building of a house, or planting of a vineyard, as a ground for exemption from military service (Deu. 20:5-7). The sin of the invited guests was that they treated the invitation to the feast as though it were as burdensome as a military conscription. In the interpretation of the parable, the bearing of this is obvious. Men are invited to the highest spiritual blessings, and they look askance at the invitation, as though it called them to what was simply a weariness to the flesh, and beg off under a hundred miserable pretences.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
“And another said, ‘I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come.’ ”
The third does not make excuses. He baldly rejects the invitation and states that as he is newly married he cannot be expected to leave his wife in order to attend the supper. His wife (or his begetting of an heir) means more to him than the one who has invited him, and in the final analysis, more than the Kingly Rule of God.
And yet it is an excuse for if need arose, such as a summons from the king, or a fire on his farm, he would certainly be ready to leave his wife for an evening, or even more than an evening. His refusal was a great insult. There was really no excuse for his not attending. It indicated his contempt for the invitation.
Note how the threefoldness of the excuses indicate that they cover all possible excuses, of which there would be many, for three indicates completeness (just as two will later indicate certainty of witness – Luk 14:21-23).
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
20 And another said, I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come.
Ver. 20. And therefore I cannot come ] Note that the voluptuary is peremptory, and saith flatly he “cannot come.” Sensual hearts are void of the Spirit, Jdg 1:18-19 . Miry places could not be healed by the sanctuary waters, Eze 47:11 ; fleshly lusts fight against the soul, 1Pe 2:11 . Those that dance to the timbrel and harp, say, “Depart from us,” Job 21:11 . Better be preserved in brine than rot in honey.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Luk 14:20 . : most presentable excuse of all, therefore offered sans phrase ; preoccupation this time intense, and surely pardonable? In the natural sphere these are likely forms of preoccupation, but not necessarily either the only, or even the chief in the spiritual sphere, or those which kept the lawyers and Pharisees from accepting the teaching of Jesus. Their prepossessions were religious and theological.
Not only these three but all decline to come. In the natural sphere this is highly improbable and unexampled. Jesus, from no fault on His part as a parable artist, had to make improbable suppositions to exemplify the fact in the spiritual sphere, which in this instance was that the bulk of the Jewish people were indifferent to the Kingdom as He presented it. On the other hand, in the parables spoken in justification of His own conduct, the case put has the highest measure of probability. Vide , e.g. , those in next chapter.
Fuente: The Expositors Greek Testament by Robertson
therefore = on account of (Greek. dia) this.
cannot = am not (Greek. ou. App-105) able to.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
Luk 14:20. ) See Luk 14:6. Comp. 1Co 7:30; 1Co 7:29.- , I cannot) This excuser of himself, the more plausible and fair-looking is the excuse which he thinks he has, is in proportion the more blunt in his refusal.
Fuente: Gnomon of the New Testament
Luk 14:26-28, Luk 18:29, Luk 18:30, 1Co 7:29-31, 1Co 7:33
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
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Marriage is a divine institution, but a man should not let love for his wife be greater than the things offered him by the Lord.
Fuente: Combined Bible Commentary
Luk 14:20. I have married a wife. According to the Mosaic law (Deu 24:5), a newly married man was free from military duty for a year. Hence the abrupt tone: and therefore I cannot come. Home engagements are often the most pressing, as they are also when sanctified the most pious, but the excuse was not valid: the invitation had been accepted before, the wife should have been induced to go with him, etc. Back of all this lies the thought, that worldly gratification hindered this one.