Luke 14:20
A focused desk for reading, commentary, cross-references, original language notes, and your own observations.
Luke 14:20
20 And another said, I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come.
Chapter Context
Luke 14 is a historical gospel chapter in the New Testament that explores themes of fellowship, worship, love. Written during the late first century CE (c. 80-85 CE), this chapter should be understood within its historical context: Written when Christians needed to understand their place in the Roman world.
The chapter can be divided into several sections:
- Verses 1-5: Introduction and setting the context
- Verses 6-12: Development of key themes
- Verses 13-20: Central message and teachings
- Verses 21-35: Conclusion and application
This chapter is significant because it illustrates divine judgment and mercy in response to human actions. When studying this passage, it's important to consider both its immediate context within Luke and its broader place in the scriptural canon.
Verse Study
Luke 14:20
20 And another said, I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come.
Analysis
And another said, I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come. This third excuse in the Great Supper parable is the most absolute—he doesn't even request to be excused (parēteō, παραιτέω) as the previous two did. The Greek gunaika egēma (γυναῖκα ἔγημα, "I married a wife") uses the aorist tense indicating a recently completed action. His assertion dia touto ou dunamai elthein (διὰ τοῦτο οὐ δύναμαι ἐλθεῖν, "therefore I cannot come") claims absolute impossibility rather than inconvenience.
Yet Deuteronomy 24:5 exempted newlyweds from military service and business obligations for one year—but not from worship or religious duties. A wedding feast invitation would include the new wife, making this excuse particularly revealing. The man chose marital intimacy and domestic pleasure over divine invitation. This represents the third category of worldly attachment: after possessions (field) and productivity (oxen) comes personal relationships and sensual pleasure.
Jesus exposes how even the God-ordained institution of marriage can become an idol when it displaces proper priority to God's kingdom. This excuse carries particular force because it sounds legitimate—yet it reveals a heart that values human companionship above fellowship with God. The progression from polite excuses to blunt refusal shows increasing hardness of heart.
Historical Context
In first-century Judaism, marriage was highly valued and newly married men received special consideration under Mosaic law (Deuteronomy 20:7, 24:5). However, these exemptions applied to military campaigns and certain civic duties, not to religious obligations or social invitations. A proper wedding feast would last seven days and include the entire community—the new wife would naturally accompany her husband to such events.
The cultural context makes this excuse particularly offensive. In Greco-Roman and Jewish culture, banquet invitations were extended to households, not merely individuals. The man's claim that marriage prevents attendance is therefore both culturally absurd and theologically revealing. Jesus' original hearers would recognize this as a deliberate rejection, not a legitimate conflict. The excuse exposes how personal desire can masquerade as duty.
Reflection
- In what ways do legitimate, God-given relationships (marriage, family) become excuses for avoiding full devotion to Christ?
- How does this verse challenge the tendency to compartmentalize life into 'sacred' and 'secular' spheres, exempting personal life from kingdom demands?
- What does the progression from polite excuses to blunt refusal reveal about the trajectory of a heart that prioritizes earthly attachments over God?
Cross-References
- Parallel theme: Deuteronomy 24:5, 1 Corinthians 7:33