Devine Scripture

Luke 14:20

What does Luke 14:20 mean?

A plain-English look at Luke 14:20 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Luke 14:20 means

The third excuses himself because he has married a wife. Family joy, a gift from God, is used to refuse a greater gift. Even the best earthly blessings can become idols if they keep us from God’s invitation. Jesus is not denigrating marriage; He is exposing how good things can wrongly take first place. This excuse, like the others, treats the host’s feast as a negotiable option. The cumulative effect is clear: when the kingdom calls, divided hearts look elsewhere. The parable invites self-examination: what relationships or comforts keep us from the joy God has prepared?

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

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

KJV

King James Version · 1611

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

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

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

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

And another said, I have been married, and so I am not able to come.

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

and another said, A wife I married, and because of this I am not able to come.

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

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

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

And another said, I have married a wife, and on this account I cannot come.

Context

With the triad of excuses complete, the parable will pivot. The servant will report these refusals, and the master’s anger will give way not to sulking but to action: an urgent command to gather the poor, maimed, blind, and lame from the city’s streets and lanes (verse 21). This shift from the expected guests to the marginalized echoes Jesus’ earlier teaching about whom to invite, reinforcing the theme of grace to the lowly and judgment on complacent privilege.

v.19And another said, I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I go to prove them; I pray thee have me excused.

v.20This passage

v.21And the servant came, and told 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 maimed and blind and lame.

Cross references

Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

  • Luke 18:29

    And he said unto them, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or wife, or brethren, or parents, or children, for the kingdom of God’s sake,

  • 1 Corinthians 7:33

    but he that is married is careful for the things of the world, how he may please his wife,

  • 1 Corinthians 7:29

    But this I say, brethren, the time is shortened, that henceforth both those that have wives may be as though they had none;

  • Luke 14:26

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

  • Deuteronomy 24:5

    When a man taketh a new wife, he shall not go out in the host, neither shall he be charged with any business: he shall be free at home one year, and shall cheer his wife whom he hath taken.

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