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.
LUKE 14:18KJVWhat does Luke 14:18 mean?
Luke 14:18 describes how, in Jesus’ parable, all the invited guests begin making excuses to avoid attending a great banquet. The first excuse comes from someone who claims he has just bought a piece of land and must go see it, asking to be excused from the invitation.
In this scene, Jesus is telling a story to a group of people at a meal, using the image of a banquet to illustrate a deeper point about responding to God’s invitation. The verse highlights how those invited—representing people who were expected to accept—find reasons not to come, starting with practical, everyday concerns. This sets up the contrast between the host’s generous offer and the guests’ unwillingness to accept it.
The Greek behind Luke 14:18
- ἐξαίρεσιν (paradeigomai, G3868, “excuse”): The Greek word here carries the sense of declining or refusing an invitation, not just apologizing but actively turning down the offer. This emphasizes the guests’ deliberate choice to not attend.
- ἀπὸ μιᾶς (apo mias, G575 + G3391, “with one consent”): This phrase suggests a unified response—everyone starts making excuses together, showing a collective unwillingness rather than just individual cases.
- ἀγρόν (agron, G68, “piece of ground”): The specific mention of land as the excuse points to ordinary, material concerns taking priority over the invitation, which helps underline the point Jesus is making about misplaced priorities.
Why Luke 14:18 matters
- Luke 14:18 clears up the idea that those who declined the invitation did so for trivial or everyday reasons, not because of hostility or inability, but by their own choice and priorities.
- The verse emphasizes that the refusal was widespread and coordinated, not just an isolated incident, which sets the stage for the host’s later response in the parable.
- Understanding this verse helps clarify the broader message of Jesus’ parable: that God’s invitation can be ignored or rejected, often for reasons that seem reasonable in daily life but miss the greater significance of what is being offered.