“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.”
King James Version (KJV)
14:18 They all began to make excuse - One of them pleads only his own will, I go: another, a pretended necessity, I must needs go: the third, impossibility, I cannot come: all of them want the holy hatred mentioned #Lu 14:26|. All of them perish by things in themselves lawful. I must needs go - The most urgent worldly affairs frequently fall out just at the time when God makes the freest offers of salvation.
Lu 14:18-20 Began to make excuse. The excuses show that they did not wish to be guests. The first said, etc. The first pleads landed property; the second, business; the third, social considerations; none of them good excuses.