Luke 14:19 - Printer Friendly

ESV: And another said, ‘I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I go to examine them. Please have me excused.’

NIV: "Another said, ‘I have just bought five yoke of oxen, and I’m on my way to try them out. Please excuse me.’

NASB: And another one said, ‘I bought five yoke of oxen, and I am going to try them out; please consider me excused.’

CSB: "Another said, ‘I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I’m going to try them out. I ask you to excuse me.’

NLT: Another said, ‘I have just bought five pairs of oxen, and I want to try them out. Please excuse me.’

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

NKJV: And another said, ‘I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I am going to test them. I ask you to have me excused.’

Using a parable (Luke 14:15–18), Jesus explains that it's not enough to be "invited" by God—a person must be open enough to act on that invitation. Jesus' birth inaugurated the kingdom of God on earth. For thousands of years, Jews have been anticipating the arrival of the Messiah—God's anointed one—to give them the blessings God promised Abraham. That time of fulfillment is still future, during the millennial kingdom. Right now, in Luke's narrative, Jews can step into their God-ordained role to introduce the world to the proper worship of God and the salvation He offers.

Instead, metaphorically, they would rather check out the new oxen—the "riches…of life" they just bought (Luke 8:14). Or their new field (Luke 14:18), their new wife (Luke 14:20), or honor amongst each other (Luke 14:7–14), or any other earthly blessing (Luke 14:33) that just feels more real than a banquet at God's table at the resurrection. Meanwhile, Jesus has told His disciples that to truly follow Him, they must be willing to give up their lives, food security, and all their possessions (Luke 12:4–5, 22–33). They need to be willing to live in faith, trusting God to see to their needs on earth and their resurrection after death.

This is a hard lesson for a culture that teaches that if God blesses the obedient the rich must be righteous. The poor, blind, and crippled, those who seem to be cursed by God and banned from worshiping in the temple: it's these people who tend to trust God more and look forward to eternity in paradise with Him. The gospel is often more easily accepted by those who are not fulfilled by the world (Luke 14:21–23).

Luke 14:15–24 is the last of three lessons Jesus gives about how humble and marginalized people can be more qualified to be honored in the kingdom of God than some religious leaders. A good life can distract anyone from their need for salvation. Those who suffer or have no homes are more likely to look forward to eternity in paradise with the Father. Luke will go on to present the cost of accepting an invitation to God's kingdom as well as its ultimate value (Luke 14:25–35). This parable resembles the parable of the wedding feast in Matthew 22:1–14.

A Pharisee invites Jesus to a formal dinner. There, Jesus teaches lessons using invitations and feasts as a theme. These emphasize humility and the importance of not making excuses. After the dinner, Jesus warns that those who seek to follow Him will experience hardship. Believers should "count the cost" and understand what aspects of this world they may have to give up.

Luke 14 continues Jesus' doctrinal march to Jerusalem and the cross. Luke 14 and 15 contain the second grouping of one miracle and a series of discussions about the kingdom of God and salvation; Luke 13:10–35 is the first. Next will be a collection of warnings about rejecting God's kingdom (Luke 16:1—17:10) and two more sets of lessons about the kingdom and salvation, each beginning with a single miracle (Luke 17:11—18:34; 18:35—19:27). After this comes Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem.

Luke was a traveling companion of Paul (Acts 16:10) and a physician (Colossians 4:14). Unlike Matthew, Mark, and John, Luke writes his gospel as an historian, rather than as a first-hand eyewitness. His extensive writings also include the book of Acts (Acts 1:1–3). These are deliberately organized, carefully researched accounts of those events. The gospel of Luke focuses on the earthly ministry of Jesus Christ. Luke's Gentile perspective presents Christ as a Savior for all people, offering both forgiveness and direction to those who follow Him.