Luke 14:20

I cannot come The -I cannot," as in Luke 11:7, is only an euphemism for -I will not." He thinks his reason so strong that there can be no question about it. He relies doubtless on the principle of the exemption from war, granted to newly-married bridegrooms in Deuteronomy 24:5. Perhaps St Paul is alluding to this parable in 1 Corinthians 7:29-33, "The time is short: it remaineth, that both they that have wives be as though they had none;...and they that buy, as though they possessed not; and they that use this world, as not using it to the full." Thus the three hindrances are possessions, wealth, pleasures. But, as Bengel says, neither the field (Matthew 13:44), nor the plowing (Luke 9:62), nor the wedding (2 Corinthians 11:2) need have been any real hindrance. The -sacred hate" of Luke 14:26 would have cured all these excuses.