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100 Bible Verses about Excuses

Luke 14:18-20 ESV / 255 helpful votes

But they all alike began to make excuses. The first said to him, ‘I have bought a field, and I must go out and see it. Please have me excused.’ And another said, ‘I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I go to examine them. Please have me excused.’ And another said, ‘I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come.’

Exodus 4:10-14 ESV / 190 helpful votes

But Moses said to the Lord, “Oh, my Lord, I am not eloquent, either in the past or since you have spoken to your servant, but I am slow of speech and of tongue.” Then the Lord said to him, “Who has made man's mouth? Who makes him mute, or deaf, or seeing, or blind? Is it not I, the Lord? Now therefore go, and I will be with your mouth and teach you what you shall speak.” But he said, “Oh, my Lord, please send someone else.” Then the anger of the Lord was kindled against Moses and he said, “Is there not Aaron, your brother, the Levite? I know that he can speak well. Behold, he is coming out to meet you, and when he sees you, he will be glad in his heart.

Luke 9:59-62 ESV / 165 helpful votes

To another he said, “Follow me.” But he said, “Lord, let me first go and bury my father.” And Jesus said to him, “Leave the dead to bury their own dead. But as for you, go and proclaim the kingdom of God.” Yet another said, “I will follow you, Lord, but let me first say farewell to those at my home.” Jesus said to him, “No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.”

Jeremiah 1:4-10 ESV / 122 helpful votes

Now the word of the Lord came to me, saying, “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you; I appointed you a prophet to the nations.” Then I said, “Ah, Lord God! Behold, I do not know how to speak, for I am only a youth.” But the Lord said to me, “Do not say, ‘I am only a youth’; for to all to whom I send you, you shall go, and whatever I command you, you shall speak. Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you to deliver you, declares the Lord.” ...

Genesis 3:13 ESV / 110 helpful votes

Then the Lord God said to the woman, “What is this that you have done?” The woman said, “The serpent deceived me, and I ate.”

Romans 2:1 ESV / 103 helpful votes

Therefore you have no excuse, O man, every one of you who judges. For in passing judgment on another you condemn yourself, because you, the judge, practice the very same things.

Romans 1:20 ESV / 102 helpful votes

For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse.

Genesis 3:12 ESV / 79 helpful votes

The man said, “The woman whom you gave to be with me, she gave me fruit of the tree, and I ate.”

Matthew 8:21 ESV / 69 helpful votes

Another of the disciples said to him, “Lord, let me first go and bury my father.”

Exodus 4:1 ESV / 62 helpful votes

Then Moses answered, “But behold, they will not believe me or listen to my voice, for they will say, ‘The Lord did not appear to you.’”

Romans 2:1-29 ESV / 57 helpful votes

Therefore you have no excuse, O man, every one of you who judges. For in passing judgment on another you condemn yourself, because you, the judge, practice the very same things. We know that the judgment of God rightly falls on those who practice such things. Do you suppose, O man—you who judge those who practice such things and yet do them yourself—that you will escape the judgment of God? Or do you presume on the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God's kindness is meant to lead you to repentance? But because of your hard and impenitent heart you are storing up wrath for yourself on the day of wrath when God's righteous judgment will be revealed. ...

Luke 14:18 ESV / 51 helpful votes

But they all alike began to make excuses. The first said to him, ‘I have bought a field, and I must go out and see it. Please have me excused.’

Judges 6:12-17 ESV / 51 helpful votes

And the angel of the Lord appeared to him and said to him, “The Lord is with you, O mighty man of valor.” And Gideon said to him, “Please, my lord, if the Lord is with us, why then has all this happened to us? And where are all his wonderful deeds that our fathers recounted to us, saying, ‘Did not the Lord bring us up from Egypt?’ But now the Lord has forsaken us and given us into the hand of Midian.” And the Lord turned to him and said, “Go in this might of yours and save Israel from the hand of Midian; do not I send you?” And he said to him, “Please, Lord, how can I save Israel? Behold, my clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my father's house.” And the Lord said to him, “But I will be with you, and you shall strike the Midianites as one man.” ...

2 Kings 5:10-14 ESV / 46 helpful votes

And Elisha sent a messenger to him, saying, “Go and wash in the Jordan seven times, and your flesh shall be restored, and you shall be clean.” But Naaman was angry and went away, saying, “Behold, I thought that he would surely come out to me and stand and call upon the name of the Lord his God, and wave his hand over the place and cure the leper. Are not Abana and Pharpar, the rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel? Could I not wash in them and be clean?” So he turned and went away in a rage. But his servants came near and said to him, “My father, it is a great word the prophet has spoken to you; will you not do it? Has he actually said to you, ‘Wash, and be clean’?” So he went down and dipped himself seven times in the Jordan, according to the word of the man of God, and his flesh was restored like the flesh of a little child, and he was clean.

2 Peter 3:9 ESV / 41 helpful votes

The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.

John 15:22 ESV / 38 helpful votes

If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not have been guilty of sin, but now they have no excuse for their sin.

Jeremiah 1:7-8 ESV / 35 helpful votes

But the Lord said to me, “Do not say, ‘I am only a youth’; for to all to whom I send you, you shall go, and whatever I command you, you shall speak. Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you to deliver you, declares the Lord.”

Proverbs 26:13 ESV / 35 helpful votes

The sluggard says, “There is a lion in the road! There is a lion in the streets!”

1 Kings 19:19-21 ESV / 31 helpful votes

So he departed from there and found Elisha the son of Shaphat, who was plowing with twelve yoke of oxen in front of him, and he was with the twelfth. Elijah passed by him and cast his cloak upon him. And he left the oxen and ran after Elijah and said, “Let me kiss my father and my mother, and then I will follow you.” And he said to him, “Go back again, for what have I done to you?” And he returned from following him and took the yoke of oxen and sacrificed them and boiled their flesh with the yokes of the oxen and gave it to the people, and they ate. Then he arose and went after Elijah and assisted him.

Matthew 7:21 ESV / 30 helpful votes

“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.

2 Timothy 1:7 ESV / 29 helpful votes

For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.

Exodus 32:22-24 ESV / 28 helpful votes

And Aaron said, “Let not the anger of my lord burn hot. You know the people, that they are set on evil. For they said to me, ‘Make us gods who shall go before us. As for this Moses, the man who brought us up out of the land of Egypt, we do not know what has become of him.’ So I said to them, ‘Let any who have gold take it off.’ So they gave it to me, and I threw it into the fire, and out came this calf.”

Luke 14:20 ESV / 26 helpful votes

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

John 3:16 ESV / 25 helpful votes

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.

Luke 14:19 ESV / 25 helpful votes

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

Jeremiah 1:6 ESV / 25 helpful votes

Then I said, “Ah, Lord God! Behold, I do not know how to speak, for I am only a youth.”

Exodus 4:10 ESV / 23 helpful votes

But Moses said to the Lord, “Oh, my Lord, I am not eloquent, either in the past or since you have spoken to your servant, but I am slow of speech and of tongue.”

Galatians 6:7 ESV / 21 helpful votes

Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap.

Genesis 3:12-13 ESV / 20 helpful votes

The man said, “The woman whom you gave to be with me, she gave me fruit of the tree, and I ate.” Then the Lord God said to the woman, “What is this that you have done?” The woman said, “The serpent deceived me, and I ate.”

Hebrews 11:1 ESV / 18 helpful votes

Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.

Philippians 4:13 ESV / 18 helpful votes

I can do all things through him who strengthens me.

Acts 24:25 ESV / 18 helpful votes

And as he reasoned about righteousness and self-control and the coming judgment, Felix was alarmed and said, “Go away for the present. When I get an opportunity I will summon you.”

Luke 1:37 ESV / 18 helpful votes

For nothing will be impossible with God.”

Exodus 32:24 ESV / 18 helpful votes

So I said to them, ‘Let any who have gold take it off.’ So they gave it to me, and I threw it into the fire, and out came this calf.”

2 Corinthians 5:10 ESV / 17 helpful votes

For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil.

John 6:50-71 ESV / 17 helpful votes

This is the bread that comes down from heaven, so that one may eat of it and not die. I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. And the bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh.” The Jews then disputed among themselves, saying, “How can this man give us his flesh to eat?” So Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. Whoever feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day. ...

Luke 9:62 ESV / 17 helpful votes

Jesus said to him, “No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.”

Proverbs 22:13 ESV / 17 helpful votes

The sluggard says, “There is a lion outside! I shall be killed in the streets!”

Proverbs 3:5 ESV / 17 helpful votes

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.

Judges 6:12 ESV / 17 helpful votes

And the angel of the Lord appeared to him and said to him, “The Lord is with you, O mighty man of valor.”

Exodus 4:13 ESV / 17 helpful votes

But he said, “Oh, my Lord, please send someone else.”

Exodus 3:14 ESV / 17 helpful votes

God said to Moses, “I am who I am.” And he said, “Say this to the people of Israel: ‘I am has sent me to you.’”

1 John 1:6 ESV / 16 helpful votes

If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth.

Jeremiah 1:7 ESV / 16 helpful votes

But the Lord said to me, “Do not say, ‘I am only a youth’; for to all to whom I send you, you shall go, and whatever I command you, you shall speak.

Jude 1:3 ESV / 15 helpful votes

Beloved, although I was very eager to write to you about our common salvation, I found it necessary to write appealing to you to contend for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints.

James 4:14 ESV / 15 helpful votes

Yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes.

Jeremiah 1:8 ESV / 15 helpful votes

Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you to deliver you, declares the Lord.”

Romans 3:19 ESV / 14 helpful votes

Now we know that whatever the law says it speaks to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be stopped, and the whole world may be held accountable to God.

Romans 1:1-32 ESV / 14 helpful votes

Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God, which he promised beforehand through his prophets in the holy Scriptures, concerning his Son, who was descended from David according to the flesh and was declared to be the Son of God in power according to the Spirit of holiness by his resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord, through whom we have received grace and apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith for the sake of his name among all the nations, ...

Acts 17:10-11 ESV / 14 helpful votes

The brothers immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea, and when they arrived they went into the Jewish synagogue. Now these Jews were more noble than those in Thessalonica; they received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so.

Matthew 5:32 ESV / 14 helpful votes

But I say to you that everyone who divorces his wife, except on the ground of sexual immorality, makes her commit adultery, and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery.

Jeremiah 1:5 ESV / 14 helpful votes

“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you; I appointed you a prophet to the nations.”

James 1:13-15 ESV / 13 helpful votes

Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God,” for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one. But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death.

1 Corinthians 11:1-2 ESV / 13 helpful votes

Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ. Now I commend you because you remember me in everything and maintain the traditions even as I delivered them to you.

John 14:6 ESV / 13 helpful votes

Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

John 1:1 ESV / 13 helpful votes

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

Luke 9:61 ESV / 13 helpful votes

Yet another said, “I will follow you, Lord, but let me first say farewell to those at my home.”

Proverbs 19:5 ESV / 13 helpful votes

A false witness will not go unpunished, and he who breathes out lies will not escape.

2 Kings 5:13 ESV / 13 helpful votes

But his servants came near and said to him, “My father, it is a great word the prophet has spoken to you; will you not do it? Has he actually said to you, ‘Wash, and be clean’?”

1 John 4:8 ESV / 12 helpful votes

Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love.

John 15:13 ESV / 12 helpful votes

Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.

Luke 9:60 ESV / 12 helpful votes

And Jesus said to him, “Leave the dead to bury their own dead. But as for you, go and proclaim the kingdom of God.”

Luke 9:59 ESV / 12 helpful votes

To another he said, “Follow me.” But he said, “Lord, let me first go and bury my father.”

Matthew 12:36 ESV / 12 helpful votes

I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak,

Jeremiah 1:10 ESV / 12 helpful votes

See, I have set you this day over nations and over kingdoms, to pluck up and to break down, to destroy and to overthrow, to build and to plant.”

Jeremiah 1:1 ESV / 12 helpful votes

The words of Jeremiah, the son of Hilkiah, one of the priests who were in Anathoth in the land of Benjamin,

Psalm 23:1-6 ESV / 12 helpful votes

A Psalm of David. The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. ...

2 Kings 5:14 ESV / 12 helpful votes

So he went down and dipped himself seven times in the Jordan, according to the word of the man of God, and his flesh was restored like the flesh of a little child, and he was clean.

2 Kings 5:12 ESV / 12 helpful votes

Are not Abana and Pharpar, the rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel? Could I not wash in them and be clean?” So he turned and went away in a rage.

1 Kings 19:21 ESV / 12 helpful votes

And he returned from following him and took the yoke of oxen and sacrificed them and boiled their flesh with the yokes of the oxen and gave it to the people, and they ate. Then he arose and went after Elijah and assisted him.

Deuteronomy 30:14 ESV / 12 helpful votes

But the word is very near you. It is in your mouth and in your heart, so that you can do it.

Exodus 20:1-26 ESV / 12 helpful votes

And God spoke all these words, saying, “I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery. “You shall have no other gods before me. “You shall not make for yourself a carved image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. You shall not bow down to them or serve them, for I the Lord your God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and the fourth generation of those who hate me, ...

2 Timothy 3:16 ESV / 11 helpful votes

All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness,

Colossians 3:23 ESV / 11 helpful votes

Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men,

1 Corinthians 2:13 ESV / 11 helpful votes

And we impart this in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the Spirit, interpreting spiritual truths to those who are spiritual.

Romans 14:23 ESV / 11 helpful votes

But whoever has doubts is condemned if he eats, because the eating is not from faith. For whatever does not proceed from faith is sin.

John 15:12 ESV / 11 helpful votes

“This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.

Judges 6:15 ESV / 11 helpful votes

And he said to him, “Please, Lord, how can I save Israel? Behold, my clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my father's house.”

Luke 14:17-18 ESV / 10 helpful votes

And at the time for the banquet he sent his servant to say to those who had been invited, ‘Come, for everything is now ready.’ But they all alike began to make excuses. The first said to him, ‘I have bought a field, and I must go out and see it. Please have me excused.’

Matthew 7:12 ESV / 10 helpful votes

“So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.

Jeremiah 1:9 ESV / 10 helpful votes

Then the Lord put out his hand and touched my mouth. And the Lord said to me, “Behold, I have put my words in your mouth.

Jeremiah 1:4 ESV / 10 helpful votes

Now the word of the Lord came to me, saying,

2 Kings 5:11 ESV / 10 helpful votes

But Naaman was angry and went away, saying, “Behold, I thought that he would surely come out to me and stand and call upon the name of the Lord his God, and wave his hand over the place and cure the leper.

2 Kings 5:10 ESV / 10 helpful votes

And Elisha sent a messenger to him, saying, “Go and wash in the Jordan seven times, and your flesh shall be restored, and you shall be clean.”

John 10:10 ESV / 9 helpful votes

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.

Mark 16:15 ESV / 9 helpful votes

And he said to them, “Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation.

Matthew 25:24-25 ESV / 9 helpful votes

He also who had received the one talent came forward, saying, ‘Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you scattered no seed, so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here, you have what is yours.’

2 Chronicles 7:14 ESV / 9 helpful votes

If my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land.

1 Kings 19:19 ESV / 9 helpful votes

So he departed from there and found Elisha the son of Shaphat, who was plowing with twelve yoke of oxen in front of him, and he was with the twelfth. Elijah passed by him and cast his cloak upon him.

1 Samuel 13:7-14 ESV / 9 helpful votes

And some Hebrews crossed the fords of the Jordan to the land of Gad and Gilead. Saul was still at Gilgal, and all the people followed him trembling. He waited seven days, the time appointed by Samuel. But Samuel did not come to Gilgal, and the people were scattering from him. So Saul said, “Bring the burnt offering here to me, and the peace offerings.” And he offered the burnt offering. As soon as he had finished offering the burnt offering, behold, Samuel came. And Saul went out to meet him and greet him. Samuel said, “What have you done?” And Saul said, “When I saw that the people were scattering from me, and that you did not come within the days appointed, and that the Philistines had mustered at Michmash, ...

Exodus 32:22 ESV / 9 helpful votes

And Aaron said, “Let not the anger of my lord burn hot. You know the people, that they are set on evil.

Exodus 4:12 ESV / 9 helpful votes

Now therefore go, and I will be with your mouth and teach you what you shall speak.”

Genesis 3:11-13 ESV / 9 helpful votes

He said, “Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten of the tree of which I commanded you not to eat?” The man said, “The woman whom you gave to be with me, she gave me fruit of the tree, and I ate.” Then the Lord God said to the woman, “What is this that you have done?” The woman said, “The serpent deceived me, and I ate.”

Luke 12:15 ESV / 8 helpful votes

And he said to them, “Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.”

Deuteronomy 30:12 ESV / 8 helpful votes

It is not in heaven, that you should say, ‘Who will ascend to heaven for us and bring it to us, that we may hear it and do it?’

Deuteronomy 30:11 ESV / 8 helpful votes

“For this commandment that I command you today is not too hard for you, neither is it far off.

Exodus 4:14 ESV / 8 helpful votes

Then the anger of the Lord was kindled against Moses and he said, “Is there not Aaron, your brother, the Levite? I know that he can speak well. Behold, he is coming out to meet you, and when he sees you, he will be glad in his heart.

Romans 11:19-22 ESV / 7 helpful votes

Then you will say, “Branches were broken off so that I might be grafted in.” That is true. They were broken off because of their unbelief, but you stand fast through faith. So do not become proud, but fear. For if God did not spare the natural branches, neither will he spare you. Note then the kindness and the severity of God: severity toward those who have fallen, but God's kindness to you, provided you continue in his kindness. Otherwise you too will be cut off.

Proverbs 22:13-15 ESV / 7 helpful votes

The sluggard says, “There is a lion outside! I shall be killed in the streets!” The mouth of forbidden women is a deep pit; he with whom the Lord is angry will fall into it. Folly is bound up in the heart of a child, but the rod of discipline drives it far from him.

1 Kings 19:20 ESV / 7 helpful votes

And he left the oxen and ran after Elijah and said, “Let me kiss my father and my mother, and then I will follow you.” And he said to him, “Go back again, for what have I done to you?”

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