1. Isaiah 5:20

2. An excuse is a reason that is given in an attempt to justify something that: you did that you should not have done; or you did not do that you should have done. An excuse can be valid or invalid. An excuse may be accepted or rejected.

3. 16 Then He said to him, "A certain man gave a great supper and invited many, 17 and sent his servant at supper time to say to those who were invited, 'Come, for all things are now ready.' 18 But they all with one accord began to make excuses. The first said to him, 'I have bought a piece of ground, and I must go and see it. I ask you to have me excused.' 19 And another said, 'I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I am going to test them. I ask you to have me excused.' 20 Still another said, 'I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come.'

4. 21 So that servant came and reported these things to his master. Then the master of the house, being angry, said to his servant, 'Go out quickly into the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in here the poor and the maimed and the lame and the blind.' 22 And the servant said, 'Master, it is done as you commanded, and still there is room.' 23 Then the master said to the servant, 'Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled. 24 For I say to you that none of those men who were invited shall taste my supper.' " {Luke 14:16-24}

5. Adam ate the forbidden fruit (Genesis Chapter 3) Excuse: that wife made me do it (v. 11-12) Result: Punishment (v. 17-19, 22-24) Eve also ate the forbidden fruit (Gen. 3:6-10) Excuse: serpent made me do it (v. 13) Result: Eve and Serpent Punished (v. 14-16)

6. Moses was afraid to face Pharaoh (Exodus Ch. 3-4) Excuse: Who am I? (Ex. 3:11) Excuse: Not an eloquent speaker (Ex. 4:10) Result: God was angry with him (Ex. 4:14) King Saul – spared animals (1 Samuel Chapter 15) Excuse: The people made me do it (v. 15, 20-21) Result: Saul rejected from being king (v. 22-23)

7. King Agrippa did not become a Christian (Acts Ch. 26) Excuse: Not quite persuaded (v. 28) Result: He was lost Felix did not become a Christian (Acts 24:24-25) Excuse: Not a convenient time (v. 25) Result: He was lost

8. Fighting (2 Tim. 2:24) Excuse: “He hit me first” Bible Says: Luke 6:29; Prov. 15:1; John 13:34; Matt. 5:44; Rom. 12:19; Phil. 2:3 Gossip (Rom. 1:29; 2 Cor. 12:20; 1 Tim. 5:13, 1 Pet. 4:15) Excuse: “Someone’s soul is at stake” Bible Says: Gal. 6:1; James 5:20; Deut. 19:15; Ezek. 3:17-21; Matt. 18:15-17

9. Not Attending Worship Services (Heb. 10:25) Excuse: “Only Sunday morning is required” Bible Says: Matt. 6:33; Matt. 6:19-21; 2 Pet. 3:18; Heb. 10:24-25 Not Attending Bible Studies (2 Peter 3:18) Excuse: “I don’t get anything out of it” Bible Says: 2 Tim. 2:15; 2 Tim. 2:2; 1 Pet. 2:2; Heb. 5:12

10. Not Teaching Bible Classes (1 Cor. 12:28; Eph. 4:11) Excuse: “I don’t know enough” Bible Says: Heb. 5:12; 2 Tim. 2:2; 2 Peter 1:5; Hosea 4:6 Withholding Contribution (1 Cor. 16:2) Excuse: “I don’t like how the elders spend money” Bible Says: Mal. 3:8-9; 2 Cor. 9:6-7; Rom. 12:8

11. Complain and grumble about elders (Acts 14:23) Excuse: “I don’t agree with their decisions” Bible Says: Heb. 13:17; 1 Cor. 1:10-11, 3:3; Matt. 12:25; Prov. 6:19; Titus 3:10; Jude 19; Rom. 16:17 Have not been baptized (Mark 16:16) Excuse: “My sins are too terrible” Bible Says: 1 Tim. 1:15; Acts 26:9; 1 Cor. 6:9; 1 Tim. 2:4; 2 Pet. 3:9

12. In the examples given, God did not accept the excuses offered. Danger of excuses: Lull you into false sense of security. Fool you that you are not accountable. Your soul is in a lost condition. If you are using an excuse to violate God’s Law, repent and obey God’s Law.