Thematic Bible: Engagements

Again he sent out other servants saying, 'Tell those who were invited, look, I have already prepared the dinner; my cattle and [other] well-fattened animals have been butchered and everything is ready. [Now] come to the wedding reception dinner.' But they made fun of it, and went on about their business, one to his farm, another to his store.

But Jesus replied to him, "A certain man prepared a lavish supper and invited many [guests]. When the supper was about ready, he sent his slave out to tell those who were invited, 'Come, for everything is [now] ready.' Then all of them, in the same way, began to excuse themselves [from attending]. The first one said to the host, 'I just bought some land and I need to go out and look it over, so please excuse me [from attending the supper].' read more.
And another person said, 'I just bought five teams of oxen and I need to go and test them out, so please excuse me [from attending the supper].' And the third person said, 'I just got married, so I cannot attend [the supper].'