In the context of the Bible, an "excuse" often refers to a reason or explanation put forward to justify or defend a fault or failure. The concept of making excuses is addressed in various passages, highlighting human tendencies to avoid responsibility or accountability before God and others.

Old Testament References

1. Genesis 3:12-13: The first instance of making excuses is found in the account of the Fall. When God confronts Adam about eating the forbidden fruit, Adam responds, "The woman whom You gave to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I ate." Similarly, Eve blames the serpent, saying, "The serpent deceived me, and I ate." Here, both Adam and Eve attempt to shift the blame rather than taking responsibility for their actions.

2. Exodus 4:10-14: Moses, when called by God to lead the Israelites out of Egypt, offers excuses for his perceived inadequacies. He says, "O Lord, I am not eloquent... I am slow of speech and tongue." Despite God's assurance of His presence and provision, Moses hesitates, prompting God's anger. This passage illustrates how excuses can stem from fear or self-doubt, even in the face of divine calling.

New Testament References

1. Luke 14:16-24: In the Parable of the Great Banquet, Jesus describes a man who invites many to a feast, but they all begin to make excuses. One says, "I have bought a field and need to go see it," another, "I have bought five yoke of oxen and am going to try them out," and another, "I have just married a wife, so I cannot come." These excuses reveal misplaced priorities and a lack of commitment to the kingdom of God.

2. Romans 1:20: Paul writes, "For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—His eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse." This verse underscores the idea that humanity has no excuse for unbelief, as God's existence and attributes are evident in creation.

Theological Implications

The Bible consistently portrays excuses as inadequate before God. Excuses often reflect a deeper issue of the heart, such as pride, fear, or unbelief. Scripture calls believers to live with integrity, taking responsibility for their actions and trusting in God's provision and guidance.

Practical Application

Believers are encouraged to examine their own lives for areas where they might be making excuses. Instead of justifying shortcomings, Christians are called to seek God's strength to overcome obstacles and to live faithfully according to His will. The Bible encourages a posture of humility and repentance, recognizing that God's grace is sufficient to cover weaknesses and failures.

Related Concepts

· Accountability: The Bible emphasizes the importance of being accountable to God and others, as seen in passages like James 5:16, which encourages believers to confess their sins to one another.
· Repentance: True repentance involves acknowledging one's faults without making excuses, as exemplified in Psalm 51, where David confesses his sin with a contrite heart.
· Obedience: Scripture calls for obedience to God's commands, as seen in John 14:15, where Jesus says, "If you love Me, you will keep My commandments," leaving no room for excuses in the life of a believer.1. (v. t.) To free from accusation, or the imputation of fault or blame; to clear from guilt; to release from a charge; to justify by extenuating a fault; to exculpate; to absolve; to acquit.

2. (v. t.) To pardon, as a fault; to forgive entirely, or to admit to be little censurable, and to overlook; as, we excuse irregular conduct, when extraordinary circumstances appear to justify it.

3. (v. t.) To regard with indulgence; to view leniently or to overlook; to pardon.

4. (v. t.) To free from an impending obligation or duty; hence, to disengage; to dispense with; to release by favor; also, to remit by favor; not to exact; as, to excuse a forfeiture.

5. (v. t.) To relieve of an imputation by apology or defense; to make apology for as not seriously evil; to ask pardon or indulgence for.

6. (n.) The act of excusing, apologizing, exculpating, pardoning, releasing, and the like; acquittal; release; absolution; justification; extenuation.

7. (v. t.) That which is offered as a reason for being excused; a plea offered in extenuation of a fault or irregular deportment; apology; as, an excuse for neglect of duty; excuses for delay of payment.

8. (v. t.) That which excuses; that which extenuates or justifies a fault.

379. anapologetos -- without excuse
... without excuse. Part of Speech: Adjective Transliteration: anapologetos Phonetic
Spelling: (an-ap-ol-og'-ay-tos) Short Definition: indefensible, inexcusable ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/379.htm - 8k

3868. paraiteomai -- to beg from, to beg off
... from, to beg off. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: paraiteomai Phonetic Spelling:
(par-ahee-teh'-om-ahee) Short Definition: I make excuse, refuse, reject ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3868.htm - 7k

4392. prophasis -- a pretense
... a pretense. Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine Transliteration: prophasis Phonetic Spelling:
(prof'-as-is) Short Definition: a pretext, an excuse Definition: a ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4392.htm - 6k

156. aitia -- cause, reason
... Noun, Feminine Transliteration: aitia Phonetic Spelling: (ahee-tee'-a) Short Definition:
a cause, reason, charge Definition: a cause, reason, excuse; a charge ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/156.htm - 6k

4284. proecho -- to hold before
... Transliteration: proecho Phonetic Spelling: (pro-ekh-om-ahee) Short Definition:
I excel, surpass Definition: trans: I hold before; mid: I excuse myself; intrans ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4284.htm - 6k

626. apologeomai -- to give an account of oneself, hence to defend ...
... from a compound of apo and logos; to give an account (legal plea) of oneself, ie
Exculpate (self) -- answer (for self), make defence, excuse (self), speak for ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/626.htm - 8k

994a. bi -- I pray, excuse me
... 994, 994a. bi. 994b . I pray, excuse me. Transliteration: bi Short Definition:
Oh. Word Origin from bayay Definition I pray, excuse ...
/hebrew/994a.htm - 5k

994. biy -- I pray, excuse me
... 993, 994. biy. 994a . I pray, excuse me. Transliteration: biy Phonetic
Spelling: (bee) Short Definition: alas. alas, O, oh Perhaps ...
/hebrew/994.htm - 5k

A Common Mistake and Lame Excuse
... THE BOOK OF EZEKIEL A COMMON MISTAKE AND LAME EXCUSE. '... He prophesieth
of the times that are far off.'"Ezekiel 12:27. Human ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture a/a common mistake and lame.htm

Let this be My Excuse to the Learned World...
... Address 142: Let this be my excuse to the learned world? Let this be my
excuse to the learned world, for owning no school of wisdom ...
/.../address 142 0 0 let this be.htm

Ep. cxxiii. To Excuse Himself for Postponing his Acceptance of an ...
... Ep. CXXIII. To excuse himself for postponing his acceptance of an invitation.?
(To excuse himself for postponing his acceptance of an invitation.) ...
/.../cyril/select letters of saint gregory nazianzen/ep cxxiii to excuse himself.htm

Of Abbot Ch??remon and his Excuse About the Teaching which we ...
... The Conferences of John Cassian. Chapter IV. Of Abbot Ch??remon and his
excuse about the teaching which we asked for. And so the ...
/.../cassian/the conferences of john cassian/chapter iv of abbot chaeremon.htm

Of Our Answer to his Excuse.
... The Conferences of John Cassian. Chapter V. Of our answer to his excuse.
At this we were overwhelmed with no slight confusion and ...
/.../cassian/the conferences of john cassian/chapter v of our answer.htm

Whether Certain Blessings are Necessary in Order to Excuse ...
... variously rendered marriage goods, marriage blessings, and advantages of marriage.]
Whether certain blessings are necessary in order to excuse marriage? ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether certain blessings are necessary.htm

He Shows that Ignorance Affords no Such Excuse as Shall Free the ...
... A Treatise on grace and free will, Chapter 5."He Shows that Ignorance Affords No
Such Excuse as Shall Free the Offender from Punishment; But that to Sin with ...
/.../augustine/anti-pelagian writings/chapter 5 he shows that ignorance.htm

And Some Indeed, who are Used to Excuse their Own Sins...
... Section 14. And some indeed, who are used to excuse their own sins? 14.
And some indeed, who are used to excuse their own sins ...
//christianbookshelf.org/augustine/on continence/section 14 and some indeed.htm

Sinners are Convicted when Attempting to Excuse Themselves by ...
... A Treatise on grace and free will, Chapter 3."Sinners are Convicted When Attempting
to Excuse Themselves by Blaming God, Because They Have Free Will. ...
/.../augustine/anti-pelagian writings/chapter 3 sinners are convicted when.htm

Why did He not Take his Wife Along?
... it. But the third man's excuse was the most ridiculous of them all. "I ... The
fact was, he did not want to go. A Good Excuse. If you ...
/.../moody/moodys anecdotes and illustrations/why did he not take.htm

Excuse (13 Occurrences)
... 2. (vt) To pardon, as a fault; to forgive entirely, or to admit to be little censurable,
and to overlook; as, we excuse irregular conduct, when extraordinary ...
/e/excuse.htm - 11k

Color (18 Occurrences)
... water colors. 5. (n.) That which covers or hides the real character of anything;
semblance; excuse; disguise; appearance. 6. (n.) Shade ...
/c/color.htm - 39k

Cloak (73 Occurrences)
... and by women. 2. (n.) That which conceals; a disguise or pretext; an excuse;
a fair pretense; a mask; a cover. 3. (vt) To cover ...
/c/cloak.htm - 30k

Guilty (131 Occurrences)
... (See NIV). John 15:22 If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not have
had sin; but now they have no excuse for their sin. (See NIV). ...
/g/guilty.htm - 39k

Nature (80 Occurrences)
... perfections--namely His eternal power and divine nature--have been rendered
intelligible and clearly visible by His works, so that these men are without excuse...
/n/nature.htm - 35k

Qualities (7 Occurrences)
... of the world are clearly seen, being perceived through the things that are made,
even his everlasting power and divinity; that they may be without excuse. ...
/q/qualities.htm - 8k

Visible (12 Occurrences)
... of the world are clearly seen, being perceived through the things that are made,
even his everlasting power and divinity; that they may be without excuse. ...
/v/visible.htm - 9k

Natures (12 Occurrences)
... Only do not turn your freedom into an excuse for giving way to your lower natures;
but become bondservants to one another in a spirit of love. (WEY). ...
/n/natures.htm - 10k

Needs (85 Occurrences)
... prophet perish out of Jerusalem. (DBY). Luke 14:18 And they all with one
consent began to make excuse. The first said unto him, I ...
/n/needs.htm - 30k

Namely (81 Occurrences)
... perfections--namely His eternal power and divine nature--have been rendered
intelligible and clearly visible by His works, so that these men are without excuse...
/n/namely.htm - 31k

Is ignorance an adequate excuse for sin? | GotQuestions.org

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Excuse: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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