2. The next man said he had bought five yoke of oxen and must needs go and try them. I believe again that he had already tried them or by some other means knew whether they would work. He could have attended the feast if he had wanted to do so, but he simply preferred to be out with his oxen rather than to carry out the promise which he had made. 3. The third man merely said, “I have married a wife and therefore I cannot come.” He didn’t even say, “I beg thee have me excused.” He made no apology. He thought the fact that he had a wife was excuse enough for falling down on his duties. He is not the last man who has allowed a wife to keep him from doing his duty. That has happened many times. Sometimes it works the other way. The wife allows her husband to keep her from doing what she ought to do. You and I regard none of these excuses as being valid. Neither did the master of the house. He was angry. He would allow none of these deserters to taste his supper. He didn’t even propose to make any allowance for repentance. He, no doubt, felt that he had been greatly mistreated or even insulted. But these excuses were no worse than many of those which people now offer for rejecting the Lord’s invitation. Even church members sometimes give silly excuses for not doing their duty. III Common Excuses This morning we want to discuss the excuses outsiders offer for not obeying the gospel.[2] If you start out to do some personal work and to lead people to the Lord individually, and that is the most effective way to lead them, you’ll find them making excuses. There are twelve or fifteen excuses which will probably cover 95 per cent of the cases. If you become familiar with these, and know how to answer them, you’ll be able to handle most of the objections you meet. I have heard all these excuses offered many times. If you set out to do some work tomorrow—work of this nature—you will find people offering one or more of these excuses. Let us state and briefly discuss them. 1. “_There are so many doctrines preached I do not know which one to believe. If wise men differ about which church is right, how then can I be sure?_” Well, friends, wise men are still differing about what sort of food you ought to eat. The doctors have not yet decided what is the perfect diet; but you haven’t quit eating while the doctors argue. You are more practical in dealing with your stomach than you are in dealing with your soul. You keep on eating the best you can while the scientists search for the perfect diet.