# General Information: All of the people who were invited gave the servant excuses about why they could not come to the banquet. # Connecting Statement: Jesus continues telling his parable. # to make excuses "to say why they could not come to the dinner" # The first said to him The reader should be able to infer that these people spoke directly to the servant whom the master had sent out ([Luke 14:17](../14/17.md)). Alternate translation: "The first sent him a message, saying" or "The first told the servant to say" (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit]]) # Please excuse me "Please forgive me" or "Please accept my apology"