The Best 50+ Bible Verses About Excuses

We all make excuses. Sometimes, they’re small and harmless. Other times, they hold us back from what we’re meant to do. This article brings together 50 Bible verses that talk about excuses.

These verses offer wisdom and guidance. They remind us of the importance of taking responsibility and moving forward. Whether you’re looking for inspiration or a gentle nudge, these verses can help.

50 Bible Verses About Excuses

10 Bible Verses on Excuses for Inaction

• "And cast the unprofitable servant into the outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth." — Matthew 25:30
• "But Jesus said to him, 'No one, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.'" — Luke 9:62
• "The lazy man says, 'There is a lion outside! I shall be slain in the streets!'" — Proverbs 22:13
• "He who observes the wind will not sow, and he who regards the clouds will not reap." — Ecclesiastes 11:4
• "Therefore, to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin." — James 4:17
• "Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock. But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall." — Matthew 7:24-27
• "And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart." — Galatians 6:9
• "Each one’s work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one’s work, of what sort it is." — 1 Corinthians 3:13
• "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.' And another said, 'I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I am going to test them. I ask you to have me excused.' Still another said, 'I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come.'" — Luke 14:18-20
• "Then Moses said to the Lord, 'O my Lord, I am not eloquent, neither before nor since You have spoken to Your servant; but I am slow of speech and slow of tongue.' So the Lord said to him, 'Who has made man’s mouth? Or who makes the mute, the deaf, the seeing, or the blind? Have not I, the Lord? Now therefore, go, and I will be with your mouth and teach you what you shall say.'" — Exodus 4:10-12

10 Bible Verses on Overcoming Justifications

• "Therefore you are inexcusable, O man, whoever you are who judge, for in whatever you judge another you condemn yourself; for you who judge practice the same things." — Romans 2:1
• "Then said I: 'Ah, Lord God! Behold, I cannot speak, for I am a youth.' But the Lord said to me: 'Do not say, "I am a youth," for you shall go to all to whom I send you, and whatever I command you, you shall speak.'" — Jeremiah 1:6-7
• "He who covers his sins will not prosper, but whoever confesses and forsakes them will have mercy." — Proverbs 28:13
• "If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us." — 1 John 1:8
• "And why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye, but do not consider the plank in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, 'Let me remove the speck from your eye'; and look, a plank is in your own eye? Hypocrite! First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye." — Matthew 7:3-5
• "Also He spoke this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others: 'Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, "God, I thank You that I am not like other men—extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I possess." And the tax collector, standing afar off, would not so much as raise his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, "God, be merciful to me a sinner!" I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.'" — Luke 18:9-14
• "Why have we fasted,’ they say, ‘and You have not seen? Why have we afflicted our souls, and You take no notice?’ In fact, in the day of your fast you find pleasure, and exploit all your laborers." — Isaiah 58:3
• "So then each of us shall give account of himself to God." — Romans 14:12
• "For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad." — 2 Corinthians 5:10
• "For you, brethren, have been called to liberty; only do not use liberty as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another." — Galatians 5:13

10 Bible Verses on Accountability and Excuses

• "But why do you judge your brother? Or why do you show contempt for your brother? For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ." — Romans 14:10
• "And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account." — Hebrews 4:13
• "But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment." — Matthew 12:36
• "Now we exhort you, brethren, warn those who are unruly, comfort the fainthearted, uphold the weak, be patient with all." — 1 Thessalonians 5:14
• "As iron sharpens iron, so a man sharpens the countenance of his friend." — Proverbs 27:17
• "For each one shall bear his own load." — Galatians 6:5
• "Therefore, putting away lying, 'Let each one of you speak truth with his neighbor,' for we are members of one another." — Ephesians 4:25
• "Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching." — 2 Timothy 4:2
• "Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much." — James 5:16
• "And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ." — Colossians 3:23-24

10 Bible Verses on Faith vs. Excuses

• "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." — Hebrews 11:1
• "So Jesus said to them, 'Because of your unbelief; for assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, "Move from here to there," and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you.'" — Matthew 17:20
• "Jesus said to him, 'If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes.'" — Mark 9:23
• "But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind." — James 1:6
• "For we walk by faith, not by sight." — 2 Corinthians 5:7
• "So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God." — Romans 10:17
• "So Jesus answered and said to them, 'Assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith and do not doubt, you will not only do what was done to the fig tree, but also if you say to this mountain, "Be removed and be cast into the sea," it will be done.'" — Matthew 21:21
• "For with God nothing will be impossible." — Luke 1:37
• "Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father." — John 14:12
• "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." — Philippians 4:13

10 Bible Verses on Excuses in Relationships

• "And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you." — Ephesians 4:32
• "Bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do." — Colossians 3:13
• "Therefore if you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift." — Matthew 5:23-24
• "And above all things have fervent love for one another, for 'love will cover a multitude of sins.'" — 1 Peter 4:8
• "Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another." — Romans 12:10
• "A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger." — Proverbs 15:1
• "Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ." — Galatians 6:2
• "Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things." — 1 Corinthians 13:4-7
• "So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath." — James 1:19
• "If someone says, 'I love God,' and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen?" — 1 John 4:20

What Does the Bible Say About Excuses

Excuses are a part of life, but the Bible offers wisdom on how to move past them. It encourages us to take responsibility and act with faith. These teachings can help us grow and live more fulfilling lives.

One key theme is the danger of inaction. Verses like Matthew 25:30 and Luke 9:62 remind us that avoiding our duties can lead to regret. The Bible encourages us to act, even when it's hard, and trust that God will guide us.

Another theme is overcoming justifications. Romans 2:1 and Jeremiah 1:6-7 show that making excuses often stems from fear or self-doubt. The Bible teaches us to face our fears and trust in God's plan, knowing that He will support us.

Accountability is also important. Verses like Romans 14:10 and Hebrews 4:13 emphasize that we are responsible for our actions. The Bible encourages us to be honest with ourselves and others, fostering a community of trust and support.

Lastly, faith is a powerful antidote to excuses. Hebrews 11:1 and Matthew 17:20 highlight that faith can move mountains. By believing in God's promises, we can overcome obstacles and achieve great things.

How to Apply These Bible Verses About Excuses

Applying Bible teachings about excuses in real life can help us grow and live more purposefully. These verses offer practical wisdom that can guide our daily actions and decisions.

• Start your day with prayer: Ask God for strength to overcome excuses and to guide your actions. A simple morning prayer can set a positive tone for the day.
• Set small, achievable goals: Break down tasks into manageable steps. This makes it easier to take action and avoid procrastination.
• Be honest with yourself: Recognize when you’re making excuses. Reflect on why you’re avoiding certain tasks and address those reasons directly.
• Seek accountability: Share your goals with a friend or join a community group. Having someone to check in with can motivate you to stay on track.
• Practice gratitude: Focus on the positives in your life. This can shift your mindset from making excuses to taking action.
• Read and meditate on Bible verses: Spend time each day reading verses that inspire you to act. Reflect on their meaning and how they apply to your life.

Remember, God is always with you, and faith can help you overcome any obstacle. Trust in His plan and take steps forward, no matter how small they may seem.

For more prayers and Bible verses, visit PrayersFor or try our Bible Verse Generator to deepen your understanding and faith.