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Luke 14

And it came to pass, as he went into the house of one of the chief Pharisees to eat bread on the sabbath day, that they watched him.

And, behold, there was a certain man before him which had the dropsy.

And Jesus answering spake unto the lawyers and Pharisees, saying, Is it lawful to heal on the sabbath day?

And they held their peace. And he took him, and healed him, and let him go;

And answered them, saying, Which of you shall have an ass or an ox fallen into a pit, and will not straightway pull him out on the sabbath day?

And they could not answer him again to these things.

And he put forth a parable to those which were bidden, when he marked how they chose out the chief rooms; saying unto them,

When thou art bidden of any man to a wedding, sit not down in the highest room; lest a more honourable man than thou be bidden of him;

And he that bade thee and him come and say to thee, Give this man place; and thou begin with shame to take the lowest room.

But when thou art bidden, go and sit down in the lowest room; that when he that bade thee cometh, he may say unto thee, Friend, go up higher: then shalt thou have worship in the presence of them that sit at meat with thee.

For whosoever exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.

Then said he also to him that bade him, When thou makest a dinner or a supper, call not thy friends, nor thy brethren, neither thy kinsmen, nor thy rich neighbours; lest they also bid thee again, and a recompence be made thee.

But when thou makest a feast, call the poor, the maimed, the lame, the blind:

And thou shalt be blessed; for they cannot recompense thee: for thou shalt be recompensed at the resurrection of the just.

And when one of them that sat at meat with him heard these things, he said unto him, Blessed is he that shall eat bread in the kingdom of God.

Then said he unto him, A certain man made a great supper, and bade many:

And sent his servant at supper time to say to them that were bidden, Come; for all things are now ready.

And they all with one consent began to make excuse. The first said unto him, I have bought a piece of ground, and I must needs go and see it: I pray thee have me excused.

And another said, I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I go to prove them: I pray thee have me excused.

And another said, I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come.

So that servant came, and shewed his lord these things. Then the master of the house being angry said to his servant, Go out quickly into the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in hither the poor, and the maimed, and the halt, and the blind.

And the servant said, Lord, it is done as thou hast commanded, and yet there is room.

And the lord said unto the servant, Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled.

For I say unto you, That none of those men which were bidden shall taste of my supper.

And there went great multitudes with him: and he turned, and said unto them,

If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple.

And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple.

For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it?

Lest haply, after he hath laid the foundation, and is not able to finish it, all that behold it begin to mock him,

Saying, This man began to build, and was not able to finish.

Or what king, going to make war against another king, sitteth not down first, and consulteth whether he be able with ten thousand to meet him that cometh against him with twenty thousand?

Or else, while the other is yet a great way off, he sendeth an ambassage, and desireth conditions of peace.

So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple.

Salt is good: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be seasoned?

It is neither fit for the land, nor yet for the dunghill; but men cast it out. He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.

What does Luke 14:25 mean?

Explanation

Luke 14:25 sets the stage for a crucial teaching moment in the Gospel according to Luke.

The verse simply states that a large crowd was following Jesus, to whom He then turns and addresses.

The subsequent verses contain some of the most challenging teachings of Jesus, where He speaks about the cost of discipleship, making it clear that following Him requires total commitment.

At face value, this verse is depicting the literal movement of the crowd with Jesus.

Symbolically, it is setting up the contrast between the popularity of Jesus with the multitude and the deeper, more demanding call to be His true disciple.

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Historical Context

During the time of Jesus, many itinerant teachers roamed the regions of Judea and Galilee, each with a group of followers.

Large crowds often followed these charismatic leaders, drawn by their teachings, miracles, or the hope of political liberation.

For Jesus, whose reputation as a healer and teacher was widespread, it was not unusual to draw significant crowds.

However, Jesus used these opportunities not just to teach but to challenge individuals to consider the true implications of following Him.

Theological Insights

The following teachings of Jesus in Luke 14:26-35 expand on this verse, presenting a rigorous view of discipleship that demands priority over family, self-interest, and personal possessions.

Theologically, this lays the groundwork for understanding the cost of Christian commitment.

From a liberation theology perspective, this prioritization is seen as choosing to align with the marginalized against oppressive systems.

In evangelical circles, the focus might be on personal salvation and the need for an individual's total life change.

Catholic theology might emphasize the communal dimension of discipleship and the call to universal sainthood.

Practical Applications

In daily life, this teaching reminds believers to evaluate their priorities and their level of commitment to their faith.

It encourages a thoughtful approach to one's own spiritual journey, questioning whether cultural, familial, or material attachments are overshadowing the central place that following Jesus should have in a believer's life.

It might also inspire acts of solidarity with the poor and marginalized, as a reflection of Jesus' radical call to discipleship.

Cross-References

Matthew 10:37-38 - "He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me."
Mark 8:34 - "And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me."
Luke 9:23 - "And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me."

Language Study

Significant terms in this verse would include “multitudes” (οὐ̑χ λαὸς) which conveys the sense of a great number of common people. The action “turned” (στραφεὶς) emphasizes the deliberate act of Jesus facing the crowd to address them.

The Greek verbs and nouns here are straightforward, but their importance lies in the setup for Jesus' forthcoming teachings on discipleship costs.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

In other religious traditions, followers are also often called to make significant sacrifices or renunciations to show their devotion.

For example, in Buddhism, there is the concept of leaving behind the worldly life to become a monk or nun.

Hinduism also has a renunciate tradition where individuals leave behind their families for a life dedicated to spiritual pursuits.

Jesus' call to dedicate oneself fully, even at significant personal cost, shares similarities with these traditions, but within a uniquely Judeo-Christian context that emphasizes a personal relationship with God.

Scientific Perspectives

From a scientific standpoint, the phenomenon of crowd behavior and the psychology of group dynamics are relevant here. Studies in sociology and psychology explore how individuals in crowds go through processes of deindividuation and are influenced by charismatic leaders.

While the verse doesn't delve into these dynamics, understanding crowd behavior can provide insights into why large groups might follow a figure like Jesus and the challenges inherent in calling such a diverse group toward deep personal change.

Commentaries

Commentaries on Luke 14:25 note that it is a pivotal introduction to difficult teachings of Jesus on discipleship that immediately follow.

Some commentators, like John MacArthur, stress the verse's indication of Jesus' wide influence and the public's fascination with Him.

Others, such as William Barclay, point to the paradoxical nature of Jesus' appeal: while many followed Him, not all were willing to meet the full demands of discipleship.

Additionally, commentators often examine the juxtaposition of a large following with the narrow and challenging path that true disciples must be willing to take.

Luke 14

Luke 14

What does Luke 14:25 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Luke Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

Commentaries

Want more context?

What does Luke 14:25 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Luke Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

Commentaries

Want more context?