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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 14:27 mean?

Explanation

The verse Luke 14:27 from the Bible, in which Jesus says, "And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple," is a call to radical commitment.

The phrase "bear his cross" references the cruel method of Roman execution used during the time, which involved carrying the horizontal beam of one's own cross to the place of crucifixion.

This metaphorical command requires followers of Jesus to accept sacrifices and endure hardships, possibly even to the point of death, for the sake of following Him.

This involves a willingness to give up personal desires, ambitions, and human ties that conflict with the teachings of Jesus.

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Historical Context

At the time Luke's Gospel was written, the concept of the cross was associated with suffering, humiliation, and death.

Jesus' statement comes within a broader section where He outlines the cost of discipleship, making clear that following Him is not without potential personal cost.

During that period, declaring loyalty to Jesus could result in social ostracism, persecution, or death, as the early Christian community often faced opposition from both the Jewish authority and the Roman Empire.

Theological Insights

From a theological standpoint, this verse is rich with meaning. In Christianity, it is understood that Jesus carried his own cross and was crucified upon it.

Thus, to "bear one's cross" is seen as participating in Jesus' suffering and sacrifice, willingly taking on the hardships associated with Christian discipleship.

This verse implies that the path of following Jesus is a deliberate choice, one that may not lead to earthly rewards, but to spiritual growth and eternal life.

Different theological viewpoints might emphasize various aspects of this teaching.

For example, Liberation theology might interpret this as a call to social justice and fighting against oppressive systems because bearing one's cross could mean standing in solidarity with the marginalized.

Prosperity theology, on the other hand, may de-emphasize this verse, as the focus there is more on the blessings and prosperity that faith can bring in this life.

Practical Applications

In practical terms, this verse encourages self-reflection among believers, challenging them to consider the depth of their commitment to their faith.

Followers of Jesus might ask themselves what personal "crosses" they must bear, such as giving up a certain lifestyle, enduring criticism for their beliefs, or facing their own fears and shortcomings.

It inspires believers to persist through challenges, remain faithful in the face of adversity, and prioritize their spiritual journey over material or temporal concerns.

Cross-References

Matthew 16:24: "Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow 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."
Galatians 2:20: “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me."

Language Study

The key phrase in this verse is "bear his cross" (Greek: βαστάζειν τὸν σταυρὸν αὐτοῦ).

The word "βαστάζειν" (bastazein) means "to take up" or "to carry," often implying a burden.

The word "σταυρὸν" (stauros) refers to a "cross" or "stake," which is associated with the Roman method of crucifixion.

The word "σταυρὸν" in this context represents not only the physical cross but also the burden of sacrifice and suffering.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

In other ancient religions and myths, there are figures who endure suffering or sacrifice for a greater good.

For instance, in Greek mythology, Prometheus suffered eternal punishment for giving fire to humanity.

In comparison, Jesus' call to "bear one's cross" is unique in that it invites followers to embrace suffering in solidarity with Him and as a path to redemption, rather than as punishment or for the benefit of others alone.

Scientific Perspectives

Scientifically speaking, the verse does not directly intersect with concrete scientific concepts but aligns with the psychological understanding of altruism and self-sacrifice.

Social scientists study how individuals may sacrifice personal benefit for the sake of others or their beliefs, which can be seen as a form of "bearing one's cross" in a metaphorical sense.

Commentaries

Biblical scholars and theologians have provided various interpretations of Luke 14:27:

John Calvin saw this as a warning that Christ's followers should prepare themselves for tough challenges; that bearing the cross involves actively engaging in the struggle of Christian life.
Matthew Henry's commentary emphasizes the importance of considering the cost of discipleship before commencing the journey, taking into account the sacrifices that will be necessary.
The New American Commentary suggests that the verse points to a "radical reorientation of one's life" in light of the totality of Jesus' claim on His disciples' lives.

Luke 14

Luke 14

What does Luke 14:27 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 14:27 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?