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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 14:28 mean?

Explanation

The verse Luke 14:28 underscores the importance of planning and considering the cost of one's actions.

In a literal sense, Jesus is using a practical parable about building a construction project like a tower, where one would not begin such a project without first estimating the cost and ensuring there are enough resources to complete it.

The deeper meaning, however, is a metaphor for discipleship and commitment.

Jesus is emphasizing that becoming his disciple is a serious commitment that requires thoughtful consideration and readiness to put in all necessary effort, much like someone should deliberate before undertaking such a significant task as building a tower.

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Historical Context

This verse is part of a larger passage where Jesus is teaching the crowds about the cost of discipleship.

It was spoken during Jesus' ministry around the first century in a context where many followed him based on his miracles and teachings, but not all considered the full implications of truly following him.

In the Jewish and broader Middle Eastern culture, where Jesus lived and taught, infrastructure projects like the building of towers were not uncommon and the imagery would be familiar to his audience.

Towers were often built for purposes such as storage, defense, or agricultural use.

Theological Insights

In Christian theology, the verse is often mentioned in discussions about the nature of genuine discipleship.

From an evangelical perspective, the verse is seen as a call to count the cost of following Jesus, which may involve sacrifices.

Some theologians also highlight that Jesus does not discourage following him but instead encourages intentional and considered discipleship.

In contrast, liberation theology might emphasize the dedication to social justice and solidarity with the poor as part of the "cost" in modern times.

Practical Applications

This verse has real-life implications for both personal and communal decisions.

It serves as a reminder to carefully consider the implications and sacrifices necessary for major life decisions, such as career choices, marriage, or relocating to a new place.

For Christians, it specifically relates to the call for a full commitment to the faith, especially when it might lead to difficult choices or self-denial.

In general, the principle of planning and preparing appropriately before initiating significant actions is a practical takeaway.

Cross-References

Proverbs 24:27 – "Prepare thy work without, and make it fit for thyself in the field; and afterwards build thine house."
Matthew 8:20 – "And Jesus saith unto him, The foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head."
Philippians 3:8 – "Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ."

Language Study

The key Greek word in the original text is "ψηφίζει" (psēphizei), which means "to calculate" or "count the cost." It carries the connotation of careful consideration and accounting.

The term is related to "ψῆφος" (psēphos), which means a pebble used in counting or voting, indicating a methodical and deliberate calculation.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

The concept of calculating the cost before embarking on a project is not unique to Christianity.

Similar wisdom can be found in other ancient cultures that emphasize planning, such as the well-known Aesop's fable "The Ant and the Grasshopper," which contrasts the virtues of hard work and planning (the ant) versus a lack of foresight (the grasshopper).

Many religious traditions have similar teachings on the importance of considering the consequences of one's actions, commitment, and foresight.

Scientific Perspectives

From a behavioral economics standpoint, the verse aligns with the importance of forecasting and hedonic predictions in decision-making processes.

Psychological research on affective forecasting examines how people predict their future emotional states and the impact of these predictions on their decisions.

This suggests that accurate forecasting and planning are crucial components of successful decision-making, which is in line with the practical advice given by Jesus in this verse.

Commentaries

Biblical scholars and theologians offer various interpretations of Luke 14:28:

John Calvin highlights the idea that to follow Christ, individuals need to be prepared for trials and should, therefore, weigh whether they have the resolve to persevere.
Matthew Henry expands on the costs involved in being a Christian, including denying oneself, taking up one's cross, and following Jesus, which can involve various trials and oppositions.
William Barclay emphasizes the dedication required in discipleship, cautioning that a decision to follow Jesus is not to be made lightly or emotionally without understanding the full implications of that commitment.

Luke 14

Luke 14

What does Luke 14:28 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 14:28 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?