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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 14:31 mean?

Explanation

The verse Luke 14:31 is a teaching of Jesus that uses the analogy of a king preparing for war to make a broader point about discipleship and the cost of following Him.

In the verse, Jesus speaks about the importance of planning and considering the resources available when facing a conflict.

He suggests that a wise king would assess whether his army could successfully oppose a larger force before engaging in battle.

The deeper meaning of the passage underscores the idea that following Jesus requires a full understanding of the commitment and the readiness to face the challenges that may come, much like a king would need to deliberate before going to war.

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Historical Context

Luke 14:31 is part of a larger passage in the Gospel of Luke where Jesus talks about the cost of discipleship. The historical context of this verse is the Roman-occupied Judea of the 1st century, where Jesus was teaching the multitudes about what it means to follow him.

It is set within a culture where leaders, such as kings and military commanders, were familiar figures who frequently engaged in strategic planning and warfare. The analogy would have been easily understood by the listeners at the time, even as it presented a challenging message.

Theological Insights

From a theological standpoint, this verse presents several key points.

The verse could be seen as a warning to count the cost of discipleship.

In Christian theology, it is a call to assess one's own willingness to give up everything to follow Christ.

It might also be viewed as a way for Jesus to sift true followers from the crowd, those who are serious about their commitment versus those who are not.

Moreover, it serves to communicate that the Christian journey is not necessarily an easy one, and followers should be prepared for spiritual battles and hardship.

Practical Applications

Practically speaking, this verse encourages individuals to evaluate their readiness and commitment to any significant venture, especially a spiritual journey.

It can be applied in daily life by reminding people to prepare thoroughly for the challenges ahead, whether that be in their personal, professional, or spiritual lives.

It also teaches the importance of self-assessment and the willingness to engage in hard tasks only when one is fully aware of and prepared for the potential costs and outcomes.

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.”
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.”
Proverbs 20:18 - “Every purpose is established by counsel: and with good advice make war.”
Proverbs 24:6 - “For by wise counsel thou shalt make thy war: and in multitude of counsellors there is safety.”

Language Study

In analyzing the original Greek text of Luke 14:31, the phrase "sitteth not down first" translates from καθίσας πρῶτον (kathisas prōton) which implies deliberate contemplation or preparation.

The word προσαναλόγισηται (prosanalogisētai), translated as "consulteth," indicates the act of considering or calculating something thoroughly.

The use of military and numerical terms such as "ten thousand" (μυρίων, myriōn) and "twenty thousand" (δισμυρίων, dismyriōn) emphasizes the significant difference in strength between the two opposing sides.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Comparing this with other cultural and religious contexts, the concept of a ruler considering the cost before an engagement is not unique to Christianity.

Ancient myths and texts often include stories where leaders are praised for their wisdom in planning and strategy before acting.

The Bhagavad Gita, for instance, involves a dialogue on the battlefield where the value of duty and the consequences of the war are discussed.

However, the specific call to weigh the cost in relation to personal discipleship is distinctive to the teachings of Jesus in the Christian faith.

Scientific Perspectives

From a modern scientific perspective, the verse can be connected to decision-making processes and the importance of assessing risks and resources, which resonate with principles found in psychology and behavioral economics.

The human tendency to either underestimate or overestimate capabilities can lead to either rash decisions or paralyzing inaction.

Strategies that involve careful planning and realistic assessment of the situation are often more effective and lead to better outcomes, paralleling the wisdom Jesus advises in this proverbial scenario.

Commentaries

Modern biblical scholars and theologians have various interpretations of Luke 14:31.

Many agree that the central theme of the passage is the concept of 'counting the cost' of discipleship, emphasizing that following Jesus requires total commitment.

Commentators often point out that this teaching does not discourage potential followers but rather encourages them to consider their decision deeply, so their commitment to discipleship is genuine and informed.

This verse challenges superficial faith and the assumption that the Christian journey will be easy or require little sacrifice.

Luke 14

Luke 14

What does Luke 14:31 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 14:31 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?