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Luke 14:25
Verse
Context
The Cost of Discipleship
24For I tell you, not one of those men who were invited will taste my banquet.’”25Large crowds were now traveling with Jesus, and He turned and said to them,26“If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters—yes, even his own life—he cannot be My disciple.
Sermons
Stephen Olford
Alan Redpath
K.P. Yohannan
Erlo Stegen
Zac Poonen
Vance HavnerZac PoonenSummary
Commentary
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
- John Gill
- Matthew Henry
- Tyndale
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
ADDRESS TO GREAT MULTITUDES TRAVELLING WITH HIM. (Luk 14:25-35) great multitudes with him--on His final journey to Jerusalem. The "great multitudes" were doubtless people going to the passover, who moved along in clusters (Luk 2:44), and who on this occasion falling in with our Lord had formed themselves into one mass about Him.
John Gill Bible Commentary
If any man come to me,.... Not in a corporeal, but in a spiritual way; nor barely to hear him preach; but so come, as that he believes in him, applies to him for grace, pardon, righteousness, life, and salvation; professes to be his, submits to his ordinances, and desires to be a disciple of his; 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: not that proper hatred of any, or all of these, is enjoined by Christ; for this would be contrary to the laws of God, to the first principles of nature, to all humanity, to the light of nature, to reason and divine revelation: but that these are not to be preferred to Christ, or loved more than he, as it is explained in Mat 10:37 yea, these are to be neglected and forsaken, and turned from with indignation and resentment, when they stand in the way of the honour and interest of Christ, and dissuade from his service: such who would be accounted the disciples of Christ, should be ready to part with their dearest relations and friends, with the greatest enjoyment of life, and with life itself, when Christ calls for it; or otherwise they are not worthy to be called his disciples. The Ethiopic version inserts, "his house", into the account.
Matthew Henry Bible Commentary
See how Christ in his doctrine suited himself to those to whom he spoke, and gave every one his portion of meat. To Pharisees he preached humility and charity. He is in these verses directing his discourse to the multitudes that crowded after him, and seemed zealous in following him; and his exhortation to them is to understand the terms of discipleship, before they undertook the profession of it, and to consider what they did. See here, I. How zealous people were in their attendance on Christ (Luk 14:25): There went great multitudes with him, many for love and more for company, for where there are many there will be more. Here was a mixed multitude, like that which went with Israel out of Egypt; such we must expect there will always be in the church, and it will therefore be necessary that ministers should carefully separate between the precious and the vile. II. How considerate he would have them to be in their zeal. Those that undertake to follow Christ must count upon the worst, and prepare accordingly. 1. He tells them what the worst is that they must count upon, much the same with what he had gone through before them and for them. He takes it for granted that they had a mind to be his disciples, that they might be qualified for preferment in his kingdom. They expected that he should say, "If any man come to me, and be my disciple, he shall have wealth and honour in abundance; let me alone to make him a great man." But he tells them quite the contrary. (1.) They must be willing to quit that which was very dear, and therefore must come to him thoroughly weaned from all their creature-comforts, and dead to them, so as cheerfully to part with them rather than quit their interest in Christ, Luk 14:26. A man cannot be Christ's disciple but he must hate father, and mother, and his own life. He is not sincere, he will be constant and persevering, unless he love Christ better than any thing in this world, and be willing to part with that which he may and must leave, either as a sacrifice, when Christ may be glorified by our parting with it (so the martyrs, who loved not their lives to death), or as a temptation, when by our parting with it we are put into a better capacity of serving Christ. Thus Abraham parted with his own country, and Moses with Pharaoh's court. Mention is not made here of houses and lands; philosophy will teach a man to look upon these with contempt; but Christianity carries it higher. [1.] Every good man loves his relations; and yet, if he be a disciple of Christ, he must comparatively hate them, must love them less than Christ, as Leah is said to be hated when Rachel was better loved. Not that their persons must be in any degree hated, but our comfort and satisfaction in them must be lost and swallowed up in our love to Christ, as Levi's was, when he said to his father, I have not seen him, Deu 33:9. When our duty to our parents comes in competition with our evident duty to Christ, we must give Christ the preference. If we must either deny Christ or be banished from our families and relations (as many of the primitive Christians were), we must rather lose their society than his favour. [2.] Every man loves his own life, no man ever yet hated it; and we cannot be Christ's disciples if we do not love him better than our own lives, so as rather to have our lives embittered by cruel bondage, nay, and taken away by cruel deaths, than to dishonour Christ, or depart from any of his truths and ways. The experience of the pleasures of the spiritual life, and the believing hopes and prospects of eternal life, will make this hard saying easy. When tribulation and persecution arise because of the word, then chiefly the trial is, whether we love better, Christ or our relations and lives; yet even in the days of peace this matter is sometimes brought to the trial. Those that decline the service of Christ, and opportunities of converse with him, and are ashamed to confess him, for fear of disobliging a relation or friend, or losing a customer, give cause to suspect that they love him better than Christ. (2.) That they must be willing to bear that which was very heavy (Luk 14:27): Whosoever doth not bear his cross, as those did that were condemned to be crucified, in submission to the sentence and in expectation of the execution of it, and so come after me whithersoever I shall lead him, he cannot be my disciple; that is (says Dr. Hammond), he is not for my turn; and my service, being so sure to bring persecution along with it, will not be for his. Though the disciples of Christ are not all crucified, yet they all bear their cross, as if they counted upon being crucified. They must be content to be put into an ill name, and to be loaded with infamy and disgrace; for no name is more ignominious than Furcifer - the bearer of the gibbet. He must bear his cross, and come after Christ; that is, he must bear it in the way of his duty, whenever it lies in that way. He must bear it when Christ calls him to it, and in bearing it he must have an eye to Christ, and fetch encouragements from him, and live in hope of a recompence with him. 2. He bids them count upon it, and then consider of it. Since he has been so just to us as to tell us plainly what difficulties we shall meet with in following him, let us be so just to ourselves as to weigh the matter seriously before we take upon us a profession of religion. Joshua obliged the people to consider what they did when they promised to serve the Lord, Jos 24:19. It is better never to begin than not to proceed; and therefore before we begin we must consider what it is to proceed. This is to act rationally, and as becomes men, and as we do in other cases. The cause of Christ will bear a scrutiny. Satan shows the best, but hides the worst, because his best will not counter-vail his worst; but Christ's will abundantly. This considering of the case is necessary to perseverance, especially in suffering times. Our Saviour here illustrates the necessity of it by two similitudes, the former showing that we must consider the expenses of our religion, the latter that we must consider the perils of it. (1.) When we take upon us a profession of religion we are like a man that undertakes to build a tower, and therefore must consider the expense of it (Luk 14:28-30): Which of you, intending to build a tower or stately house for himself, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost? and he must be sure to count upon a great deal more than his workmen will tell him it will cost. Let him compare the charge with his purse, lest he make himself to be laughed at, by beginning to build what he is not able to finish. Note, [1.] All that take upon them a profession of religion undertake to build a tower, not as the tower of Babel, in opposition to Heaven, which therefore was left unfinished, but in obedience to Heaven, which therefore shall have its top-stone brought forth. Begin low, and lay the foundation deep, lay it on the rock, and make sure work, and then aim as high as heaven. [2.] Those that intend to build this tower must sit down and count the cost. Let them consider that it will cost them the mortifying of their sins, even the most beloved lusts; it will cost them a life of self-denial and watchfulness, and a constant course of holy duties; it may, perhaps, cost them their reputation among men, their estates and liberties, and all that is dear to them in this world, even life itself. And if it should cost us all this, what is it in comparison with what it cost Christ to purchase the advantages of religion for us, which come to us without money and without price? [3.] Many that begin to build this tower do not go on with it, nor persevere in it, and it is their folly; they have not courage and resolution, have not a rooted fixed principle, and so bring nothing to pass. It is true, we have none of us in ourselves sufficient to finish this tower, but Christ hath said, My grace is sufficient for thee, and that grace shall not be wanting to any of us, if we seek for it and make use of it. [4.] Nothing is more shameful than for those that have begun well in religion to break off; every one will justly mock him, as having lost all his labour hitherto for want of perseverance. We lose the things we have wrought (Jo2 1:8), and all we have done and suffered is in vain, Gal 3:4. (2.) When we undertake to be Christ's disciples we are like a man that goes to war, and therefore must consider the hazard of it, and the difficulties that are to be encountered, Luk 14:31, Luk 14:32. A king that declares war against a neighbouring prince considers whether he has strength wherewith to make his part good, and, if not, he will lay aside his thoughts of war. Note, [1.] The state of a Christian in this world is a military state. Is not the Christian life a warfare? We have many passes in our way, that must be disputed with dint of sword; nay, we must fight every step we go, so restless are our spiritual enemies in their opposition. [2.] We ought to consider whether we can endure the hardness which a good soldier of Jesus Christ must expect and count upon, before we enlist ourselves under Christ's banner; whether we are able to encounter the forces of hell and earth, which come against us twenty thousand strong. [3.] Of the two it is better to make the best terms we can with the world than pretend to renounce it and afterwards, when tribulation and persecution arise because of the word, to return to it. That young man that could not find in his heart to part with his possessions for Christ did better to go away from Christ sorrowing than to have staid with him dissembling. This parable is another way applicable, and may be taken as designed to teach us to begin speedily to be religious, rather than to begin cautiously; and may mean the same with Mat 5:25, Agree with thine adversary quickly. Note, First, Those that persist in sin make war against God, the most unnatural, unjustifiable war; they rebel against their lawful sovereign, whose government is perfectly just and good. Secondly, The proudest and most daring sinner is no equal match for God; the disproportion of strength is much greater than that here supposed between ten thousand and twenty thousand. Do we provoke the Lord to jealousy? Are we stronger than he? No, surely; who knows the power of his anger? In consideration of this, it is our interest to make peace with him. We need not send to desire conditions of peace; they are offered to us, and are unexceptionable, and highly to our advantage. Let us acquaint ourselves with them, and be at peace; do this in time, while the other is yet a great way off; for delays in such a case are highly dangerous, and make after-applications difficult. But the application of this parable here (Luk 14:33) is to the consideration that ought to be exercised when we take upon us a profession of religion. Solomon saith, With good advice make war (Pro 20:18); for he that draws the sword throws away the scabbard; so with good advice enter upon a profession of religion, as those that know that except you forsake all you have you cannot be Christ's disciples; that is, except you count upon forsaking all and consent to it, for all that will live godly in Christ Jesus must suffer persecution, and yet continue to live godly. 3. He warns them against apostasy and a degeneracy of mind from the truly Christian spirit and temper, for that would make them utterly useless, Luk 14:34, Luk 14:35. (1.) Good Christians are the salt of the earth, and good ministers especially (Mat 5:13); and this salt is good and of great use; by their instructions and examples they season all they converse with, to keep them from putrefying, and to quicken them, and make them savoury. (2.) Degenerate Christians, who, rather than part with what they have in the world, will throw up their profession, and then of course become carnal, and worldly, and wholly destitute of a Christian spirit, are like salt that has lost its savour, like that which the chemists call the caput mortuum, that has all its salts drawn from it, that is the most useless worthless thing in the world; it has no manner of virtue or good property in it. [1.] It can never be recovered: Wherewith shall it be seasoned? You cannot salt it. This intimates that it is extremely difficult, and next to impossible, to recover an apostate, Heb 6:4-6. If Christianity will not prevail to cure men of their worldliness and sensuality, if that remedy has been tried in vain, their ease must even be concluded desperate. [2.] It is of no use. It is not fit, as dung is, for the land, to manure that, nor will it be the better if it be laid in the dunghill to rot; there is nothing to be got out of it. A professor of religion whose mind and manners are depraved is the most insipid animal that can be. If he speaks of the things of God, of which he has had some knowledge, it is so awkwardly that none are the better for it: it is a parable in the mouth of a fool. [3.] It is abandoned: Men cast it out, as that which they will have no more to do with. Such scandalous professors ought to be cast out of the church, not only because they have forfeited all the honours and privileges of their church-membership, but because there is danger that others will be infected by them. Our Saviour concludes this with a call to all to take notice of it, and to take warning: He that hath ears to hear, let him hear. Now can the faculty of hearing be better employed than in attending to the word of Christ, and particularly to the alarms he has given us of the danger we are in of apostasy, and the danger we run ourselves into by apostasy?
Tyndale Open Study Notes
14:25-35 A large crowd was following Jesus: Jesus’ popularity was high, but he was about to teach that the cost of following him was also very high.
Luke 14:25
The Cost of Discipleship
24For I tell you, not one of those men who were invited will taste my banquet.’”25Large crowds were now traveling with Jesus, and He turned and said to them,26“If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters—yes, even his own life—he cannot be My disciple.
- Scripture
- Sermons
- Commentary
The Demands of Discipleship
By Stephen Olford7.0K38:46MAT 6:33MAT 28:19LUK 9:57LUK 14:25LUK 14:27LUK 14:33In this sermon, the preacher emphasizes the importance of discipleship and challenges the listeners to examine their own commitment to following Jesus. He uses the story of a young man who wanted to say goodbye to his family before following Jesus, but Jesus warns that anyone who looks back is not fit for the kingdom of God. The preacher urges the audience to consider whether they have truly embraced discipleship or if they have turned back since first trusting in Jesus. He concludes by calling on individuals to stand out from the crowd and declare their readiness to follow Jesus, no matter the cost.
Communication of Our Faith - Part 1
By Alan Redpath6.1K59:37FaithLUK 14:25LUK 14:27In this sermon, the speaker describes a scene in a home where the family gathers around a table tennis table to read the Bible and pray together. The speaker emphasizes the importance of maintaining a focus on mission and spreading the word of God, both locally and globally. They highlight four key points: the world is smaller than we think, the task of spreading the gospel is greater than we think, time is shorter than we think, and the cost of spreading the faith is higher than we think. The speaker encourages the audience to surrender all aspects of their lives to God and to seek revival in their personal lives and ministries.
Called to Authentic Christianity
By K.P. Yohannan5.6K51:30AuthenticityPSA 139:23MAT 6:33LUK 14:25In this sermon, the speaker shares his journey of seeking understanding from God about the state of his people. He emphasizes the need for humility and dependence on God, rather than being independent and proud. The speaker also shares a humorous anecdote about a minister preaching against drinking. He concludes by highlighting the importance of seeking the Lord's ways and doing what He tells us to do, even in the face of persecution and opposition.
The Enemy of the Cross
By Erlo Stegen3.9K57:59MAT 7:12MAT 22:39LUK 14:25LUK 14:27JHN 12:48ACT 10:34GAL 6:14In this sermon, the speaker begins by praying for understanding and guidance from God. He then reads from Luke chapter 14, where Jesus speaks about the requirements of being his disciple. The speaker shares a personal story about a moment of prejudice and how God challenged him to love others as himself. He emphasizes the need for the cross of Jesus to work in our lives, bringing about a transformation in our attitudes and actions towards others.
Making Whole Hearted Disciples
By Zac Poonen3.8K1:01:14DiscipleshipLUK 14:25ROM 3:18GAL 4:19In this sermon, the preacher emphasizes the need for radical repentance and a reverence for God. He challenges the audience to examine their own lives and confess if they have enjoyed powerful messages but then engaged in sinful behavior, such as watching explicit scenes in movies. The preacher highlights the importance of turning away from sin and having a genuine desire to follow Jesus. He also discusses the role of spiritual leaders in not only evangelizing but also nurturing and discipling believers, comparing it to a mother giving birth and caring for her children.
What We Have Now and What Is Coming
By Vance Havner3.3K30:05DiscipleshipMAT 19:27MAT 19:29MRK 10:28MRK 10:30LUK 14:25LUK 18:28LUK 18:30In this sermon, the preacher, Broadus, discusses the belief that in the future state, the relationships and memories of earthly life will be remembered and cherished. He shares a personal anecdote about a winter walk in North Carolina, emphasizing the importance of not letting fear or caution prevent us from fully experiencing life. Broadus also talks about the cost of following Jesus, acknowledging that sometimes it may require sacrificing temporal things like family, friends, and possessions. He references 1 Corinthians 7:29 to highlight the temporary nature of worldly attachments. The sermon concludes with a story about a black college in Hampton, Virginia, where Broadus preached and was deeply moved by the congregation's singing.
Evangelism and Making Disciples
By Zac Poonen2.5K51:04EvangelismMAT 6:33MAT 28:18MRK 16:15LUK 14:25ACT 2:38ACT 20:27In this sermon, the speaker compares the process of making a table to the process of making disciples in Christianity. He emphasizes that many Christians today focus on evangelism and preaching the gospel, but fail to complete the process by making disciples. The speaker highlights the shallowness and emptiness of modern-day evangelism, where people are not transformed into learners and followers of Christ. He also points out the importance of love and unity among believers, as Jesus said that all men will know his disciples by their love for one another. The speaker concludes by emphasizing the need to obey the commission in Matthew 28, which involves not only preaching the gospel but also teaching discipleship.
(Pure Testimony) Making Whole-Hearted Disciples
By Zac Poonen1.8K1:00:39PurityLUK 14:25ROM 3:18GAL 4:19In this sermon, the preacher emphasizes the importance of radical repentance and turning away from sinful behaviors. He warns against enjoying powerful messages and then indulging in immoral content, comparing it to drinking milk with a little bit of poison. The preacher calls for a younger generation to take up the torch and build a church that truly glorifies God, rather than just going through the motions of attending church. He also highlights the need for genuine transformation and character development, rather than simply participating in religious activities. The sermon references Bible verses such as Luke 14 and Galatians 4 to support these teachings.
God's Dwelling Place - 3rd Floor, a Powerful Church
By Zac Poonen1.7K1:01:45ChurchMAT 6:33MAT 28:19MRK 16:17LUK 14:25In this sermon, the speaker discusses the concept of God's dwelling place and how it relates to building the church. The foundation of God's dwelling place is His perfect love for us. The first floor represents our personal walk with the Lord, ensuring that our hearts are clean and pure. The second floor represents a godly home, which serves as a training ground for building the church. The speaker emphasizes the importance of discipleship and fulfilling the conditions of discipleship in order to be a true disciple of Jesus Christ. The sermon also touches on the Great Commission and the importance of making disciples of all nations, teaching them to obey God's word. The speaker encourages personal evangelism and emphasizes the need to do everything for the glory of God, rather than seeking recognition or praise from others.
Evidences of Eternal Life - Part 2
By Paris Reidhead1.3K55:06Eternal LifeGEN 2:16ISA 61:1MAT 3:16MAT 22:37LUK 14:25JHN 20:21GAL 4:4In this sermon, the speaker focuses on Galatians chapter 4 verses 4 to 6. He emphasizes that God sent His Son, Jesus, at the perfect time to redeem those who were under the law. Through Jesus, believers receive the adoption as sons and daughters of God. The speaker also highlights the importance of recognizing Jesus as Lord and being willing to prioritize Him above all else, even our closest relationships. He references Luke chapter 14, where Jesus speaks about the cost of discipleship and the need to be willing to give up everything for Him. The speaker explains that when man sinned, he not only experienced physical and spiritual death, but also transferred the authority of the world to Satan.
Discipleship - an All Out Commitment
By K.P. Yohannan1.2K43:47DiscipleshipLUK 14:25In this sermon, the speaker addresses the American church's crisis of preaching a cheap gospel and promoting a soft savior. He emphasizes the need for personal sacrifice, suppression from the world, and a hatred for sin in order to truly experience a new life in Christ. The speaker references Luke 14:25-33, where Jesus speaks about the requirements of discipleship, including hating one's own life and giving up everything to follow Him. The sermon calls for serious soul searching and a reevaluation of the American church's priorities and commitment to the teachings of Jesus.
Pilgrims Problems No. 13 Hate
By Willie Mullan1.1K55:02HateEXO 20:3EXO 20:7EXO 20:12LUK 14:25HEB 1:8In this sermon, the preacher focuses on the Ten Commandments given by God to Moses. He highlights each commandment and its significance. The preacher emphasizes the importance of obeying these commandments, particularly the fifth commandment to honor one's father and mother. He also discusses the role of parents in guiding their children in the Lord. The sermon concludes by referencing the book of Hebrews, highlighting the deity and royalty of Jesus as the ultimate source of rest and salvation.
Go Back to Your Seat
By Greg Locke1.1K51:59MAT 6:33LUK 14:25In this sermon, the preacher emphasizes the importance of trusting in Jesus Christ as the only way to escape hell. He urges the congregation to renounce their previous religions and put their faith solely in Jesus. The preacher also emphasizes that being a disciple of Jesus is not just a casual commitment, but a complete surrender of one's life. He shares a personal experience of preaching in Ghana and witnessing the power of God at work. The sermon concludes with a call for the congregation to come forward and pray for the Holy Spirit's guidance in becoming true disciples of Christ.
Road to Reality - the Most Important Thing in Life Part Two
By K.P. Yohannan1.1K24:57Road To RealityMAT 6:33MAT 19:21MAT 28:19MRK 8:34LUK 14:25JHN 17:3ACT 20:24In this sermon, Brother K. P. Johannon shares his personal journey of serving God for over four decades. He recounts how he left his home at a young age to serve God and faced suffering and persecution along the way. After many years of ministry, he realized that he had become disconnected from the pain and lostness of the world. His board members encouraged him to take a vacation, which he initially saw as a punishment, but ultimately embraced. The sermon challenges listeners to consider what they need to walk away from in order to fully follow Jesus, using the examples of the apostles who left everything to follow Him and the rich young ruler who was unwilling to do so.
Npg Radio 1980 #6 - Radio Interview
By Norman Grubb9511:07:21Radio InterviewLUK 14:25In this sermon, the speaker discusses the concept of being a Christian and how it is a revolutionary experience. He emphasizes that being a Christian means being a vessel through which Christ can live and express His love in the world. The speaker also highlights the importance of being detached from worldly attachments and being solely attached to God. He uses the analogy of the woman breaking the alabaster bottle and pouring perfume on Jesus' feet to illustrate the idea of surrendering everything for the sake of Christ. Overall, the sermon encourages listeners to live a life where Christ's love is expressed through them.
Road to Reality - Discipleship-an All-Out Commitment
By K.P. Yohannan93924:57Road To RealityLUK 14:25In this sermon, the speaker emphasizes the importance of honoring God and living a life that reflects our identity as believers. He specifically focuses on the challenges of giving up worldly habits and desires in order to fully commit to following Christ. The speaker also highlights the crisis facing the American church, where a cheap gospel and a soft savior have been preached, leading to confusion and a lack of understanding among unbelievers. He calls for a return to a genuine and sacrificial faith that truly reflects the new life we have in Christ.
Vision Unity Reality + Forgiveness
By George Verwer9351:02:28RealityLUK 14:25In this sermon, the speaker emphasizes the importance of having a balanced understanding of truth in order to experience true reality. He highlights the need for a vision that aligns with God's plan to bring a harvest of people around the world. The speaker encourages the audience to increase their vision of the whole body of Christ and shares his encounter with Ralph Winner, which he sees as a divine appointment. The sermon emphasizes the power of words and their ability to communicate thoughts and ideas.
Missions and Testimony by K. P. Yohannan
By K.P. Yohannan89954:46LUK 14:25
This sermon emphasizes the importance of surrendering to Jesus, sharing stories of missionaries who sacrificed comfort and security to spread the Gospel. It challenges listeners to make Jesus the Lord of their lives, get involved in missions, pray for the world, consider missionary training, and boldly share their faith. The speaker encourages a deep commitment to following Jesus, reminding that God's love surpasses all understanding.
The Most Important Thing in Life, Part 2
By K.P. Yohannan71024:57Seeking GodMAT 6:33MAT 19:21MAT 28:19MRK 8:34LUK 14:25JHN 17:3ACT 20:24In this sermon, Brother K. P. Johannon shares his personal journey of serving God for over four decades. He recounts how he left his home at a young age to serve God and faced suffering and persecution along the way. After many years of ministry, he realized that he had become disconnected from the pain and lostness of the world. His board members encouraged him to take a vacation, which he initially saw as a punishment, but ultimately embraced. The sermon challenges listeners to consider what they need to walk away from in order to fully follow Jesus, using the examples of the apostles who left everything to follow Him and the rich young ruler who was unwilling to do so.
Terms of Discipleship
By Roy Sommerville65834:51Commitment to ChristDiscipleshipLUK 14:25Roy Sommerville emphasizes the true cost of discipleship in his sermon 'Terms of Discipleship,' explaining that while many are drawn to Christ for various reasons such as peace, comfort, and purpose, these motivations are insufficient for enduring faith. He highlights that true discipleship requires a radical commitment, including prioritizing love for Christ above all else, even family, and being willing to bear one's cross, which symbolizes a complete surrender to Christ's will. Sommerville warns that understanding the terms of discipleship is crucial to avoid falling away when challenges arise, as true followers must be prepared to let go of anything that hinders their relationship with Christ. He encourages listeners to reflect on what may be holding them back from fully committing to Christ and to take actionable steps towards obedience and faithfulness.
(Through the Bible) Luke - Part 2
By Zac Poonen50456:27LUK 11:9LUK 12:1LUK 13:34LUK 14:12LUK 14:25
This sermon emphasizes the importance of genuine prayer, seeking the Holy Spirit's power, avoiding hypocrisy, caring for the poor, and the conditions of discipleship as taught by Jesus. It highlights the need to pray sincerely, seek the Holy Spirit's guidance, avoid acting or hypocrisy, care for the poor and needy, and fulfill the conditions of discipleship by loving Jesus above all, taking up the cross daily, and not possessing earthly possessions.
Bristol Conference 1977-06 Similies-Christ Gospels
By Stan Ford42843:15LUK 2:41LUK 14:25LUK 14:27JHN 6:38JHN 8:30JHN 8:32In this sermon, the preacher reflects on the attitude of Jesus towards doing the will of God. He uses the story of Jesus as a young boy getting lost in the temple to illustrate the cost of being a Christian and a disciple. The preacher emphasizes the importance of surrendering all aspects of our lives to Jesus, including our priorities, purposes, and possessions. He challenges young people to examine their ambitions and consider if they align with God's will. The sermon concludes with the powerful message that Jesus' words should be heard like the blast of a bugle, urging us to love and not hate.
Commitment
By Peter Maiden20250:20CommitmentLUK 14:25In this sermon, the speaker, Charles Marsh, discusses the book "Love Covers" by George Verwer, which he describes as a message to a divided church and a guide for Christian unity. He then reads from Luke's Gospel, specifically chapter 14, verses 25 to 33, emphasizing the viewpoint of Jesus as the one holding the world together. Marsh assures the audience that despite the chaos and challenges they may face, Jesus has control over their lives and will never let go. He concludes by encouraging the audience to reflect on what God has been saying to them and to take action in response, offering the opportunity to write down their commitments and have others pray for them.
(A Good Foundation) 4. Discipleship
By Zac Poonen0LUK 14:25Zac Poonen preaches on the three essential conditions of discipleship as outlined by Jesus in Luke 14:25-35. The first condition is to cut off inordinate love for relatives, putting God above all else. The second condition is to hate our self-life, denying ourselves daily and taking up our cross to follow Jesus. The third condition is to give up all possessions, recognizing that everything we have belongs to God and must be surrendered to Him completely.
(Practical Discipleship) 1. Disciples or Converts?
By Zac Poonen0MAT 4:6MAT 28:19MRK 16:15LUK 14:25JHN 6:60JHN 13:35ACT 1:8EPH 4:11Zac Poonen emphasizes the importance of not focusing on just one Scripture but comparing and understanding different Scriptures on the same subject. He delves into the concept of the 'great commission', highlighting the need to both preach the gospel to all creation and make disciples of all nations to fulfill God's will completely. Poonen discusses the significance of evangelism, the role of evangelists in building up the body of Christ, and the common pitfalls in today's evangelism that focus more on saving souls than on discipleship and spiritual growth.
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
- John Gill
- Matthew Henry
- Tyndale
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
ADDRESS TO GREAT MULTITUDES TRAVELLING WITH HIM. (Luk 14:25-35) great multitudes with him--on His final journey to Jerusalem. The "great multitudes" were doubtless people going to the passover, who moved along in clusters (Luk 2:44), and who on this occasion falling in with our Lord had formed themselves into one mass about Him.
John Gill Bible Commentary
If any man come to me,.... Not in a corporeal, but in a spiritual way; nor barely to hear him preach; but so come, as that he believes in him, applies to him for grace, pardon, righteousness, life, and salvation; professes to be his, submits to his ordinances, and desires to be a disciple of his; 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: not that proper hatred of any, or all of these, is enjoined by Christ; for this would be contrary to the laws of God, to the first principles of nature, to all humanity, to the light of nature, to reason and divine revelation: but that these are not to be preferred to Christ, or loved more than he, as it is explained in Mat 10:37 yea, these are to be neglected and forsaken, and turned from with indignation and resentment, when they stand in the way of the honour and interest of Christ, and dissuade from his service: such who would be accounted the disciples of Christ, should be ready to part with their dearest relations and friends, with the greatest enjoyment of life, and with life itself, when Christ calls for it; or otherwise they are not worthy to be called his disciples. The Ethiopic version inserts, "his house", into the account.
Matthew Henry Bible Commentary
See how Christ in his doctrine suited himself to those to whom he spoke, and gave every one his portion of meat. To Pharisees he preached humility and charity. He is in these verses directing his discourse to the multitudes that crowded after him, and seemed zealous in following him; and his exhortation to them is to understand the terms of discipleship, before they undertook the profession of it, and to consider what they did. See here, I. How zealous people were in their attendance on Christ (Luk 14:25): There went great multitudes with him, many for love and more for company, for where there are many there will be more. Here was a mixed multitude, like that which went with Israel out of Egypt; such we must expect there will always be in the church, and it will therefore be necessary that ministers should carefully separate between the precious and the vile. II. How considerate he would have them to be in their zeal. Those that undertake to follow Christ must count upon the worst, and prepare accordingly. 1. He tells them what the worst is that they must count upon, much the same with what he had gone through before them and for them. He takes it for granted that they had a mind to be his disciples, that they might be qualified for preferment in his kingdom. They expected that he should say, "If any man come to me, and be my disciple, he shall have wealth and honour in abundance; let me alone to make him a great man." But he tells them quite the contrary. (1.) They must be willing to quit that which was very dear, and therefore must come to him thoroughly weaned from all their creature-comforts, and dead to them, so as cheerfully to part with them rather than quit their interest in Christ, Luk 14:26. A man cannot be Christ's disciple but he must hate father, and mother, and his own life. He is not sincere, he will be constant and persevering, unless he love Christ better than any thing in this world, and be willing to part with that which he may and must leave, either as a sacrifice, when Christ may be glorified by our parting with it (so the martyrs, who loved not their lives to death), or as a temptation, when by our parting with it we are put into a better capacity of serving Christ. Thus Abraham parted with his own country, and Moses with Pharaoh's court. Mention is not made here of houses and lands; philosophy will teach a man to look upon these with contempt; but Christianity carries it higher. [1.] Every good man loves his relations; and yet, if he be a disciple of Christ, he must comparatively hate them, must love them less than Christ, as Leah is said to be hated when Rachel was better loved. Not that their persons must be in any degree hated, but our comfort and satisfaction in them must be lost and swallowed up in our love to Christ, as Levi's was, when he said to his father, I have not seen him, Deu 33:9. When our duty to our parents comes in competition with our evident duty to Christ, we must give Christ the preference. If we must either deny Christ or be banished from our families and relations (as many of the primitive Christians were), we must rather lose their society than his favour. [2.] Every man loves his own life, no man ever yet hated it; and we cannot be Christ's disciples if we do not love him better than our own lives, so as rather to have our lives embittered by cruel bondage, nay, and taken away by cruel deaths, than to dishonour Christ, or depart from any of his truths and ways. The experience of the pleasures of the spiritual life, and the believing hopes and prospects of eternal life, will make this hard saying easy. When tribulation and persecution arise because of the word, then chiefly the trial is, whether we love better, Christ or our relations and lives; yet even in the days of peace this matter is sometimes brought to the trial. Those that decline the service of Christ, and opportunities of converse with him, and are ashamed to confess him, for fear of disobliging a relation or friend, or losing a customer, give cause to suspect that they love him better than Christ. (2.) That they must be willing to bear that which was very heavy (Luk 14:27): Whosoever doth not bear his cross, as those did that were condemned to be crucified, in submission to the sentence and in expectation of the execution of it, and so come after me whithersoever I shall lead him, he cannot be my disciple; that is (says Dr. Hammond), he is not for my turn; and my service, being so sure to bring persecution along with it, will not be for his. Though the disciples of Christ are not all crucified, yet they all bear their cross, as if they counted upon being crucified. They must be content to be put into an ill name, and to be loaded with infamy and disgrace; for no name is more ignominious than Furcifer - the bearer of the gibbet. He must bear his cross, and come after Christ; that is, he must bear it in the way of his duty, whenever it lies in that way. He must bear it when Christ calls him to it, and in bearing it he must have an eye to Christ, and fetch encouragements from him, and live in hope of a recompence with him. 2. He bids them count upon it, and then consider of it. Since he has been so just to us as to tell us plainly what difficulties we shall meet with in following him, let us be so just to ourselves as to weigh the matter seriously before we take upon us a profession of religion. Joshua obliged the people to consider what they did when they promised to serve the Lord, Jos 24:19. It is better never to begin than not to proceed; and therefore before we begin we must consider what it is to proceed. This is to act rationally, and as becomes men, and as we do in other cases. The cause of Christ will bear a scrutiny. Satan shows the best, but hides the worst, because his best will not counter-vail his worst; but Christ's will abundantly. This considering of the case is necessary to perseverance, especially in suffering times. Our Saviour here illustrates the necessity of it by two similitudes, the former showing that we must consider the expenses of our religion, the latter that we must consider the perils of it. (1.) When we take upon us a profession of religion we are like a man that undertakes to build a tower, and therefore must consider the expense of it (Luk 14:28-30): Which of you, intending to build a tower or stately house for himself, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost? and he must be sure to count upon a great deal more than his workmen will tell him it will cost. Let him compare the charge with his purse, lest he make himself to be laughed at, by beginning to build what he is not able to finish. Note, [1.] All that take upon them a profession of religion undertake to build a tower, not as the tower of Babel, in opposition to Heaven, which therefore was left unfinished, but in obedience to Heaven, which therefore shall have its top-stone brought forth. Begin low, and lay the foundation deep, lay it on the rock, and make sure work, and then aim as high as heaven. [2.] Those that intend to build this tower must sit down and count the cost. Let them consider that it will cost them the mortifying of their sins, even the most beloved lusts; it will cost them a life of self-denial and watchfulness, and a constant course of holy duties; it may, perhaps, cost them their reputation among men, their estates and liberties, and all that is dear to them in this world, even life itself. And if it should cost us all this, what is it in comparison with what it cost Christ to purchase the advantages of religion for us, which come to us without money and without price? [3.] Many that begin to build this tower do not go on with it, nor persevere in it, and it is their folly; they have not courage and resolution, have not a rooted fixed principle, and so bring nothing to pass. It is true, we have none of us in ourselves sufficient to finish this tower, but Christ hath said, My grace is sufficient for thee, and that grace shall not be wanting to any of us, if we seek for it and make use of it. [4.] Nothing is more shameful than for those that have begun well in religion to break off; every one will justly mock him, as having lost all his labour hitherto for want of perseverance. We lose the things we have wrought (Jo2 1:8), and all we have done and suffered is in vain, Gal 3:4. (2.) When we undertake to be Christ's disciples we are like a man that goes to war, and therefore must consider the hazard of it, and the difficulties that are to be encountered, Luk 14:31, Luk 14:32. A king that declares war against a neighbouring prince considers whether he has strength wherewith to make his part good, and, if not, he will lay aside his thoughts of war. Note, [1.] The state of a Christian in this world is a military state. Is not the Christian life a warfare? We have many passes in our way, that must be disputed with dint of sword; nay, we must fight every step we go, so restless are our spiritual enemies in their opposition. [2.] We ought to consider whether we can endure the hardness which a good soldier of Jesus Christ must expect and count upon, before we enlist ourselves under Christ's banner; whether we are able to encounter the forces of hell and earth, which come against us twenty thousand strong. [3.] Of the two it is better to make the best terms we can with the world than pretend to renounce it and afterwards, when tribulation and persecution arise because of the word, to return to it. That young man that could not find in his heart to part with his possessions for Christ did better to go away from Christ sorrowing than to have staid with him dissembling. This parable is another way applicable, and may be taken as designed to teach us to begin speedily to be religious, rather than to begin cautiously; and may mean the same with Mat 5:25, Agree with thine adversary quickly. Note, First, Those that persist in sin make war against God, the most unnatural, unjustifiable war; they rebel against their lawful sovereign, whose government is perfectly just and good. Secondly, The proudest and most daring sinner is no equal match for God; the disproportion of strength is much greater than that here supposed between ten thousand and twenty thousand. Do we provoke the Lord to jealousy? Are we stronger than he? No, surely; who knows the power of his anger? In consideration of this, it is our interest to make peace with him. We need not send to desire conditions of peace; they are offered to us, and are unexceptionable, and highly to our advantage. Let us acquaint ourselves with them, and be at peace; do this in time, while the other is yet a great way off; for delays in such a case are highly dangerous, and make after-applications difficult. But the application of this parable here (Luk 14:33) is to the consideration that ought to be exercised when we take upon us a profession of religion. Solomon saith, With good advice make war (Pro 20:18); for he that draws the sword throws away the scabbard; so with good advice enter upon a profession of religion, as those that know that except you forsake all you have you cannot be Christ's disciples; that is, except you count upon forsaking all and consent to it, for all that will live godly in Christ Jesus must suffer persecution, and yet continue to live godly. 3. He warns them against apostasy and a degeneracy of mind from the truly Christian spirit and temper, for that would make them utterly useless, Luk 14:34, Luk 14:35. (1.) Good Christians are the salt of the earth, and good ministers especially (Mat 5:13); and this salt is good and of great use; by their instructions and examples they season all they converse with, to keep them from putrefying, and to quicken them, and make them savoury. (2.) Degenerate Christians, who, rather than part with what they have in the world, will throw up their profession, and then of course become carnal, and worldly, and wholly destitute of a Christian spirit, are like salt that has lost its savour, like that which the chemists call the caput mortuum, that has all its salts drawn from it, that is the most useless worthless thing in the world; it has no manner of virtue or good property in it. [1.] It can never be recovered: Wherewith shall it be seasoned? You cannot salt it. This intimates that it is extremely difficult, and next to impossible, to recover an apostate, Heb 6:4-6. If Christianity will not prevail to cure men of their worldliness and sensuality, if that remedy has been tried in vain, their ease must even be concluded desperate. [2.] It is of no use. It is not fit, as dung is, for the land, to manure that, nor will it be the better if it be laid in the dunghill to rot; there is nothing to be got out of it. A professor of religion whose mind and manners are depraved is the most insipid animal that can be. If he speaks of the things of God, of which he has had some knowledge, it is so awkwardly that none are the better for it: it is a parable in the mouth of a fool. [3.] It is abandoned: Men cast it out, as that which they will have no more to do with. Such scandalous professors ought to be cast out of the church, not only because they have forfeited all the honours and privileges of their church-membership, but because there is danger that others will be infected by them. Our Saviour concludes this with a call to all to take notice of it, and to take warning: He that hath ears to hear, let him hear. Now can the faculty of hearing be better employed than in attending to the word of Christ, and particularly to the alarms he has given us of the danger we are in of apostasy, and the danger we run ourselves into by apostasy?
Tyndale Open Study Notes
14:25-35 A large crowd was following Jesus: Jesus’ popularity was high, but he was about to teach that the cost of following him was also very high.