Luke 14:25–35 - 25 Now large crowds were going along with Him; and He turned and said to them, 26 “If anyone comes to Me, and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be My disciple. 27 “Whoever does not carry his own cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple. 28 “For which one of you, when he wants to build a tower, does not first sit down and calculate the cost to see if he has enough to complete it? 29 “Otherwise, when he has laid a foundation and is not able to finish, all who observe it begin to ridicule him, 30 saying, ‘This man began to build and was not able to finish.’ 31 “Or what king, when he sets out to meet another king in battle, will not first sit down and consider whether he is strong enough with ten thousand men to encounter the one coming against him with twenty thousand? 32 “Or else, while the other is still far away, he sends a delegation and asks for terms of peace. 33 “So then, none of you can be My disciple who does not give up all his own possessions. 34 “Therefore, salt is good; but if even salt has become tasteless, with what will it be seasoned? 35 “It is useless either for the soil or for the manure pile; it is thrown out. He who has ears to hear, let him hear.” What does today’s passage say? In today's passage, Jesus underscores discipleship’s steep cost. He insists we must love Him above even family bonds (v. 26). Followers must also embrace suffering rejection and death by fully identifying with Him (v. 27). Jesus emphasizes thoughtfully discerning the cost through the analogies of a builder estimating needed materials (v. 28) and a military commander figuring out the necessary resources for victory (vv. 29-32). Total surrender and forsaking ownership are required for disciples trusting Christ’s provision (v. 33). Half-hearted commitment to Jesus proves useless for His work, just as flavorless salt is useless (vv. 34-35). How can I apply Luke 14:25-35 to my life? At first glance, Jesus’ startling statements in this passage about the costs of following Him seem harsh and extreme. Why would the Lord require His disciples to “hate” father and mother, carry crosses, and renounce all possessions? Surely God cares about family bonds and meeting basic needs. But Jesus seeks total allegiance with no rivals tolerated, likening it to the painful but necessary pruning of branches for maximum lifegiving fruitfulness. His shocking language underscores the crucial realization that surrendering our lives to Jesus’ mastery will bring inevitable parted waters with worldly priorities. Securing comfort, avoiding suffering, acquiring stuff, and even preserving family ties cannot be ultimate aims for disciples. Our devotion to the kingdom must clearly exceed all contending attachments and God alone qualifies as a life purpose worth losing everything else temporarily. Of course, families are precious gifts to enjoy in balance. But as converts counted the cost for their supreme loyalty to follow Christ early on, so modern believers must continually examine if subordinate loves ever subtly supplant intimacy with Jesus as first priority. Here are some basic principles from this passage that we should apply to our lives:
Being a Disciple of Jesus Requires Complete Surrender and Commitment (vv. 26-27): Coming to Jesus on His terms means total allegiance to Him above all else. When explaining the cost of following Him, Jesus uses shocking language about hating one's own family to emphasize that devotion to Him eclipses even the closest human ties. While we should not despise our family, surrendering control over them and all we have to Christ is non-negotiable. Putting our priorities to Christ ahead of those to our families is what true discipleship will look like. When obedience to God puts us at odds even with those we love most, clinging to Jesus must still come first. His call demands exclusive loyalty and lifelong commitment to pursue His kingdom without compromise, regardless of earthly consequences. So, we must bravely obey God rather than seeking to please even family if pressed to disobey. Fixing our eyes on the eternal rewards for surrender will enable us to endure any temporary losses or opposition from unsupportive loved ones. Jesus deserves wholehearted commitment as our highest priority (Matthew 10:34-39; Philippians 3:8; Hebrews 11:24-26).
Food for thought: Is there anything or anyone you are putting above total devotion to Jesus? What might need to change in your priorities and affections?
Count the Cost of Discipleship Fully Before Committing (vv. 28-30): As Jesus' difficult call to follow Him sinks in, He advises everyone to first consider the cost thoughtfully. Using two illustrations of a builder and warrior strategizing ahead, He dispels any notion of casual discipleship. When we commit our lives wholly to Christ as Master and King, we accept a lifelong battle against sin, sacrificial service, loving enemies, financial generosity even to detriment, plus persecution. Too many enthused converts set out following Jesus without realizing it requires dying to self daily, relinquishing rights, and admitting utter dependence on Him. But when hard testing comes, half-hearted disciples often experience bitterness and resentment, or rebellion rises up proving the shallow roots of their faith. Before deciding to follow Jesus, seriously count the unrivaled cost against the infinite blessings of closeness to Him. And by God's strength, choose to pay it (Matthew 16:24; Luke 9:23-26; 14:33).
Food for thought: Have you sincerely counted the full cost of following Jesus? Is there any area of sacrifice He may be calling you to?
Halfhearted Discipleship Is Like Salt That Has Lost Its Flavor: It Is Useless (vv. 34-35): Not fully surrendering our lives while claiming to follow Jesus contaminates our testimony. When disciples refuse to forsake immorality, pride, greed, bitterness, or other vices, we become disgusting and distasteful instead of purifying light to the world. Our hypocrisy merits being tossed out by God as worthless. Sin tolerating followers have no flavor to enhance gospel impact or bring glory to God. For faithful service in advancing His kingdom, the Lord can only use fully surrendered servants not still clinging to personal agendas or compromised loyalties. Ask God to search your heart and show you any spiritual compromises that cripple your effectiveness for His mission. Then repent from lurking offenses so you can radiate pure testimony and cooperate fully with His work (Matthew 5:13; Romans 6:1-14; 1 Thessalonians 4:1-8).
Food for thought: Is there any sin God wants you to remove fully from your life in order to walk faithfully with Jesus? Why might lingering in sin hinder God’s purposes for you? This sobering passage reminds us that Jesus’ call is not to part-time or half-hearted disciples who try straddling heaven and earth. Our conversion must count the real costs of lifetime surrender for the infinite blessings of closeness to Christ. Nothing rivals in value the precious treasure we gain in Jesus at the temporary cost of self-denial and worldly loss. When we cling loosely to earthly security and relationships but grip Jesus tightly as our highest affection, then momentary hardships fade against the glory of belonging to Him. May our roots sink ever deeper into the soil of God’s love as we meditate on the twin realities that Jesus deserves our highest loyalty and no sacrifice for His glory compares to the reward of hearing Him say “well done.” Prayer Dear Heavenly Father, I pray that You would search my heart and reveal any areas where my devotion to You has grown lukewarm, shallow, or compromised by rival affections. Expose any unyielded parts of my life not fully surrendered to obeying You as Master and Lord. Produce freshening conviction that spurs me to return to my first love for You above all else. Fan into flame my allegiance, commitment, and loyalty to pursue Your kingdom no matter the cost. Sever any competing ties to comfort, worldly success, pleasing people, or even family that have supplanted You undeservedly as first priority. I pray for grace to bravely carry my cross in order to gain Christ as highest treasure over every lesser desire. Empower me to count the cost, choose obedience, and serve faithfully as an unhindered disciple authenticated by genuine fruit that remains. I pray these things in the most precious name of Jesus, Amen.
Luke 14:33 - “So then, none of you can be My disciple who does not give up all his own possessions.” With His Blessings, Pastor Corby
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