So likewise whosoever he be of you ,.... Let him be ever so forward to follow me, to make a profession of me and of my Gospel, and to become a disciple of mine: that forsaketh not all that he hath ; when called to it, relations, friends, possessions, estates, and what not, which is an explanation of Luke 14:26 he cannot be my disciple ; he is not in fact one, and is not worthy to be called one. read more
Salt is good ,.... See Gill on Matthew 5:13 , Mark 10:50 . read more
And hate not - Matthew, Matthew 10:37 , expresses the true meaning of this word, when he says, He who loveth his father and mother More than me. In Matthew 6:24 , he uses the word hate in the same sense. When we read, Romans 9:13 , Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated, the meaning is simply, I have loved Jacob - the Israelites, more than Esau - the Edomites; and that this is no arbitrary interpretation of the word hate, but one agreeable to the Hebrew idiom, appears from what is... read more
Doth not bear his cross - See on Matthew 10:38 ; (note); Matthew 16:24 ; (note). read more
To build a tower - Probably this means no more than a dwelling house, on the top of which, according to the Asiatic manner, battlements were built, both to take the fresh air on, and to serve for refuge from and defense against an enemy. It was also used for prayer and meditation. This parable represents the absurdity of those who undertook to be disciples of Christ, without considering what difficulties they were to meet with, and what strength they had to enable them to go through with... read more
Whosoever he be of you - This seems to be addressed particularly to those who were then, and who were to be, preachers of his Gospel; and who were to travel over all countries, publishing salvation to a lost world. read more
Salt is good - See on Matthew 5:13 ; (note), and Mark 9:50 ; (note). On the subject referred to this place from Luke 14:23 , Compel them to come in, which has been adduced to favor religious persecution, I find the following sensible and just observations in Dr. Dodd's notes. "1st. Persecution for conscience' sake, that is, inflicting penalty upon men merely for their religious principles or worship, is plainly founded on a supposition that one man has a right to judge for another... read more
Verse 28 Luke 14:28.For which of you, etc , That no one may think it hard to follow Christ on the condition of renouncing all his desires, a useful warning is here given. We must consider beforehand what the profession of the gospel demands. The reason why many persons yield to very slight temptations is, that they have pictured to themselves unmixed enjoyment, as if they were to be always in the shade and at their ease. No man will ever become fit to serve Christ till he has undergone a long... read more
Verse 33 Luke 14:33.So then every one of you This clause shows what is meant by the calculation of expenses, with which Christ enjoins his followers to begin: it is to lead them to consider that they must forsake all In vain do persons who are delighted with an easy, indolent life, and with exemption from the cross, undertake a profession of Christianity. Those persons are said to forsake all who prefer Christ so greatly, both to their own life, and to all the wishes of the flesh, that nothing... read more
Get Bible verse every day in your inbox
Read on Mobile
John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Luke 14:32
Or else, while the other is a great way off ,.... Upon his march, with resolution to come up and give battle, though as yet at a distance: he sendeth an ambassage ; or men, with an embassy to him: and desireth conditions of peace ; greatly to his disadvantage and reproach: so to give out, and leave off fighting with sin, Satan, and the world, and make peace with them, is shameful and scandalous; but on the other hand, such who have engaged in this war, should pursue it with rigour... read more