Luke 14:26-28

The Pulpit Commentary - Luke 14:25-35

The qualifications of his real disciples. Two short parables illustrative of the high pries such a real disciple must pay if he would indeed be his. The halfhearted disciple is compared to flavourless salt. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Luke 14:25-35

The cost of discipleship. The Pharisee's banquet being over, our Lord continues his journey towards Jerusalem, and, as a crisis is evidently at hand, he has a goodly multitude of expectant followers. Have they any notion of the cost of discipleship? Are they prepared for all which it involves? Jesus determines to make this unmistakable, and so he gives them the admonition contained in the present section. He gives point to his advice by mentioning the folly of beginning to build a tower... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Luke 14:26

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. The Lord's teaching throughout, in parable and in direct saying, pressed home to his followers that no home love, no earthly affection, must ever come into competition with the love of God. If home and his cause came ever into collision, home and all belonging to it must gently be put aside, and everything must be sacrificed to... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Luke 14:26

Christ and kindred. The circumstances under which these words were spoken will explain the strength of the language used. Jesus Christ said that he came "not to send peace on earth, but a sword," by which he meant that the first effect of the introduction of his Divine truth would be (as he said) to set the members of the same family at variance against one another, and to make a man s foes to be "they of his own household" ( Matthew 10:34-36 ). By honouring and acknowledging him as the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Luke 14:28-30

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. The imagery was not an unfamiliar one in those days. The magnificent Herodian house had a passion for erecting great buildings, sacred and profane, in the varied cities under their sway.... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Luke 14:25-27

See notes on Matthew 10:37-38. read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Luke 14:28

Intending to build a tower - See Matthew 21:33. A tower was a place of defense or observation, erected on high places or in vineyards, to guard against enemies. It was made “high,” so as to enable one to see an enemy when he approached; and “strong,” so that it could not be easily taken.Counteth the cost - Makes a calculation how much it will cost to build it. read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Luke 14:25-27

Luke 14:25-27. And there went great multitudes with him It seems they accompanied him from place to place, with eager desire, doubtless, to have the Messiah’s kingdom erected; proposing to themselves all manner of wealth and temporal advantage therein. One day, therefore, as they were on the road with him, he thought fit to show them plainly their mistake: he turned and said, If any man come to me, and hate not, &c. As all the hopes of temporal felicity under his reign, which his... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Luke 14:28-33

Luke 14:28-33. Which of you, intending to build a tower, (the word πυργος here signifying the same as the Hebrew migdol, seems to denote any great building whatever,) sitteth not down first and counteth the cost To illustrate the necessity of their weighing deliberately, whether they were able and prepared to bear all their losses and persecutions to which the profession of the gospel would expose them, which indeed was the only term on which they could be his disciples, he desired them... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Luke 14:25-35

101. More about discipleship (Luke 14:25-35)The crowds that followed Jesus thought he was on the way to a throne. Jesus told them he was on the way to a cross. If they wanted to follow him they had to understand what his kingdom was like and what his followers could expect. They had to love him above everything else, and had to be prepared for self-sacrifice and even death (Luke 14:25-27).Like a farmer building a tower or a king going to war, the person wanting to be a disciple of Jesus had... read more

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