Luke 14:28

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - Luke 14:28-30

(28-30) Which of you, intending to build a tower . .?—The words do not depend for their meaning on any local or personal allusion, but it is quite possible that their force may have been heightened for those who heard them by the memory of recent facts. Pilate had begun to build—certainly an aqueduct, probably a tower—and had not been able to finish. (See Notes on Luke 13:4; Matthew 27:16.) He had not “counted the cost,” and when he was hindered from laying hands on the Corban, or treasure of... read more

William Nicoll

Expositor's Dictionary of Texts - Luke 14:1-35

The Men Without a Sabbath Luke 14:3-6 The Lord delivered His primary challenge to the Jews through the Sabbath Day. It was, as it were, His gauge of battle, His test case. For His own personal significance turned on His relation to this Sabbath Day question. Not that in this He challenged the validity of the older Covenant. On the contrary, He always claimed the authority of the older Covenant on His own side. He appealed for His own justification to the principles established in the Law of... read more

Arno Clemens Gaebelein

Arno Gaebelein's Annotated Bible - Luke 14:1-35

CHAPTER 14 1. The Man with the Dropsy Healed on the Sabbath. (Luke 14:1-6 ) 2. The Wisdom of Humility. (Luke 14:7-11 ) 3. Recompensed in Resurrection. (Luke 14:12-14 ) 4. The Parable of the Great Supper. (Luke 14:15-24 ) 5. Conditions of Discipleship. (Luke 14:25-35 .) Luke 14:1-6 Again He heals on the Sabbath. In the house of a ruler, a Pharisee, they were watching Him. He had gone there to eat bread. What condescension! They were His enemies, yet He loved them. He healed the man with... read more

John Calvin

Geneva Study Bible - Luke 14:28

14:28 For which of you, intending to build a tower, {e} sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have [sufficient] to finish [it]?(e) At home, and calculates all his costs before he begins the work. read more

L.M. Grant

L. M. Grant's Commentary on the Bible - Luke 14:1-35

EATING IN THE PHARISEE'S HOUSE (vs.1-14) This chapter shows the heart of God in seeking man, yet also man in thorough contrast and opposition to God. One of the chief Pharisees invited the Lord Jesus to his house for a meal, evidently not out of affection, but to find occasion for criticism, for "they watched Him." Yet the Lord did not refuse: He would genuinely seek the good of man, whether criticized or not. We may wonder if perhaps the Pharisee had invited the man with dropsy (edema) as a... read more

James Gray

James Gray's Concise Bible Commentary - Luke 14:1-35

PARABLES OF GRACE THE SELFISH GUEST (Luke 14:1-14 ) We pass over verses 1-6 which set forth the occasion for the first parable. The lesson from this first parable is, that if in natural things such selfishness was unbecoming, how much more on the spiritual plane? (Compare 1 Peter 5:5-6 ; Isaiah 57:15 .) THE GREAT SUPPER (Luke 14:15-24 ) This was spoken on the same occasion as the other and in response to the remark of Luke 14:15 . Christ had spoken of reward at “the resurrection of the... read more

Joseph Parker

The People's Bible by Joseph Parker - Luke 14:1-35

Out of Place Luk 14:7-11 There is a fitness of things. We all know it. We feel it, though we may not be able to explain it in words. There is an instinctive judgment about proportion, and social rightness, and personal action. There is a regularity in irregularity. Life is not so tumultuous as it seems. If we could see the action of all the lines of life we should see that beneath all the tumult and uproar, all the eccentricity and irregularity, there is a steady line, direct, inevitable,... read more

Robert Hawker

Hawker's Poor Man's Commentary - Luke 14:27-35

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... read more

George Haydock

George Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary - Luke 14:28

For which of you, &c. The similitude, which our divine Saviour makes us of, represents the offices and duty of a true Christian, for he has to build within himself and conduct others by his example to war with the devil, the world, and the flesh; and he has to season, purify, and keep all his actions free from corruption by the spiritual salt of mortification and prayer. (Tirinus) read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Bible - Luke 14:25-35

25-35 Though the disciples of Christ are not all crucified, yet they all bear their cross, and must bear it in the way of duty. Jesus bids them count upon it, and then consider of it. Our Saviour explains this 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. Sit down and count the cost; consider it will cost the mortifying of sin, even the most beloved lusts. The proudest and most daring sinner cannot... read more

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