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!!! Luke 14:25-35
It is important to realize that the Synoptic Gospels[1] were written to a Christian audience for whom the basic issues relating to faith and eternal life were settled and plain.[2]
These Gospels were written for the purpose of leading those who had already received Jesus Christ into a life of *DISCIPLESHIP*.[3]
In this episode Jesus speaks openly to the crowds who were following Him of the *COST* of being one of *His STUDENTS*.
!!!
The Context of Jesus’ Statements
Luke 14 and 15 both refer to suppers.
The supper in Luke 14, hosted by a ruler of the Pharisees,[4] probably lasted almost the entire chapter.[5]
Also the host was a BELIEVER.[6]
In fact, all of the teaching in Luke 14-15 is in reference to BELIEVERS [that is, fundamental to /discipleship/].
A summary of the teaching in Luke chapter 14 would be:
* Preference of Mercy over Legalism (vs.
1-6)
* Teaching on Humility (vs.
7-12)[7]
* Teaching on Unconditional Generosity (vs.
13-14)
* Teaching on Rewards (vs.
15-24)[8]
!!! “Hating Oneself” (verse 26)
In verses 25-35 Jesus is speaking to the /multitudes/./
/Jesus was obviously not trying to win a popularity contest – for He spoke openly and clearly to the crowds who were following Him of the price they must pay to be students of His.[9]
He says, “/Unless you *hate* your father, mother, wife, children etc. you *cannot be *my student.”
/Jesus was simply saying that love for Himself must come above all other relationships for someone to be His disciple.[10]
He continues, “/You must even *hate yourself*/”.
That is, if my own desires or ambitions or self-comfort are in conflict with the will of God, I must be willing to submit myself to Christ’s will in order to become His disciple.[11]
!!! “Bearing One’s Cross” (verse 27)
Jesus next stated: “/Whoever does not bear his cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple/.”
Jesus was saying that if I am not willing to be */identified openly/*/ /and */stay with/* Him [with all of the *reproach* and, perhaps, suffering that might entail], then I cannot be His pupil [disciple].[12]
!!! “Counting the Cost” (verses 28-30)
Next Jesus spoke of the necessity of */completing/*/ /His program of discipleship.
Many may desire to start as His pupils but not have the wherewithal to */finish/*.[13]
People looking on would undoubtedly /mock /this disciple because he was not able to finish the training.[14]
Therefore, I must “/count the cost/”/ /before I enter Jesus’ school or else I may come up short at the end.
!!! “Ready for War” (verses 31-32)
Also, Jesus reminds his audience that to become one of His pupils is to involved in spiritual *warfare*.
They are all “kings-in-waiting”[15] who will be engaged in battle with the “/god of this age/” Satan.[16]
To NOT prepare for this eventuality is to ultimately be overwhelmed and capitulate in the Christian life.[17]
!!! “Saying our Goodbyes” (verse 33)
Jesus then gives the “bottom line” to what He has said: “/To be one of My pupils you must be willing to say ‘goodbye’*[18]*- up front - to everything you have/.”
In order words, one must be prepared to put *all that is needed*[19]* *into discipleship.
We should count the potential cost and our willingness to pay it.
*Though discipleship may not actually require all -  it MIGHT require all [for example, our lives, family, money, strength etc] - and if we are not prepared to give all, our discipleship will fail*.[20]
!!!
A Final Word (verses 34-35)
*Salt *refers to spiritual qualities which are necessary for discipleship.[21]
*“/lost its flavor/” *refers to believers who have gotten away from the Lord.
Such people need to “become salty again” - and *repent*.[22]
\\ ----
[1] Matthew, Mark, and Luke are often referred to as “/Synoptic Gospels/”.
/Synoptic /means “/to see together/”.
They are distinguished from the Gospel of John which is written to unsaved people [John 20:30-31] and is basically evangelistic.
[2] There is an absence in the Synoptics of explicit statements of the type we meet everywhere in the Gospel of John [for example, John 1:12, 3:15-16, 36, etc].
[3] Note the purpose statement in Luke 1:4.
Also, in Luke’s companion volume [the book of Acts] the word /disciple μαθητής mathetes /is used over 30 times [including its derivatives].
In Luke it is used 38 times.
Luke was concerned with giving instruction for discipleship.
[4] Luke 14:1.
[5] Probably through verse 24.
[6] This is clarified in Luke 14:14.
In Luke 14:12-14 “/you/” is always singular.
Jesus was exhorting this man to live in such a way to gain /reward/ at the Judgment-Seat of Christ.
[7] Just the opposite of the Pharisees and Scribes in Luke 15:2.
[8] That we are not to allow our earthly affairs to allow us from attending this Supper [the Millennial Banquet which probably will last during the entire reign of the Messiah].
That is, we are to put God first in our earthly affairs.
[9] See verse 25.
Of course, */eternal life/*/ /is *free *[John 4:10, Eph.
2:9-9, Rom.
6:23, Rev. 22:17 etc.
But */discipleship/*/ /is *costly*.
[10] This principle is also found in the Old Testament [Cf.
Deut.
13:6-11, 33:9] Also see Matt.
10:37.
Luke 10:27.
[11] This, of course, was taught in Luke 9:23-27 and was remarkably demonstrated in the lives of the twelve and of the Apostle Paul (Cf.
Acts 4:21-31, 5:40-42, 20:24, 21:13-14).
The text of Acts 20:24 can be translated, “/I count myself as nothing nor do I regard my life as valuable to myself so that I might finish my course with joy and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus to testify solemnly of the good news of the grace of God/.”
However, not all believers in Paul’s day [or in ours] had the same commitment to discipleship [Cf. 2 Tim.
4:10, Phil 2:21]
[12] For example, there were many in Jesus’ day who /believed in Him /[and thus had eternal life] but were not will willing to /confess Him /[be openly identified with Him].
See John 6:60-66, 12:42-43; Heb.
13:12-13.
Also, to follow Jesus is to be a /witness /for Him [Matt 4:19].
I cannot /serve /Jesus unless I /follow /Him [John 12:23-26].
[13] Note Luke 8:13-14.
To be */rewarded/*/ /I must */complete/* the program [Cf.
Luke 9:62, II Tim.
2:12, 4:7-8, Heb.
3:6, 14; 10:36, Rev. 2:25-26].
This clearly demands */endurance /*[Luke 8:15, 22:28-30, Heb.
10:35-36, 12:1-3].
[14] Verses 29-30.
[15] Luke 19:17 , 22:28-30, Matt.
24:47, Heb.1:9, 3:14 etc.
[16] John 12:31, 14:30, 2 Cor.
4:4, Eph.
6:10ff.
Of course, as Jesus reminded them, they would be in the “minority” when facing the opposition of the world.
[17] Examples of capitulating to the “god of this world” would be 2 Tim.
1:15, 4:10, 16.
Jesus, of course, warned His disciples that some would even seek to kill them [John 16:1-4, Luke 21:16].
Acts 4:23-31 and 2 Tim.
4:17-18 represent examples of successful discipleship in this regard.
Paul exhorted Timothy to “/fight the good fight/” of the faith [1 Tim.
6:12] and not give up - that he might be rewarded [“/lay hold of eternal life/”].
[18] The Greek word used here “/ἀποτάσσω/” /apotasso /means “/to say farewell to/” [BDAG, pg.
123]./
/
[19] All of one’s resources.
[20] Comment on this verse by Zane Hodges in an email exchange.
[21] Verse 34.
See also Matt.
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