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Luke 14:28–33
“Which of you, desiring to build a tower, does not first sit down and count the cost, whether he has enough to complete it?” (v. 28).
Following Jesus requires that we make Him first in our affections and live in a way that is at odds with this fallen world. Discipleship is costly and not something to be entered into lightly (Luke 14:7–27). Consequently, there is great wisdom in assessing the cost and determining whether we are willing to pay it before we commit ourselves to Jesus. We will look like fools and even make shipwreck of our faith if we do not count the cost of following Jesus beforehand and then find ourselves unable to persevere in bearing the hardships associated with Christian discipleship.
Jesus makes this basic point in today’s passage, using two illustrations. First, He speaks of building a tower, which in the first-century context refers to a guard tower that vineyard owners placed at the edge of their vineyards. Such towers provided a good place to watch out for thieves or wild animals invading the vineyard, and they were also used for storage. No matter how great the benefits, however, they could not be obtained without the funds to complete the construction (vv. 28–30). In the second example, Jesus refers to a king who needs to think carefully about going into battle when he has half the forces of his opponent. If he is wise, he will decide not to fight but make peace (vv. 31–32). In both cases, the point is clear: do not follow Jesus in a moment of hasty decision, but take on His yoke (see Matt. 11:29) only after carefully weighing the blessings and suffering that will come with discipleship.
Having exhorted us to count the cost of discipleship beforehand, Jesus in Luke 14:33 turns back to what being a disciple will entail. He tells us that we must renounce all that we have. As with the call to hate our family members (vv. 25–27), we should not read this call to renunciation in a rigidly literal manner, since some disciples of Jesus were wealthy (8:1–3). Instead, Jesus calls us to be willing to renounce what we own if there comes a time when continuing as His disciple might require it. Though it will ultimately be worth it to pay the cost of discipleship, it will be costly indeed. Matthew Henry comments that discipleship “will cost them the mortifying of their sins, even the most beloved lusts; it will cost them a life of self-denial and watchfulness, and a constant course of holy duties; it may, perhaps, cost them their reputation among men, their estates and liberties, and all that is dear to them in this world, even life itself.”
Coram Deo Living before the face of God
When we proclaim the gospel, let us be careful to tell people what following Jesus really means. Many well-meaning evangelists have told people that all their troubles will pass away when they believe in Jesus, but while that will be true in an ultimate sense when Christ returns, until then suffering is part of the Christian life. We do people no good to minimize that reality.
for further study
- Mark 8:34–35
- Philippians 1:29
the bible in a year
- Psalms 53–55
- Acts 27:27–44
- Psalms 56–61
- Acts 28