), which the WEB has updated. The two issues that stand out more than any other in this short monologue: In Genesis 29:30-31, we hear that Jacob loved Rachel more than Leah and that Leah was “hated” by Jacob. Then Jesus provides two brief stories or parables to illustrate the importance of “counting the cost” and giving up all for Jesus (14:28-33). First, Jesus is using hyperbolic language here as he does frequently in his teachings (e.g., Matthew 18:8-9). Luke 14:26. How fascinating: the book of Psalms, the prayer book of the Bible, the hymnal of ancient Israel, opens with a poem about ethics, lifestyle, and decisions. Janice B. Scott. Luke 14:25-33. "Anyone who comes to Me without hating father, mother, wife, children, brothers, sisters, and yes, his own life, too, cannot be My disciple. Luke 14:25-33. Jesus uses these two stories to illustrate the necessity of “counting the cost” of discipleship. The language of this particular saying, however, raises concern for many. Only in Luke’s Gospel is Jesus is being portrayed as demanding such total, unconditional commitment. It is, at heart, a covenantal relationship. The text for today’s meditation is taken from the Gospel of Luke, the 14th chapter starting at the 25 vs., and reads as follows: … Two observations are helpful in this regard. What does this mean because i thought you had to love others as much as you love yourself. While emphases in the earlier part of Luke 14 on the redemption and freedom that Jesus brings and the inclusive nature of God’s kingdom are assumed in this last part of the chapter, those inclusive and redemptive themes should not dull our sense that here in 14:28-33 are some difficult sayings of Jesus. ed. Jesus extols a commitment to finishing the discipleship journey once begun or not beginning it at all. Neither Jesus nor Luke encouraged an unthinking, impulsive “leap of faith” into discipleship. Neither of these sayings of Jesus lend themselves to an “easy believism” or a “low-cost” form of faith. 27Whoever doesn’t bear his own cross, and come after me, can’t be my disciple.“. But is the Christian faith really a low-cost, low-risk endeavor? What challenging teaching did Jesus give (26)? In recent decades, we have seen the decline of the traditional family, a decline brought on in large measure because of our discomfort with commitment. They do so gladly in the belief that God will reward their martyrdom—but, in the process, they give religious enthusiasm a bad name. Third, a willingness to relinquish possessions may also be necessary … We are tempted not to challenge people to faithful stewardship—and faithful worship attendance—and faithful sexuality—and honest business practices—and accurate tax returns—and compassion for the less fortunate—and other costly commitments. This, however, is Semitic hyperbole or exaggeration-for-effect. Sell that which you have, and give gifts to the needy. Sell all that you own and distribute the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me. 35B (Dallas: Word Books, 1993), Ringe, Sharon H., Westminster Bible Companion, Luke (Louisville: Westminster John Knox Press), Stein, Robert H., The New American Commentary: Luke (Nashville: Broadman Press, 1992), Tannehill, Robert C., Abingdon New Testament Commentaries: Luke (Nashville: Abingdon, 1996), Copyright 2004, 2007, 2010, 2012 Richard Niell Donovan, “The foxes have holes, and the birds of the sky have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head”, “No one, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the Kingdom of God”, “Most certainly I tell you, there is no one who has left house, or wife, or brothers, or parents, or children, for the Kingdom of God’s sake, who will not receive many times more in this time, and in the world to come, eternal life”, “My mother and my brothers are these who hear the word of God, and do it”, “it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the Kingdom. In luke 14 verse 26 to 27 in the new testament, Jesus said: If anyone comes to me and doesn’t hate his brother mother, father, wife and children and his own life, he cannot be my disciple. 29Or perhaps, when he has laid a foundation, and is not able to finish, everyone who sees begins to mock him, 30saying, ‘This man began to build, and wasn’t able to finish.'”. 31“Or what king, as he goes to encounter another king in war, will not sit down first and consider whether he is able with ten thousand to meet him who comes against him with twenty thousand? He exposed the folly of the rich man whose only concern is the enjoyment of wealth (12:13-21). We get it. This becomes clear when we compare this saying in Luke with its parallel in Matthew (10:37): “Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.” Matthew, drawing on the same Jesus tradition as Luke, seems to have interpreted the more stark language of “hate” to refer to primary allegiance. We spent that much and more in the months that followed. Becoming a Christian requires repentance, a word that in the Greek means more than sorrow for sin—the picture being that of a soldier doing an about-face—turning to face a new direction. The passage in Luke 14:15-33 is considered one of the "Hard Sayings of Jesus". Luke 14: 25-33. 1This is Michael Knowles’ language in “Everyone Who Hears These Words of Mine,” in The Challenge of Jesus’ Parables, ed. Jesus experienced in his own life the conflict between calling and family. 27 And anyone who does not carry his cross and follow me cannot be my disciple. Jesus is doing with this crowd what he did earlier with a wannabe disciple. The lectionary text for this week, Luke 14:25-33, offers a challenge to a market driven approach to Christian mission. The fact that they are traveling with him demonstrates their infectious enthusiasm. Yet, when Christian mission is shaped toward the “sell” mentality, it more often than not becomes a “low-cost” and “low-risk” commodity.1  How else will we persuade others to receive the faith, if not by coming in with a lower or better offer? “Whoever doesn’t bear his own cross, and come after me, can’t be my disciple” (v. 27). A second helpful observation: the use of “hate” in Luke might reflect an idiom that comes from Hebrew. Love, not bombs, is the Christian change-agent. Barclay, William, The Daily Study Bible, The Gospel of Luke (Edinburgh: Saint Andrew Press, 1953), Bock, Darrell L., The IVP New Testament Commentary Series: Luke, Vol. I do think that way, way, way, back … And no relationship lasts without loyal commitments and actions. Because Jesus in his person and message requires those who would follow him to answer the ultimate allegiance question, it is not surprising that he may inherently bring family strife. Does Jesus really call us to hate our biological families and our very lives? It was difficult, but we were able to complete the work. What do the words “If anyone comes to me” imply? Luke 14:25-33. R. Longenecker (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2000) 295. Discipleship carries a high price tag following Jesus be ridicule from all who the... My disciple. “ on Luke 14:15-24 ) the cost ” of discipleship parents, also... That churches with high standards attract people with high standards knowing what awaits him there Jesus ’ teachings rev... 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