Someone Worth Losing Everything For

Immediately before this teaching on the true and costly nature of discipleship in Luke 14, Jesus had been at a dinner party held by a prominent Pharisee and told a parable of a great feast for which the invited guests were too enthralled in their own lives to attend. To the crowd now literally following Him along the road, Christ offers vivid and sobering pictures of what a life of following Him truly means. Jesus’ invitation to disciples necessarily involves leaving behind self-promoting and even self-preserving lifestyles.

Jesus knew He was on the way to His death in Jerusalem. He was going to make the ultimate sacrifice, paying the penalty of sin for all mankind. Many people, however, continued to seek Jesus desiring a better life, hoping for miracles, new religious teaching, or political freedom from Roman control. Since Jesus understood what He was going to face, He also knew the trials through which His followers would have to persevere. He warned the crowds of the commitment level required to truly follow His lead.

This passage teaches that Jesus is God and Savior. This passage of Scripture is important because it leads students to consider the cost of following Jesus. It makes clear that in order for a person to be a true disciple of Christ, one must devote himself or herself to Jesus above anything and everyone.

This passage also points to the truth that Salvation is by Faith Alone.

Luke 14:25-26 Jesus could never be accused of playing to an audience. Though appearing to gain mass appeal, He was focused on developing true disciples, not attracting crowds.

Difficulty in understanding this passage stems from the harsh language. The tendency may be to soften verses like these by thinking that Jesus was only using hyperbole and did not really mean what He was saying. However, the word Jesus used for “hate” is significant. The Greek word miseo is not an absolute term but rather a relative one; it could mean to “love less” (Mt 10:37). However, this lesser love is not a casual indifference or a matter of mere degree. The emphasis is on an active and passionate rejection of one thing for the sake of another. A true disciple’s devotion to Jesus is radically prioritized over all other relationships to such a degree that the passionate pursuit of Christ would result in leaving behind every other allegiance. Other relationships are not even worthy of being called “love” in the same way as one would love Jesus.

This certainly doesn’t lessen the impact of Jesus’ words, especially in a society where honor of one’s parents was viewed as a high calling in life. He still meant that our love for Him takes first priority above all others in our lives. Teachers regularly demanded great respect and affection, but in Jewish tradition only God openly demanded such wholesale devotion as Jesus claims here (Deut 6:4-5).

Luke 14:27 When a criminal was condemned to death by crucifixion he would have to literally carry his cross, often the horizontal beam, to the site of the upright stake, where he would be put to death. This was the same fate to which Jesus was journeying. No one would choose to suffer this indignity and torture, yet this is precisely the path Jesus calls His disciples to choose.

The picture here is one of death and sacrifice. In order for a person to truly follow Jesus, he or she must not only identify with and cling to a crucified Savior, but also willingly suffer personally and continually die to self. Christ said that only the person who let go of all previous pursuits and plans in order to fully embrace a life of following Him could be a disciple. This was non-negotiable. 

Luke 14:28-30 Jesus continues His address to the crowds, providing another descriptive warning to would-be followers. Here, He challenges everyone to count the cost of carrying out a commitment of discipleship. It is unknown if any particular example existed to which Jesus alluded, but the general failings of inadequate or half-finished structures were common knowledge. The shame a builder would suffer was unthinkable, especially in an honor-based society, if unable to finish what he set out to accomplish. The hasty foundation would serve as a constant reminder, a disgraceful monument, to foolishly rushing into a major commitment.

The same should be true for the disciple of Jesus. He or she should consider the costly nature of following Christ. Good intentions and hasty commitments are not the same thing as faithfully following Jesus as a life-long disciple. Claiming to be His disciple with only half-hearted commitment is ultimately a disgrace to the name of Christ and His people among the community.

Luke 14:31-32 Whereas it would be a great embarrassment for a builder to be unable to finish his project, no shame could outmatch that of a king waging a foolhardy war. Contrasted with the previous three verses, the cost considered here is whether or not the disciple is willing to follow Jesus in the midst of great adversity that threatens to possibly overwhelm him or her.

Luke 14:33 Only the person who has considered the cost of following Jesus and is willing to pay whatever it may be can truly be Jesus’ disciple. The calling of Jesus does not necessarily involve the complete literal abandonment of one’s possessions and relationships, but it may. That said, the life of a disciple is one that most certainly requires full surrender to Jesus as Lord. Personal commitment to Christ must be without any reservation.

Jesus’ invitation and warning to the crowd of would-be followers remains the same for us 2000 years later. Have you and your students ever truly been willing to follow Jesus on His terms, or have you simply sought personal benefit out of a surface-level and half-hearted commitment? Remember, Jesus’ call to die to self, love Him supremely, and carefully count the cost of being His disciple is the first step in following Christ. These were not extra teachings for the mature and spiritually advanced; they were Jesus’ most basic examples for common people on the street.

The call to be a disciple today is not one to be taken lightly. It is not easy. It is demanding. It requires great sacrifice and commitment. It may even involve loss and suffering. But the joy and satisfaction of following Christ is of infinitely greater value than any earthly comfort. The things our culture values are not worthy of any degree of love or devotion in comparison. The looming conclusion now is the unspoken question Jesus leaves us with in these verses: “Now that I have been clear about the cost, will you follow me?”