PARABLE 28 - The Cost of Being A Disciple

PARABLE 28 — LUKE 14:25-35 — THE COST OF BEING A DISCIPLE

25 And there went great multitudes with him: and he turned, and said unto them,

26 If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple.

27 And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple.

28 For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it? 29 Lest haply, after he hath laid the foundation, and is not able to finish it, all that behold it begin to mock him, 30 Saying, This man began to build, and was not able to finish.

31 Or what king, going to make war against another king, sitteth not down first, and consulteth whether he be able with ten thousand to meet him that cometh against him with twenty thousand? 32 Or else, while the other is yet a great way off, he sendeth an ambassage, and desireth conditions of peace. 33 So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple.

34 Salt is good: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be seasoned? 35 It is neither fit for the land, nor yet for the dunghill; but men cast it out. 

He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.

Now great multitudes were going with him. He turned and said to them,  “If anyone comes to me, and does not hate their father, mother, spouse, children, brothers, and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple.  

Whoever doesn’t bear their cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple. 

For which of you, desiring to build a tower, doesn’t first sit down and count the cost, to see if he has enough to complete it? Or perhaps, when he has laid a foundation, and is not able to finish, everyone who sees begins to mock him, saying, ‘This man began to build, and wasn’t able to finish.’ 

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?  Or else, while the other is yet a great way off, he sends an envoy, and asks for conditions of peace. 

So therefore whoever of you who doesn’t forsake all that he has, he can’t be my disciple. Salt is good, but if the salt becomes flat and tasteless, with what do you season it? It is fit neither for the soil nor for the manure pile. It is thrown out. He who has ears to hear, let him hear.” (paraphrased by me)

Discussion Questions – Parable 28

PARABLE 28 — LUKE 14:25-35 — COST OF DISCIPLESHIP 

1. What does it mean when Jesus says to “hate” your parents, wife, children, siblings, and even your own life? Is Jesus saying to treat family members badly or with disrespect? (Luke 14:26 and Matthew 10:37) 

What does Jesus mean by telling us that we must hate our closest family members? He is contrasting our allegiance to Him in the strongest possible way. No earthly tie, however close, must take precedence over our allegiance to and obedience of Jesus. He is Number One—by far! No person even comes close! 

Matthew quotes Jesus making this same comment, except that it is stated literally, "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 10:37) Therefore, when Jesus uses the word hate in Luke 14:26, he is using it as an expression to communicate the idea of loving everyone else less than we love him. 

Now this is no excuse to treat family members shabbily or with disrespect. Our responsibilities for our family still remain. But it does mean that following Jesus is to take first priority—even if it is painful, difficult, and misunderstood. 

Suppose a parent, child, or spouse asks you to go against God and disobey Him? Or suppose they prevent you from following Christ? It then comes down to a choice, disobey them or disobey God. While you must seek to be the most loving and pleasant person you can be, you must also explain that following Jesus Christ is more important to you than your relationship with anyone on this earth, and He is your number one priority.

Jesus explains that we must be willing to sacrifice pleasures, distractions, material possessions, even family, if we are unable to prevail with them—that is, if they would prevent us from serving God. This principle of sacrifice is essential in the realm of discipleship: One must be willing to give up everything for Jesus.

“If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple.” (Vs. 26)

2. What does it mean to carry your own cross? (Luke 14:27) Considering his audience (the crowd following him), why did Jesus use this illustration? 

Carrying your cross means that we must accept the death of our own self- directed life, die to ourselves daily, and be willing to face whatever physical, emotional, or social persecution that ensues—and follow Jesus. 

The fact that Jesus makes this statement about the cross, before he was crucified, indicates that he was predicting his crucifixion (as he also does in Luke 18:31-33 and Matthew 16:21-28). Likewise, in Luke 14:27, when Jesus says we must carry the cross in order to follow him, it is also figurative. What Jesus is actually saying is that we are to model his sacrifice and obedience in order to be his followers.

As Paul says, "he humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death— even death on a cross." (Philippians 2:8) And as John says, "whoever says, 'I abide in him,' ought to walk just as he walked." (1 John 2:6)

Jesus is also quoted as making this statement in Matthew 10:38, "and whoever does not take up the cross and follow me is not worthy of me." This statement is also found in Mark and Luke too, "If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me." (Luke 9:23; which is similar to Mark 8:34)

Therefore, according to Jesus Christ, in order to be a follower of Jesus, we need to love God more than everyone else and even more than our own lives.

“And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple.” (Vs. 27)

3. How does this building illustration apply to discipleship (i.e., following Jesus)? 

In the first story the man has a project he wants to take on; he wants to build a tower. Presumably, his goal in building a tower is to protect or enhance his property. He could let his desire for the tower push him into charging ahead, but that would be foolish. As it happens, he comes to realize he doesn’t have enough resources to finish the project. He wants the tower, but he can’t have it. He would like his neighbors to admire his fine tower, but if he tries to build it he will only win their ridicule for being so foolish.

Well, all human beings are like this man. Just as he wants to build a tower, so we, too, have a building project: we are trying to make something of the life we have been given. We all want to prosper and succeed; we all have this naive optimism that if we just charge ahead we can take our worldly resources and build ourselves a rewarding life. However, most people are foolish; they have never asked themselves whether their resources are adequate to the project. As it happens, they do not have what it takes. No matter how hard they try, in the end their life-project will come to nothing. One day their possessions will fail them; one day they will stand before the judgment seat of God and be ashamed for such a monumental waste of time. 

Some among us, however, are wise; we are like the man in Jesus’ story. Before the day of reckoning comes, we realize that we don’t have what it takes for our project. We wanted to take our worldly resources and turn them into a durable and successful life, but we know that we can’t. We have had to give up on OUR project and find another project with a better chance of success.

A builder who does not count the cost before laying the foundation is humiliated as a disgraceful failure, yet an unfinished life is far more tragic than a rock foundation without a building. Jesus warns, "No one, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God" (Luke 9:62). Thus, failure to count the cost of following Christ results in an incomplete life. "Holding fast to the word of life" is part of the solution for finishing one's life successfully (Philippians 2:16).

4. How do you interpret the second illustration with respect to following Jesus? 

In the second story, a king is planning to go to battle with another king. Why does one king go to battle with another? Why else? He wants sovereignty; he wants control; he wants to remain king, and he doesn’t want the other king to come and tell him what to do. Wanting very much to be in control, this king plans to go to battle with his rival. Being a wise king, however, he stops to count up his resources. As it happens, he discovers that his opponent has two soldiers for every one of his. So before it ever comes to battle, while the other king is still a long way off, he sends a delegation to work out terms of peace; that is, he essentially surrenders. He is not going to be king; he is not going to be the one in control; he is not going to get his way. But there was no way he could win anyway; better to come to terms before his defeat becomes disgraceful, shameful, and total.

Well, all human beings are like this king. We all want to be number one; we all want control of our own lives; most of all, we don’t want that other king, God, coming along and taking our kingdom away from us. Most people, however, are foolish; they have never asked themselves whether they have the resources to keep their kingdom intact. As it happens, they do not. One day the battle will be joined; one day their enemy, the divine King, will step in and steal their kingdom away. If one waits until the King comes and then try and make peace, it will be too late to come to terms. One needs to seek him out now, while the King who is coming for battle is still “far away”. 

But some among us are wise; we are like the king in Jesus’ story. Before it ever comes to battle we realize that we have lost. While that other, greater King is still a long way off, while we still have time, we seek peace on His terms, realizing that we cannot impose our terms on Him.

“So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple.” (vs. 33)

5. Jesus presented the costs of discipleship in different ways at different times. How did people respond? (Luke 5:11, 5:27-28, Mark 10:21-22) 

Luke 5:11 – And when they had brought their ships to land, they forsook all, and followed him.

Luke 5:27-28 – And after these things he (Jesus) went forth, and saw a publican, named Levi, sitting at the receipt of custom: and he unto him, “Follow Me.” And he left all, rose up and followed Him.

Mark 10:21-22 – Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said unto him, “One thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me.” And he was sad at that saying, and went away grieved: for he had great possessions. 

6. What does “the cost of discipleship” actually mean? Does it mean - if you don’t have what it takes, don’t even start?

Jesus is indeed making the point, “Count the cost, and if you don’t have what it takes, don’t start.” But He does not mean, “Count the cost of being a disciple, and if you don’t have what it takes, don’t start.” He is not saying we must start our Christian journey confident that we have what it takes to complete it; that would be unwise, presumptuous, and psychologically impossible. Instead He means, “Count the cost of building a durable and successful life apart from God, and if you don’t have what it takes, don’t start.” He is asking us to consider now, in this life, whether our worldly resources are enough to make our lives a success. That question we can answer now, with confidence and without presumption: no, our worldly resources will not bring us life. We cannot build our tower; we cannot win against that King.

Therefore Jesus’ disciples must give up their claim on the world and its riches. The gospel that we say we believe has pronounced sentence on this world. We have been warned: wealth corrodes, sin corrupts, and death destroys; that is why we need a Savior in the first place. Jesus confronts us with a choice that must be made. Do we believe that this world will fail us in the end? Then let us stop being loyal to it; it has done nothing for us. To pick up the true treasure we have to put down the false one. Since we do not have what it takes to make our lives truly successful, let us turn in trust to the One who does.

7. What costs do we need to count in responding to Jesus? What costs of following Jesus seem especially high to you? What holds you back? 

Jesus’ words here are tough and sobering! We all fall short, but we must honestly work at applying them to our hearts. Is there any relationship that comes ahead of Christ in your life? If He is first, then obviously you will be spending consistent time alone with Him in His Word, in prayer, and in devotion. You will be fellowshipping with Him every day. You won’t allow any other relationship to draw you away from obedience to Him. You will confess and forsake every sin that hinders fellowship with Him.

Is He the Lord a part of your plans, your thoughts, and of all that you do? Or, could you selfishly be clinging to your plans, to your way, instead of seeking to please Him in all things, beginning with every thought that you entertain? If you don’t hate your own life and daily carry your cross, you’re not His disciple.

Is He Lord of your finances and possessions? Are you faithful in managing these things for His purposes? Do you give generously and faithfully to His work? Or, could the love of money be choking out the Word in your life?

Salvation is absolutely free, but once you receive it, it costs you everything. To truly follow Christ, we must consider the cost and put Him above everything else. “He who has ears to hear, let him hear.”

8. What does Jesus short illustration about salt mean? And how does it apply to discipleship today? (14:34-35) 

In Jesus day, salt was considered an essential of life. It was used for both flavoring and preservation. In those days, salt was obtained from evaporation from the Dead Sea, but it was far from pure. It was often mixed with greater or lesser concentrations of other minerals. It is possible for all the sodium chloride to be leached out of a mixture of salts so all that is left is stale and useless, i.e, it is possible for what appears to be salt to have all its true salt washed out of it. Even though the appearance remains, the essence is lost. 

If we have so conformed our ways and words to the world around us that others can’t see Christ in us—that they are surprised to find out that we are Christians—then maybe we aren’t very salty at all. 

9. In summary, the cost of discipleship, could mean? Being a true disciple of Jesus could cost you what?

All who follow Jesus will inevitably come into conflict with the world around them. Sometimes following Jesus means losing the love of family and friends. Sometimes following Jesus means losing the approval of our neighbors and our society. Sometimes following Jesus means losing our worldly possessions. Sometimes following Jesus means losing our lives. 

It is all worth it; the wealth which comes to those who follow Christ is richer than anything the world can offer. We cannot avoid this choice; if we insist on keeping the world’s approval and the world’s wealth, then we cannot be disciples of Jesus. If we are disciples of Jesus, then we will have to loosen our hold on the world and its riches.