25 Now great crowds accompanied him, and he turned and said to them, 26 “If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple. 27 Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple. 28 For which of you, desiring to build a tower, does not first sit down and count the cost, whether he has enough to complete it? 29 Otherwise, when he has laid a foundation and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him, 30 saying, ‘This man began to build and was not able to finish.’ 31 Or what king, going out to encounter another king in war, will not sit down first and deliberate whether he is able with ten thousand to meet him who comes against him with twenty thousand? 32 And if not, while the other is yet a great way off, he sends a delegation and asks for terms of peace. 33 So therefore, any one of you who does not renounce all that he has cannot be my disciple.
This passage is one of the clearest and most demanding statements Jesus made about what it means to follow Him. Contrary to modern “easy-believism,” Jesus makes it unmistakably clear: being His disciple requires full surrender.
The Greek word translated “hate” (μισέω – miseō) here is not literal hatred as we know it. In Semitic idiom, “hate” often meant to “love less” (cf. Genesis 29:30–31, Matthew 10:37). Jesus is not promoting emotional bitterness but emphasizing prioritization of allegiance.
Matthew 10:37 (ESV) “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.”
Jesus demands that our loyalty to Him surpasses even the most cherished earthly relationships. Following Him may bring conflict even within one’s household (see Luke 12:51–53).
Luke 14:27 “Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple.”
The imagery of carrying one’s cross refers to willingly accepting suffering, shame, and sacrifice for Christ’s sake. It’s not mere hardship, but a conscious, daily decision to crucify the flesh (cf. Galatians 2:20, Romans 12:1).
Galatians 5:24 (ESV) “And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.”
Jesus compares discipleship to building a tower or preparing for war. Both require planning, evaluation, and commitment. A person must assess what they are willing to give up.
In verse 33, Jesus says:
Luke 14:33 (ESV) “So therefore, any one of you who does not renounce all that he has cannot be my disciple.”
This isn’t just about external possessions. The Greek term used here (ἀποτάσσεται – apotassetai) implies a decisive break—a complete surrender of rights, desires, and attachments.
Following Jesus may mean disobeying sinful family traditions, rejecting immoral societal expectations, or refusing to conform to worldly success standards.
1 Corinthians 7:15 (ESV) “But if the unbelieving partner separates, let it be so. In such cases the brother or sister is not enslaved. God has called you to peace.”
Choosing Christ may result in division, not peace—just as He warned.
Luke 12:51–53 (ESV) “Do you think that I have come to give peace on earth? No, I tell you, but rather division…”
Even our economic status must not determine our devotion:
Job 31:25 (ESV) “If I have rejoiced because my wealth was abundant or because my hand had found much…”
Matthew 6:33 (ESV) “But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.”
Choosing Christ often leads to mockery, marginalization, and suffering—even from those closest to you. Jesus warned us not to be surprised.
John 15:18–19 (ESV) “If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you… because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.”
Jesus urges us to count the cost upfront, so we are not caught off guard when trials come. You may be misunderstood for years—5, 10, even 15 years. But that suffering is temporary, and the reward is eternal.
Romans 8:18 (ESV) “For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.”
Peter once asked Jesus what reward there would be for those who left everything to follow Him. Jesus answered:
Matthew 19:29 (ESV) “And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or lands, for my name’s sake, will receive a hundredfold and will inherit eternal life.”
True discipleship may cost everything now, but results in glory, authority, and eternal fellowship with Christ later.
Revelation 3:21 (ESV) “The one who conquers, I will grant him to sit with me on my throne, as I also conquered and sat down with my Father on his throne.”
Jesus is not looking for fans—He’s calling for disciples. And discipleship comes at a price.
But it’s worth it.
Yes, following Jesus costs everything. But it also gives you everything that truly matters. You may lose comfort, approval, and ease—but you gain Christ. And if you gain Christ, you gain eternal life, true peace, and unshakable joy.
Philippians 3:8 (ESV) “Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ.”
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