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.
Luke 14:25-33 (KJV)
In verses 26, 27 and 33 “he cannot be my disciple” means:
- Jesus doesn’t say it will be difficult for him to be my disciple.
- Jesus doesn’t say it will be rather hard to be my disciples.
- Jesus doesn’t say they will be unfaithful disciples.
- Jesus says “he cannot be my disciple.”
Why is it that we are afraid of committing our life to Christ?
The Love Required (verse 26)
What we have here is a unique way in which the Jewish people used the terms love and hate to express a preference or a strong liking. (Malachi 1:1-2, Romans 9:13, Genesis 29:31)
In most translations, you will find “now, the Lord saw that Leah was unloved.” Therefore, when Jesus says what He does here in Luke 14 “You must love Him to the degree that it makes all other loves and all other loyalties subordinate or lower.”
Christianity is the end of you and your demands and rights and privileges and preferences. (Galatians 2:20, Philippians 1:21)
The Lifestyle Required (verse 27)
What does it mean to bear the cross?
Contrary to public opinion, it’s not talking about a “burden in life” such as a sickness or relationship. Rather, it is talking about identification. It is saying “as far as my will is concerned, I am dead.” When Jesus died, my “self” died, my “will” died. When you take up your cross, it means your plans are dead, your future is dead.
Paul said in 1 Corinthians 6:19-20:
- No longer your will, it is His.
- No longer your hands, but His.
- No longer your heart, but His.
- No longer your feet, but His.
9 Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds;
10 And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him:
Colossians 3:9b-10 (KJV)
Six basic disciplines of the Christian experience:
- Spend some time with God everyday (John 8:31-32)
- Pray (John 15:7-8, John 15:8)
- Give (Luke 14:33)
- Fellowship (John 13:34-35)
- Sharing their faith (Acts 1:8)
- Worship (Hebrews 10:25)
The Longevity Required (verses 28-30)
The emphasis is on finishing. So, we begin with salvation; we continue in sanctification, and then one day we finish with glorification.