St. Luke 14: 25 – 35

August 6, 2022

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.

I know that you know this but I just have to mention (in case you didn’t know!) that in verse 26, Jesus doesn’t mean ‘hate’ the way we understand that word – ‘I hate liver for dinner’ or ‘I hate that music!’ – but means ‘puts before’, as in any man, wife, family member, etc who puts anything before God cannot be His disciple. We know that this understanding of the word ‘hate’ is correct because the fifth commandment is to honor thy father and thy mother, both of which Jesus did. Remember also that He came to fulfill and not to destroy so the fifth commandment is not changed by anything that Jesus says or does.

In similar fashion, verse 33, He’s not saying forsake your family and belongings but to put the power that these things may have over you away and live your life for God; let God be the most important in your life. “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” (Matt 6:33) This is a win/win situation for us. Because my Redeemer lives. Because God is in His heaven and all is right with the world. (Robert Browning; Pippa’s Song)*

*

THE year ‘s at the spring,
And day ‘s at the morn;
Morning ‘s at seven;
The hill-side ‘s dew-pearl’d;
The lark ‘s on the wing;	5
The snail ‘s on the thorn;
God ‘s in His heaven—
All ‘s right with the world!

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