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Luke 14

And it came to pass, as he went into the house of one of the chief Pharisees to eat bread on the sabbath day, that they watched him.

And, behold, there was a certain man before him which had the dropsy.

And Jesus answering spake unto the lawyers and Pharisees, saying, Is it lawful to heal on the sabbath day?

And they held their peace. And he took him, and healed him, and let him go;

And answered them, saying, Which of you shall have an ass or an ox fallen into a pit, and will not straightway pull him out on the sabbath day?

And they could not answer him again to these things.

And he put forth a parable to those which were bidden, when he marked how they chose out the chief rooms; saying unto them,

When thou art bidden of any man to a wedding, sit not down in the highest room; lest a more honourable man than thou be bidden of him;

And he that bade thee and him come and say to thee, Give this man place; and thou begin with shame to take the lowest room.

But when thou art bidden, go and sit down in the lowest room; that when he that bade thee cometh, he may say unto thee, Friend, go up higher: then shalt thou have worship in the presence of them that sit at meat with thee.

For whosoever exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.

Then said he also to him that bade him, When thou makest a dinner or a supper, call not thy friends, nor thy brethren, neither thy kinsmen, nor thy rich neighbours; lest they also bid thee again, and a recompence be made thee.

But when thou makest a feast, call the poor, the maimed, the lame, the blind:

And thou shalt be blessed; for they cannot recompense thee: for thou shalt be recompensed at the resurrection of the just.

And when one of them that sat at meat with him heard these things, he said unto him, Blessed is he that shall eat bread in the kingdom of God.

Then said he unto him, A certain man made a great supper, and bade many:

And sent his servant at supper time to say to them that were bidden, Come; for all things are now ready.

And they all with one consent began to make excuse. The first said unto him, I have bought a piece of ground, and I must needs go and see it: I pray thee have me excused.

And another said, I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I go to prove them: I pray thee have me excused.

And another said, I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come.

So that servant came, and shewed his lord these things. Then the master of the house being angry said to his servant, Go out quickly into the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in hither the poor, and the maimed, and the halt, and the blind.

And the servant said, Lord, it is done as thou hast commanded, and yet there is room.

And the lord said unto the servant, Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled.

For I say unto you, That none of those men which were bidden shall taste of my supper.

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

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.

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

For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it?

Lest haply, after he hath laid the foundation, and is not able to finish it, all that behold it begin to mock him,

Saying, This man began to build, and was not able to finish.

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?

Or else, while the other is yet a great way off, he sendeth an ambassage, and desireth conditions of peace.

So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple.

Salt is good: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be seasoned?

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.

What does Luke 14:29 mean?

Explanation

The verse Luke 14:29 comes from a teaching of Jesus, highlighting the importance of planning and considering the cost of one's actions.

Literally, the verse describes a man who begins to build a foundation but is not able to finish constructing the building.

This leads to others mocking him for his failure to plan adequately and complete what he started.

Beyond the literal, this verse metaphorically addresses the theme of commitment and considering the cost of discipleship or following Jesus.

It suggests that one should not rush into spiritual or significant undertakings without first contemplating whether they have the resources and the resolve to see it through to the end.

This teaching encourages self-reflection, foresight, and realistic assessment of one’s capabilities before embarking on projects or life changes.

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Historical Context

Luke 14:29 belongs to a passage where Jesus is teaching great crowds that accompanied him.

It is part of a larger section where Jesus speaks about the cost of discipleship. During this time, many followed him, drawn by his teachings and miracles, but Jesus emphasized the need for full commitment and awareness of the sacrifices involved in being his disciple.

During the historical period of Jesus' ministry, constructing a building was a significant undertaking which required careful planning, resource allocation, and labor.

A foundation was the first step and set the stage for the entire structure, just as the decision to follow Jesus was a foundational choice for a person's life path.

Theological Insights

Different theological perspectives can interpret this verse variously.

From a traditional Christian viewpoint, this underscores the seriousness of the Christian commitment and the call to count the costs spiritually, emotionally, and sometimes physically.

From a more liberal theological perspective, the verse might be seen as an invitation to thoughtful engagement with one's faith journey, recognizing that doubts and challenges are part of a mature faith.

Some Calvinist or Reformed theologians could use this verse to discuss the doctrine of perseverance of the saints, suggesting that those who are truly called by God will be given the grace to finish the "building" they have started.

Practical Applications

The teachings of Luke 14:29 can be applied to various aspects of daily life:

Decision Making and Commitment: Encourages individuals to reflect on the commitments they are considering, ensuring they are ready to follow through.
Resource Management: Highlights the importance of assessing whether one has the necessary resources, time, money, energy, before starting a new venture.
Expectation Setting: Suggests setting realistic expectations to avoid failure and the ridicule or disappointment that can follow.

Cross-References

Proverbs 24:27 - "Prepare thy work without, and make it fit for thyself in the field; and afterwards build thine house." 2.

Matthew 8:20 - "And Jesus saith unto him, The foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head." 3.

Philippians 1:6 - "Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:"

Language Study

The Greek word for "lay a foundation" is "θεμελιόω" (themelioo), implying the establishment of a base or beginning of a structure.

"Not able to finish" is rendered from the Greek phrase "μὴ δυνάμενος ἐκτελέσαι" (mē dynamenos ektelesai), which means not having the power or ability to complete or bring to an end.

The phrase "all that behold" ("πάντες οἱ θεωροῦντες", pantes hoi theōrountes) suggests that the failure to complete the structure is visible to all observers, symbolizing a public acknowledgment of one's failure to follow through on intentions.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

The motif of building as an allegory for life, wisdom, and spiritual pursuit is common in many religious and cultural traditions.

In Hinduism, life is often compared to a chariot that one has to build and steer wisely.

In Buddhism, life is sometimes likened to constructing a house as a symbol of creating one's karma.

Scientific Perspectives

From a psychological standpoint, the process of goal setting and assessing one's abilities to achieve those goals aligns with modern understandings of self-regulation and executive function.

This verse may be seen as an ancient recognition of these now scientifically studied processes, highlighting the importance of planning and self-assessment in successful human behavior.

Commentaries

Commentators have offered various insights on Luke 14:29:

John Calvin - Stressed the importance of perseverance and the cautious deliberation before declaring oneself a follower of Christ, warning against the dangers of impulsiveness in spiritual commitments.
Matthew Henry - Emphasized that the verse teaches would-be disciples of Christ to sit down and count the cost, lest their zeal without knowledge leads to a religious profession that is abandoned when trials come.
William Barclay - Pointed out that being a disciple of Jesus is not meant to be easy, and that this verse serves as a grave reminder that the Christian life is a building process that requires a lifetime of effort and cannot be undertaken lightly.

Luke 14

Luke 14

What does Luke 14:29 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Luke Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

Commentaries

Want more context?

What does Luke 14:29 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Luke Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

Commentaries

Want more context?