PrevLuke 14:30Next

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 14:30 mean?

Explanation

Luke 14:30 speaks metaphorically about the importance of planning and considering the cost before embarking on an endeavor.

In this specific verse, Jesus tells a parable about a man who begins building a tower without first calculating whether he has enough resources to complete it.

The emphasis is on the folly of starting a project without the foresight to finish; the man in the parable becomes a laughingstock to those who observe his failed attempt to build the tower.

This verse is part of a larger passage where Jesus is teaching about the costs of discipleship and stresses the need for thoughtful commitment.

Top Rated Luke Books

Historical Context

The verse is set within the Lucan Gospel, which was written approximately in AD 80-110, and reflects the context of the early Christian church.

During this time, there was a significant cost associated with following Jesus, including social ostracism and persecution.

The text is part of a larger section where Jesus is on his way to Jerusalem, engaging with large crowds and teaching them through parables.

Building projects in the ancient Near East would have been a familiar concept to Jesus’ audience, and the failure to finish a building would be publicly visible and shameful.

Theological Insights

Different theological perspectives might interpret this verse variably:

Traditional Christian interpretation sees it as a call to count the cost of becoming a disciple of Jesus.

One must be willing to sacrifice and follow through on commitments.

Reformation theologians might emphasize the aspect of grace, underscoring that while human efforts are necessary, they are not sufficient without God's help.
Liberation theology could read this verse as an allegory for societal change, pointing out that a transformative project (such as social justice) needs thorough groundwork to be achieved.

Practical Applications

The teachings of this verse are directly applicable to daily life:

Commitment: Be prepared to fulfill commitments.

When starting a new project, job, or relationship, consider the resources and dedication it will demand. 2. Wisdom and Planning: Before making decisions, it is wise to assess one's abilities and resources, planning accordingly to avoid failure. 3. Stewardship: The verse encourages responsible management of one’s resources, ensuring they are used effectively.

Cross-References

Proverbs 24:27 - "Prepare thy work without, and make it fit for thyself in the field; and afterwards build thine house."
Ephesians 4:28 - "Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth."

Language Study

The key words in the original Greek of this verse are:

οὗτος (houtos) - "This man," refers to the subject of the parable.
ἄρχομαι (archomai) - "Began," conveys the initiation of an action.
οἰκοδομέω (oikodomeō) - "To build," implies construction or edification.
οὐκ (ouk) - "Not," negation.
ἰσχύω (ischuō) - "Was able to," implying capability or strength.
ἐκτελέω (ekteleō) - "To finish," to bring to an end or complete.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

In comparative religious studies, this verse can be likened to teachings in other faiths that stress the importance of foresight and preparation:

Buddhism: The concept of 'Right Intention' as part of the Noble Eightfold Path has parallels, encouraging careful consideration before action.
Islam: The importance of 'niyyah' or intention aligns with the notion of contemplating the costs of one’s actions.

Scientific Perspectives

Modern psychology and behavioral science support the idea of planning and considering the cost of actions.

The concept of delayed gratification, decision fatigue, and resource management are all studied within scientific frameworks that validate the verse's practical advice.

Commentaries

Matthew Henry’s Commentary: Suggests that the verse is an admonition that no one should rashly or thoughtlessly engage in the profession of discipleship without duly considering the difficulties of it and the opposition it may meet.
John Gill's Exposition of the Bible: Emphasizes that this verse is an illustration of the shame and ridicule one will face if they neglect to consider the cost of following Christ and then fail to persevere to the end.
Biblical Illustrator: Points out that many critics of Christianity are quick to point out the failures of those who start strong in faith but do not finish their spiritual "building" because of lack of foresight or commitment.

Luke 14

Luke 14

What does Luke 14:30 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 14:30 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?