LUK 14:25-33

The Cost of Discipleship

25Now large crowds were traveling with him, and turning he said to them: [14:26] "If anyone comes to me and does not set aside — in extreme priority — his father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple. [14:27] Whoever does not carry his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple. [14:28] For which of you, wishing to build a tower, does not first sit down and count the cost, whether he has what is needed for completion? [14:29] Otherwise, after he has laid a foundation and is not able to finish, all who see begin to ridicule him, [14:30] saying, 'This man began to build and was not able to finish.' [14:31] Or what king, going to engage another king in war, will not first sit down and deliberate whether he is able with ten thousand to meet the one coming against him with twenty thousand? [14:32] But if not, while the other is still far off he sends a delegation and asks for terms of peace. [14:33] So therefore, every one of you who does not give up all his own possessions cannot be my disciple."

In the world it was spoken into

In 1st-century Jewish and Greco-Roman culture, familial loyalty and social obligations were foundational to identity and survival. The family unit was the primary economic and social structure, and abandoning it would have been seen as dishonorable and destabilizing. Jesus’ use of (to hate) here is hyperbolic, emphasizing the radical reordering of priorities required for discipleship. The metaphor of carrying one’s cross would have evoked the Roman practice of forcing condemned criminals to carry their own execution device, a vivid image of total submission and public shame. The examples of building a tower and a king preparing for war reflect the practical, calculated decision-making common in agrarian and military contexts, where failure to plan could lead to ruin. Jesus’ audience, many of whom were peasants or day laborers, would have understood the stakes of such commitments. Discipleship, in this context, demanded a complete reorientation of life, even at the cost of social and familial ties.

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How other translations render this

LUK 14:25

KJV: And there went great multitudes with him: and he turned, and said unto them,
BSB: Now large crowds were now traveling with Jesus, and He turned and said to them,
Koinōnos: Now large crowds were traveling with him, and turning he said to them:

LUK 14:26

KJV: 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.
BSB: “If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters—yes, even his own life—he cannot be My disciple.
Koinōnos: If anyone comes to me and does not set aside — in extreme priority — his father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple.

LUK 14:27

KJV: And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple.
BSB: And whoever does not carry his cross and follow Me cannot be My disciple.
Koinōnos: Whoever does not carry his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple.

LUK 14:28

KJV: For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it?
BSB: Which of you, wishing to build a tower, does not first sit down and count the cost to see if he has the resources to complete it?
Koinōnos: For which of you, wishing to build a tower, does not first sit down and count the cost, whether he has what is needed for completion?

LUK 14:29

KJV: Lest haply, after he hath laid the foundation, and is not able to finish it, all that behold it begin to mock him,
BSB: Otherwise, if he lays the foundation and is unable to finish the work, everyone who sees it will ridicule him,
Koinōnos: Otherwise, after he has laid a foundation and is not able to finish, all who see begin to ridicule him,

LUK 14:30

KJV: Saying, This man began to build, and was not able to finish.
BSB: saying, ‘This man could not finish what he started to build.’
Koinōnos: saying, 'This man began to build and was not able to finish.

LUK 14:31

KJV: 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?
BSB: Or what king on his way to war with another king will not first sit down and consider whether he can engage with ten thousand men the one coming against him with twenty thousand?
Koinōnos: Or what king, going to engage another king in war, will not first sit down and deliberate whether he is able with ten thousand to meet the one coming against him with twenty thousand?

LUK 14:32

KJV: Or else, while the other is yet a great way off, he sendeth an ambassage, and desireth conditions of peace.
BSB: And if he is unable, he will send a delegation while the other king is still far off, to ask for terms of peace.
Koinōnos: But if not, while the other is still far off he sends a delegation and asks for terms of peace.

LUK 14:33

KJV: So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple.
BSB: In the same way, any one of you who does not give up everything he has cannot be My disciple.
Koinōnos: So therefore, every one of you who does not give up all his own possessions cannot be my disciple.

Only verses where the wording diverges meaningfully are shown. Identical phrasings are suppressed.

Translator's notes

LUK 14:26

he hates:The word translated 'he hates' here implies a strong preference or choice against something, rather than an emotion of malice or ill-will. It's about prioritizing one thing over another to an extreme degree.
life:The term translated 'life' refers to one's individual existence, self, or person, encompassing their desires, will, and identity, not just biological existence.

LUK 14:27

not:The word translated 'not' is part of a phrase meaning 'does not carry' or 'does not bear.' It refers to the act of physically carrying a burden or load.

LUK 14:33

does give up:The phrase 'does give up' means to renounce, bid farewell to, or take leave of something. It implies a decisive and complete separation or detachment.