25 Now large crowds were going along with Him; and He turned and said to them, 26 " If anyone comes to Me, and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters , yes , and even his own life , he cannot e be My disciple . 27 "Whoever does not carry his own cross and come after Me cannot e be My disciple . 28 "For which one of you, when he wants to build a tower , does not first sit down and calculate the cost to see if he has enough to complete it? 29 "Otherwise e , when he has laid a foundation and is not able to finish , all who observe it begin to ridicule him, 30 saying , 'This man began to build and was not able to finish .' 31 "Or what king , when he sets out to meet another king in battle , will not first sit down and consider whether he is strong enough with ten thousand men to encounter the one coming against him with twenty thousand ? 32 "Or else , while the other is still far away , he sends a delegation and asks for terms of peace . 33 "So then , none e of you can be My disciple who does not give up all his own possessions .
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Luke 14:25-33
Commentary on Luke 14:25-35
(Read Luke 14:25-35)
Though the disciples of Christ are not all crucified, yet they all bear their cross, and must bear it in the way of duty. Jesus bids them count upon it, and then consider of it. Our Saviour explains this by two similitudes; the former showing that we must consider the expenses of our religion; the latter, that we must consider the perils of it. Sit down and count the cost; consider it will cost the mortifying of sin, even the most beloved lusts. The proudest and most daring sinner cannot stand against God, for who knows the power of his anger? It is our interest to seek peace with him, and we need not send to ask conditions of peace, they are offered to us, and are highly to our advantage. In some way a disciple of Christ will be put to the trial. May we seek to be disciples indeed, and be careful not to grow slack in our profession, or afraid of the cross; that we may be the good salt of the earth, to season those around us with the savour of Christ.