The Cost of Being a Disciple

25 A large crowd was following Jesus. He turned around and said to

them, 26 If you want to be my disciple, you must hate everyone else
by comparisonyour father and mother, wife and children, brothers
and sistersyes, even your own life. Otherwise, you cannot be my
disciple.
Verse 25 states a large crowd was following Jesus. Why is this
important?
He not addressing the religious rulers (Pharisees or Sadducees)
He is speaking to every day folk, like you and me.
Because he is all knowing, He could easily change the way he
spoke to a particular group. What if you friend is gay? What if
your cousin is high? What if your friend knows more about the
bible than you? Would you not change the way you spoke to each
one of these people?
These were the very people that held Jesuss every word in the
highest esteem. They were very zealous or eager to hear what
he had to say.
They expected that he should say, "If any man come to me, and
be my disciple, he shall have wealth and honor in abundance; let
me alone make him a great man. But he tells them quite the
contrary.
Verse 26 states by contrast to our love for Jesus, we must hate all
else.
Should we really hate everything in life and love Jesus alone?
Not necessarily. Simply put, a man must love Christ more than
any other thing.
So should we all hate people and things? No, but our comfort and
satisfaction in them must be lost and swallowed up in our love to
Christ.
Unless we love Christ better than any thing in this world, and are
willing to part with anything we must leave behind for Christ,
either as a sacrifice, or the parting of a temptation, then we
cannot be His disciples.
Are you not willing to part with something? A friend or family who
constantly gets your eyes off of God? A personal sin, like sexual
temptation, depression, anger or addiction?
When our earthly priories come in conflict with our evident duty
to Christ, we must always give Christ the preference.
If we are given the decision to deny Christ or be banished from
our families and relationships, it is better to lose their love than
Christs honor.

 Every man loves his own life, most people do not hate their lives
(unless struggling with depression); and we cannot be Christs
disciples if we do not love him better than our own lives.

27 And if you do not carry your own cross and follow me, you cannot
be my disciple.
Verse 27 states a second point of discipleship. We must pick up our
crosses.
Do we each have to be crucified literally to wood and shed our
blood as Jesus did?
In most instances, the answer is no, but there are Christians in
the past and even some today that have had to suffer torture
and even death to be a disciple of Christ.
For most of us, especially those living here in America, we will
never have to endure physical torture, but that doesnt mean this
verse doesnt apply to us.
We must be content with our names becoming tarnished in the
eyes of the world, and to be loaded with shame and disgrace by
the ungodly.
Next, lets contrast the difference between Christ and Satan. How
each differs from the other with their approach on our futures.
Following Christ is guaranteed to bear scrutiny. He reveals to us
up front what the cost will be to become a disciple. What bearing
our cross entails.
Satan always shows the best up front, but so carefully hides the
worst, because his best will not counter-vail his worst. Explain
personal experiences with drugs and partying.
28 But dont begin until you count the cost. For who would begin
construction of a building without first calculating the cost to see if
there is enough money to finish it?
Verse 28 states that we ought not start something unless weve
considered all factors involved with taking on a certain task.

 Ask how much money some of them currently have. Would you
build a house for your family if you knew you didnt have the
money?
Would you start a school project with another partner if you knew
they were lazy or too stupid to support you getting an A?
We must ask ourselves how much this journey will cost and if we
are willing to lose it all to bear the name, a disciple of Jesus
Christ.
What are you willing to loose? Everything, something or nothing
at all?
It may be actual money, but also consider the death or departing
of all sins, even your most beloved; money, power, popularity,
lust or emotional struggles like depression, anger or anxiety.
29 Otherwise, you might complete only the foundation before running
out of money, and then everyone would laugh at you.
Verse 29 remarks the cost of not finishing what youve tried to start.
A good example would be the tower of Babal. The people of that
time were building a tower in which they claimed could reach the
heavens of God, however, they greatly miscalculated.
They were building their construction in opposition to heaven.
They did not take into consideration the cost of the whole job. No
mere man can reach the heavens of God. In so doing, God dealt
his hand and confused all the builders of the tower, leaving it
unfinished.
We are to build a foundation, brick by brick, in obedience to
heaven. Persevering every step of the way.
30 They would say, Theres the person who started that building and
couldnt afford to finish it!
Verse 30 covers not finishing something we claim to start can be a
bad witness and worse, bring shame to Jesus as a Christian
Nothing is more shameful than for people who begin strong in
their walk with the Lord and then slowly fizzle away or die off
over time.
Its like getting something new for Christmas on our birthdays.
The first few weeks with our new toys are great, but after a while
they become dull or unimportant.
People might even ask you if youre grateful for your gift because
youve lost interest in it.
Our walks with the Lord are two in the same. Because worldly
people dont know the realness of Christ, they will simply mock
you, saying things such as, That person has no faith. Theyve

never finished anything. Even something as mighty as God cant

change them.
Let us not suffer in vain in the Journey with Christ. Let us not be a
witness that people mock, or worse of all, let us not be tools for
the ungodly to use against the power of God Almighty.
31 Or what king would go to war against another king without first
sitting down with his counselors to discuss whether his army of 10,000
could defeat the 20,000 soldiers marching against him?
Verse 31 concludes the final thought of reasoning before making the
decision to follow Christ
The state of a Christian in this world is a military state. Is not the
Christian life warfare?
We should consider whether we could endure the resistance,
which a good soldier of Jesus Christ must expect and count upon,
before we enlist ourselves under Christs army; ask yourself, Are
we are able to encounter the forces of hell, and earth, which
come against us twenty thousand strong?
Spiritual warfare is real and powerful.
We must fight every step we go.

32 And if he cant, he will send a delegation to discuss terms of peace

while the enemy is still far away.
Verse 32 says the God will be our defender. He will meet us in battle
or prepare our way in peace. He will go before us.
Proverb 20:18, Plans succeed through good counsel; dont go to
war without wise advice. God is our advisor. No better advisor
than the heavenly father.
33 So you cannot become my disciple without giving up everything you
own.
Verse 33 is clear to us. Without giving up what you count dearer
than Christ himself, being a disciple is not possible.
Lets look at the parable in Matthew 10: 17-27
17 As He was setting out on a journey, a man ran up to Him and
knelt before Him, and asked Him, Good Teacher, what shall I do
to inherit eternal life? 18 And Jesus said to him, Why do you

call Me good? No one is good except God alone. 19 You know the
commandments, Do not murder, Do not commit adultery, Do not
steal, Do not bear false witness, Do not defraud, Honor your
father and mother. 20 And he said to Him, Teacher, I have kept
all these things from my youth up. 21 Looking at him, Jesus felt
a love for him and said to him, One thing you lack: go and sell
all you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure
in heaven; and come, follow Me. 22 But at these words [a]he
was saddened, and he went away grieving, for he was one who
owned much property. 23 And Jesus, looking around, *said to His
disciples, How hard it will be for those who are wealthy to enter
the kingdom of God! 24 The disciples were amazed at His
words. But Jesus *answered again and *said to them, Children,
how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God! 25 It is easier for a
camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to
enter the kingdom of God. 26 They were even more astonished
and said to Him, [b]Then who can be saved? 27 Looking at
them, Jesus *said, With people it is impossible, but not with God;
for all things are possible with God.
This young man could not find in his heart to part with his

possessions for Christ. He would done better to go away from Christ

sorrowing than to have staid with him pretending. This parable is
designed to teach us to begin following Christ as a disciple quickly
and seriously, rather than to begin cautiously and simply pretending
to play the role.
What in our lives is holding us back from being true Disciples of
Christ?
Are we faking our religion? Are we pretending to have a walk with
God?
After you leave here tonight, lift up a prayer to God if you really
care and ask him to review your heart. That you would not be like
the rick young ruler.
http://www.biblestudytools.com/commentaries/matthew-henrycomplete/luke/14.html