# Luke 14 đ: Count the Cost
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> [!info] Table of Contents
> [[#đ Scripture Text (NET)]]
> [[#đ Verse-by-Verse Commentary]]
> [[#đ¤ Interesting Facts / Historical and Cultural Insights]]
> [[#đ§ Chapter Summary]]
> [[#âď¸ Christ in This Chapter]]
> [[#đ Key Observations / đ Life Application]]
> [[#đŹ Discussion Questions]]
> [[#âď¸ Key Verses to Remember]]
> [[#đ Related Passages]]
> [[#đ Devotional Reflection]]
> [[#đ Internal Notes]]
## đ Scripture Text (NET)
(The NET Bible: New English Translation. Biblical Studies Press, 2005)
#### Healing Again on the Sabbath
**Principle**: It's always right to do good.
[[#Verse 01.]] Now one Sabbath when Jesus went to dine at the house of a leader of the Pharisees, they were watching him closely.Â
[[#Verse 02.]] There right in front of him was a man whose body was swollen with fluid.Â
[[#Verse 03.]] So Jesus asked the experts in religious law and the Pharisees, âIs it lawful to heal on the Sabbath or not?âÂ
[[#Verse 04.]] But they remained silent. So Jesus took hold of the man, healed him, and sent him away.Â
[[#Verse 05.]] Then he said to them, âWhich of you, if you have a son or an ox that has fallen into a well on a Sabbath day, will not immediately pull him out?â
[[#Verse 06.]] But they could not reply to this.
#### On Seeking Seats of Honor
**Principle**: Be humble. Let the relationship stand out.
[[#Verse 07.]] Then when Jesus noticed how the guests chose the places of honor, he told them a parable. He said to them,Â
[[#Verse 08.]] âWhen you are invited by someone to a wedding feast, do not take the place of honor, because a person more distinguished than you may have been invited by your host.Â
[[#Verse 09.]] So the host who invited both of you will come and say to you, âGive this man your place.â Then, ashamed, you will begin to move to the least important place.Â
[[#Verse 10.]] But when you are invited, go and take the least important place, so that when your host approaches, he will say to you, âFriend, move up here to a better place.â Then you will be honored in the presence of all who share the meal with you.Â
[[#Verse 11.]] For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.â
[[#Verse 12.]] He said also to the man who had invited him, âWhen you host a dinner or a banquet, donât invite your friends or your brothers or your relatives or rich neighbors so you can be invited by them in return and get repaid.Â
[[#Verse 13.]] But when you host an elaborate meal, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, and the blind.Â
[[#Verse 14.]] Then you will be blessed, because they cannot repay you, for you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.â
#### The Parable of the Great Banquet
**Principle**: Bless those who cannot bless you back.
[[#Verse 15.]] When one of those at the meal with Jesus heard this, he said to him, âBlessed is everyone who will feast in the kingdom of God!âÂ
[[#Verse 16.]] But Jesus said to him, âA man once gave a great banquet and invited many guests.Â
[[#Verse 17.]] At the time for the banquet he sent his slave to tell those who had been invited, âCome, because everything is now ready.âÂ
[[#Verse 18.]] But one after another they allbegan to make excuses. The first said to him, âI have bought a field, and I must go out and see it. Please excuse me.âÂ
[[#Verse 19.]] Another said, âI have bought five yoke of oxen, and I am going out to examine them. Please excuse me.âÂ
[[#Verse 20.]] Another said, âI just got married, and I cannot come.âÂ
[[#Verse 21.]] So the slave came back and reported this to his master. Then the master of the household was furious and said to his slave, âGo out quickly to the streets and alleys of the city, and bring in the poor, the crippled, the blind, and the lame.âÂ
[[#Verse 22.]] Then the slave said, âSir, what you instructed has been done, and there is still room.â
[[#Verse 23.]] So the master said to his slave, âGo out to the highways and country roads and urge people to come in, so that my house will be filled.Â
[[#Verse 24.]] For I tell you, not one of those individuals who were invited will taste my banquet!ââ
#### Counting the Cost
**Principle**: Jesus is Lord of all or not Lord at all.
[[#Verse 25.]] Now large crowds were accompanying Jesus, and turning to them he said,Â
[[#Verse 26.]] âIf anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother, and wife and children, and brothers and sisters, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple.Â
[[#Verse 27.]] Whoever does not carry his own cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.Â
[[#Verse 28.]] For which of you, wanting to build a tower, doesnât sit down first and compute the cost to see if he has enough money to complete it?Â
[[#Verse 29.]] Otherwise, when he has laid a foundation and is not able to finish the tower, all who see it will begin to make fun of him.Â
[[#Verse 30.]] They will say,âThis man began to build and was not able to finish!âÂ
[[#Verse 31.]] Or what king, going out to confront another king in battle, will not sit down first and determine whether he is able with 10,000 to oppose the one coming against him with 20,000?Â
[[#Verse 32.]] If he cannot succeed, he will send a representative while the other is still a long way off and ask for terms of peace.Â
[[#Verse 33.]]Â In the same way therefore not one of you can be my disciple if he does not renounce all his own possessions.
[[#Verse 34.]] âSalt is good, but if salt loses its flavor, how can its flavor be restored?Â
[[#Verse 35.]] It is of no value for the soil or for the manure pile; it is to be thrown out. The one who has ears to hear had better listen!â
[[Luke 15]]
## đ Verse-by-Verse Commentary
###### Overall.
###### Verse 01.
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###### Verse 05.
###### Verse 06.
###### Verse 07.
###### Verse 08.
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###### Verse 10.
###### Verse 11.
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###### Verse 13.
###### Verse 14.
###### Verse 15.
###### Verse 16.
###### Verse 17.
###### Verse 18.
###### Verse 19.
###### Verse 20.
###### Verse 21.
###### Verse 22.
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###### Verse 24.
###### Verse 25.
###### Verse 26.
###### Verse 27.
###### Verse 28.
###### Verse 29.
###### Verse 30.
###### Verse 31.
###### Verse 32.
###### Verse 33.
###### Verse 34.
###### Verse 35.
## đ¤ Interesting Facts / Historical and Cultural Insights
1. Dropsy (14:2) was swelling caused by fluid buildup in the body, often a sign of serious illness.
2. This is the third Sabbath healing in Luke where Jesus confronts the religious leaders (6:6-11; 13:10-17; 14:1-6).
3. At formal dinners, places were arranged by rank, with the most honored guests nearest the host (14:8).
4. Jesus' advice about choosing seats (14:8-10) echoes Proverbs 25:6-7.
5. Invitations to a large banquet often came twice: first the invitation, then a servant's call when the meal was ready (14:17).
6. The excuses were weak (14:18-20). No one would buy a field or five pairs of oxen without first seeing them.
7. The Law freed a newly married man from military service for one year (Deuteronomy 24:5), which may lie behind the third excuse.
8. "Hate" in 14:26 is a Semitic way of expressing priority. Matthew 10:37 speaks of loving family more than Jesus.
9. Towers in fields and vineyards (14:28) served as lookouts to guard crops at harvest time.
10. Much of the salt in Israel came from the Dead Sea area mixed with other minerals. When the true salt dissolved away, what remained was useless (14:34-35).
## đ§ Chapter Summary
> [!note] đą Still growing. This section is on its way.
## âď¸ Christ in This Chapter
Christ is the host of the great banquet who invites the poor, crippled, blind, and lame (14:21). He humbled Himself and was exalted (14:11; Philippians 2:8-9), and He calls us to follow Him whatever the cost.
## đ Key Observations / đ Life Application
> [!note] đą Still growing. This section is on its way.
## đŹ Discussion Questions
1. Jesus noticed guests choosing the places of honor (14:7). Where do you find yourself seeking recognition?
2. Jesus told His host to invite people who could not repay him (14:12-14). Who could you show hospitality to this month without expecting anything back?
3. Jesus said we must count the cost of following Him (14:28-33). What has following Jesus cost you, and why is He worth it?
## âď¸ Key Verses to Remember
- đ verse 11: Everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and the one who humbles himself will be exalted.
- đ verses 13-14: Invite the poor and disabled, and you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.
- đ verse 27: Whoever does not carry his own cross and follow Jesus cannot be His disciple.
- đ verse 33: Followers of Jesus must be willing to give up everything they have.
## đ Related Passages
- đ [[Proverbs 25#Verse 06.|Proverbs 25:6-7]] - Do not exalt yourself before the king.
- đ [[James 04#Verse 10.|James 4:10]] - Humble yourselves before the Lord.
- đ [[Daniel 12#Verse 02.|Daniel 12:2]] - The resurrection of the dead.
- đ [[Isaiah 25#Verse 06.|Isaiah 25:6]] - The Lord's great feast.
- đ [[Matthew 10#Verse 37.|Matthew 10:37]] - Loving Christ above family.
- đ [[Matthew 16#Verse 24.|Matthew 16:24]] - Take up your cross.
- đ [[Matthew 05#Verse 13.|Matthew 5:13]] - Salt that loses its flavor.
## đ Devotional Reflection
đ SOAP: [[Luke 14 - SOAP|Count the Cost]]
## đ Internal Notes