Luke 14:25-35 What Jesus Requires   Intro The passage we are about to dive in is very deep. Some might say that it is difficult to go through because of what Jesus is specifically saying goes straight to our heart and makes us examine where we are spiritually. Do not be discouraged! When we read verses like this it is made to strengthen us into the people God desires us to be. This is a process called being sanctified, everyone who reads the bible should be challenged to grow, die to their selfish desires and the flesh and live more boldly for Christ. Sometimes it is painful, but that is called growing pains. Just like when we are growing physically we sometimes get pain, in the end we are better for it. God only tells us because he loves us and does not want us lacking in any area. We should desire to be like that too. There is a lot of information in this study. The only reason there are so many bible verses listed is to show you that these are consistent themes in the bible. This is not meant to overwhelm you, but the verses are there if you desire to see for yourself (I strongly encourage you to read God’s word for yourself, NEVER take someone’s word over reading for yourself). Before we begin, we need to have some basic understandings. -There is a very real, active spiritual war going on. (Ephesians 6:12) -Being a disciple of Jesus is hard, because we are called to be soldiers (2 Timothy 2 whole chapter) – It is by God’s grace we are saved, it is not earned, but there is a cost. (Luke 28-32) Freedom is not free!   Three main points talking about today:

• Verses 25-27- Jesus tells us the conditions of being a disciple
• Verses 28-32- Jesus tells us the cost of being a disciple
• Verses 33-35- Jesus tells us the commitment of being a disciple

   

• Verses 25-27 (Background- Jesus was explaining to the Pharisees who is a true follower)

 Now  great crowds were traveling with Him. So He turned and said to them: ²⁶ “If anyone comes to Me  and does not hate  his own father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters—yes, and even his own life—he cannot be My disciple. ²⁷ Whoever does not bear his own cross  and come after Me cannot be My disciple. ^[1]   The people who were there in the crowd were calling themselves followers of Jesus. Jesus is explaining to them what a follower or true disciple is.  The word, ‘disciple’ in verse 27, is the Greek word mathetes. It specifically means learner, scholar, one who promotes the teachings of the teacher, someone who dedicates his life to the lessons his teacher gives him,  this is more than a simple knowledge).  (It is important to note here that the Greek word used in this passage has been used 269 times in the New Testament, the word ‘believer’ has only been used 2 times, and the word ‘Christian’ only 3x. This is important! Because this means that God does not call us to be just people who know that Jesus is God, but he calls us to personally know him, intimately. We are called to be personally invested in Him.   -God tells us that want us to be disciples (mathetes) and tells us to make more disciples.  

• The word ‘hate’ in verse 26 is the Greek word miseo has two different meanings, one is to actually despise, but in this context is used to tell us that we need to love our family far less than Jesus.

 

• ‘Bearing the cross’ in verse 27 refers to the actual Romans requiring that the people bear the cross throughout the entire city, this was a display of humiliation. Jesus uses this example to show us that we must give up our self interest and selfishness, publicly declaring Jesus is Lord, this comes at a cost.

 

• Matthew 12:48 Jesus was teaching in a large crowd and it embarrassed his family. When his family came to find him and stop him, they could not get in because there were too many people. Someone told Jesus that his mother and brothers were there and they wanted to speak to him. But Jesus replied, “Who is My mother, and who are My brothers?”49Pointing to His disciples, He said, “Here are My mother and My brothers. 50For whoever does the will of My Father in heaven is My brother and sister and mother.”  Jesus demonstrated loving his family less and bearing his cross by being willing to be hated by his family to do the will of God, his true family are those who do His will- they were fully committed.

 

• ²⁸ “For which of you, wanting to build a tower, doesn’t first sit down and calculate the cost to see if he has enough to complete it? ²⁹ Otherwise, after he has laid the foundation and cannot finish it, all the onlookers will begin to make fun of him, ³⁰ saying, ‘This man started to build and wasn’t able to finish.’

³¹ “Or what king, going to war against another king, will not first sit down and decide if he is able with 10,000 to oppose the one who comes against him with 20,000? ³² If not, while the other is still far off, he sends a delegation and asks for terms of peace.^[2]   -Jesus uses 2 examples. 1^st there is a cost. We must calculate and decide- Am I able to pay/ willing to pay the cost? Examples of cost: -must be willing to devote time to Him -must be willing to use the gifts he has given you -must be willing to set aside the things of this world that distract us from Him -must be willing to pray, study His word in order to know Him -must be willing to be ridiculed -must be willing to be rejected -must be willing to lose job/possessions because of your faith   Side note: When we exchange our will, our desire and our plans for God’s will, God’s desires and God’s plans, things become easier because God is carrying you through the difficult times. If we are under his will we are under his protection.  

• 2^nd example Jesus used is of the military for a reason. In the military there is no partial commitment, you are either all in or all out. In the same way you either belong as a soldier of Christ or you do not. (other examples are: James 2:19 explains that knowing Jesus is God isn’t enough. Even the demons know that Jesus is Lord and they are not saved! God wants relationship, your whole heart, mind and soul not for anyone to just realize his holiness. In the end every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that Jesus is Lord, but not all will enter the Kingdom of God)

 

• ³³ In the same way, therefore, every one of you who does not say good-bye to all his possessions  cannot be My disciple.

³⁴ “Now,  salt  is good, but if salt should lose its taste, how will it be made salty? ³⁵ It isn’t fit for the soil or for the manure pile; they throw it out. Anyone who has ears to hear should listen!” ^[3]   -Here Jesus warns us by comparing us to salt that has lost it’s taste. This is a warning against compromising for things of this world and ignoring God.  (Followers of Christ are also compared to salt in Matthew 5:13-16 which explains how useless we are if we are not fully committed to what he has asked of us. Again,  these verses are also  comparable to Revelation 3:16 when Jesus is speaking to “Christians” that are choosing to live both as the world and say that they are followers of Christ.  The term Jesus uses here is “lukewarm” or tepid, they are neither hot nor cold and Jesus warns that because they are neither hot nor cold he will, “spit us out of his mouth.”  We cannot serve two masters, we either hate one and love the other. We are either for God or against Him. (Matthew 6:24)   Jesus warns us over and over because he loves us. He wants a sincere, strong relationship with everyone (Jeremiah 31:3). But there is a danger of thinking that we are okay with God because we have a knowledge of him and think that is enough (Matthew 23). Regardless, of what any church teaches we are not saved by what church we go to, whether we are orthodox, catholic, protestant, reformed, if we do not have and are not seeking a relationship with Jesus we are left dead in our sin. Matthew 7:20-25 ²¹ “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. ²² Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ ²³ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’   1 Corinthians 10:12 also warns us to use caution, “So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall!”   Conclusion   There are a few different types of people seen in a war. Which one do you feel is closest to how you are? Which one do you want to be? :   Earthly War-*People who fight for their country / God’s war- people who fight for God   ***God wants this type of person. To love God for who He is and serve Him wholeheartedly -fought for the benefit of others/country -fought for the right reasons -prepared -dedicated   People who join for government benefits /People who just want heaven       – unprepared/ can’t make it through because – they did not/refused to prepare -Were not able to make it through the war/finish ***Warnings in the Bible for these people   Glory seekers/ People who just want to feel good about themselves   -reckless at the expense of others -dangerous -loyal only to self over anyone or anything ***Warnings in the Bible for these people     Questions   Do we only like the idea of being a Christians or are we truly committed Christians/Disciples?   Jesus loves people and he speaks openly and honestly in the bible to communicate his direction and will for those who belong to him, so that no one is guilty of sinning against him. He has preserved his Word for thousands of years so that no man is without excuse to not know Him, so that we can prepare, learn and grow close to Him. His word offers- hope direction, correction, training, purpose, life abundant, and assurance. 2 Timothy 3: ^16-17  All Scripture is inspired by God^[a] and is profitable for teaching, for rebuking, for correcting, for training in righteousness, ¹⁷ so that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.   Revelation 3:5 is just one verse that shares the reward that disciples receive for finishing the race. It says, “He who overcomes shall be clothed in white garments, and I will not blot out his name from the Book of Life; but I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels.”               ^[1] The Holy Bible: Holman Christian standard version. (2009). (Lk 14:25–27). Nashville: Holman Bible Publishers. ^[2] The Holy Bible: Holman Christian standard version. (2009). (Lk 14:28–32). Nashville: Holman Bible Publishers. ^[3] The Holy Bible: Holman Christian standard version. (2009). (Lk 14:33–35). Nashville: Holman Bible Publishers. This message and some points were taken from a fantastic sermon I heard from Mile High Calvary Chapel.