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Expositor's Greek Testament (Nicoll)

Luke 14:28

θέλων : conditional participle, “if he wish”; with the article it would = who wishes. πύργον, a tower; need not be magnified into a grand house with a tower. Doubtless, as Bengel remarks, Christianity is a great and arduous affair, and is fitly compared cum rebus magnis et arduis. But the greatness of the undertaking is sufficiently represented by the second parable: the first emblem may be allowed to be less ambitious and more within the reach of ordinary mortals. A tower of observation in a vineyard (Matthew 21:33) or for refuge in danger, or for ornament in a garden may be thought of. καθίσας : the attitude appropriate to deliberate, leisurely consideration. δαπάνην, the cost, here only in N.T. εἰ ἔχει εἰς ἀ., if he has what is necessary for (τὰ δέοντα understood). ἀπαρτισμόν = for completion, here only in N.T. and in Dion. Halic.; condemned by Phryn., p. 447. Cf. ἐξηρτισμένος in 2 Timothy 3:17.

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See also Luke 14:28 in other biblical comments:

  • Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

    Verse Luke 14:28. _TO BUILD A TOWER_] Probably this means no more than a _dwelling house_, on the top of which, according to the Asiatic manner, battlements were built, both to take the fresh air on,...

  • Albert Barnes' Bible Commentary

    INTENDING TO BUILD A TOWER - See Matthew 21:33. A tower was a place of defense or observation, erected on high places or in vineyards, to guard against enemies. It was made “high,” so as to enable one...

  • Annotated Bible by A.C. Gaebelein

    CHAPTER 14 _ 1. The Man with the Dropsy Healed on the Sabbath. (Luke 14:1)_ 2. The Wisdom of Humility. (Luke 14:7) 3. Recompensed in Resurrection. (Luke 14:12) 4. The Parable of the Great Supper. ...

  • Arthur Peake's Commentary on the Bible

    DISCIPLESHIP AND ITS COST. The passage is a reminder that, despite the universality of the Kingdom, the number of its true subjects is small. To the crowd that is following Him Jesus applies a stringe...

  • Barclay Daily Study Bible (NT)

    Great crowds were on the way with Jesus. He turned and said to them, "If any man comes to me and does not hate his father and mother, and wife and children, and brothers and sisters, and even his own...

  • Barclay Daily Study Bible (NT)

    UNDER THE SCRUTINY OF HOSTILE MEN (Luke 14:1-6)...

  • Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes

    OF. out of. Greek. _ek._ App-104. Not the same word as in Luke 14:8. INTENDING. desiring. See App-102. NOT. App-105. COUNTETH. reckoneth, or calculateth. Greek _psephizo._ Occurs only here and in Re...

  • Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

    Luke 9:51 to Luke 18:31_. Rejected by the Samaritans. A lesson of Tolerance._ This section forms a great episode in St Luke, which may be called the departure for the final conflict, and is identical...

  • Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

    _intending to build a tower_ This and the next similitude are meant, like the previous teachings, to warn the expectant multitudes that to follow Christ in the true sense might be a far more serious m...

  • Cambridge Greek Testament for Schools and Colleges Commentary

    CHAPS. Luke 9:51 to Luke 18:31 This section forms a great episode in St Luke, which may be called the departure for the final conflict, and is identical with the journey (probably to the Feast of the...

  • Cambridge Greek Testament for Schools and Colleges Commentary

    LESSONS OF WHOLE-HEARTEDNESS, AND OF COUNTING THE COST; THE TOWER-BUILDER; THE WARRING KING; THE SAVOURLESS SALT...

  • Cambridge Greek Testament for Schools and Colleges Commentary

    ΘΈΛΩΝ ΠΎΡΓΟΝ ΟἸΚΟΔΟΜΗ͂ΣΑΙ. This and the next similitude are meant, like the previous teachings, to warn the expectant multitudes that to follow Christ in the true sense might be a far more serious mat...

  • Catena Aurea Commentary

    Ver 28. For which of you, intending to build a tower, sits not down first, and counts the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it? 29. Lest haply, after he has laid the foundation, and is not ab...

  • Charles Box Commentaries

    _THE COST OF DISCIPLESHIP -- LUKE 14:25-35:_ Large crowds often accompanied Jesus as He traveled about. Jesus taught the cost of discipleship saying, "If any man come to me, and hate not his father, a...

  • Charles Rose Commentaries

    ΘΈΛΩΝ _praes. act. part. (adj.) от_ ΘΈΛΩ (G2309) хотеть, желать, с _inf._ ΠΎΡΓΟΣ (G4444) башня, нечто вроде фортификационного сооружения для защиты дома, земли или виноградника (Fitzmyer, 1065). ΟΙΚ...

  • Charles Simeon's Horae Homileticae

    DISCOURSE: 1541 THE FOOLISH BUILDER AND THE INCONSIDERATE KING Luke 14:28. Which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish...

  • Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible

    TO BUILD A TOWER,— We learn from eastern writers, that besides fortified towns and cities, they used to have _towers_ for the people of open towns to fly to in time of danger, as well as magnificent t...

  • College Press Bible Study Textbook Series

    BUTLER'S COMMENTS SECTION 4 Grounded (Luke 14:25-35) 25 Now great multitudes accompanied him; and he turned and said to them, 26If any one comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and...

  • Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

    _FOR WHICH OF YOU, INTENDING TO BUILD A TOWER, SITTETH NOT DOWN FIRST, AND COUNTETH THE COST, WHETHER HE HAVE SUFFICIENT TO FINISH IT?_ No JFB commentary on these verses....

  • Concordant Commentary on the New Testament by A. E. Knoch

    10 Compare Pro_25:6-7. 12 The pure joy of giving is largely lost when it degenerates into a trade. Yet it seems from this that we cannot give without being recompensed. If we give to get we may, indee...

  • Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

    THAT WE MUST GIVE UP ALL TO FOLLOW CHRIST, AND COUNT THE COST BEFORE WE DO SO. The two parables of the Rash Builder (Luke 14:28) and the Rash King (Luke 14:31) are peculiar to Lk. The multitude who fo...

  • Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

    THE DROPSICAL MAN. THE GREAT SUPPER. DIVERS SAYINGS AND PARABLES 1-6. The sabbath question again. The man with the dropsy healed (peculiar to Lk)....

  • EasyEnglish Bible Commentaries

    LUKE’S GOOD NEWS LUKE _HILDA BRIGHT_ CHAPTER 14 JESUS *HEALS A MAN ON THE *SABBATH 14:1-6 V1 One *Sabbath, Jesus went to dine at the home of one of the more important *Pharisees. They were watch...

  • Ellicott's Commentary On The Whole Bible

    (28-30) WHICH OF YOU, INTENDING TO BUILD A TOWER..? — The words do not depend for their meaning on any local or personal allusion, but it is quite possible that their force may have been heightened fo...

  • Frederick Brotherton Meyer's Commentary

    THE COST OF DISCIPLESHIP Luke 14:25-35 Here we have our Lord's use of the winnowing-fan. Amid the teeming crowds He knew that there were many light and superficial souls who had not realized the cos...

  • G. Campbell Morgan's Exposition on the Whole Bible

    Nothing escaped the notice of Jesus. He saw the guests in the house, and their method of procedure in seeking the chief seats. As He watched, He enunciated two great truths of social application. Firs...

  • Geneva Study Bible Commentary

    For which of you, intending to build a tower, (e) sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have [sufficient] to finish [it]? (e) At home, and calculates all his costs before he begin...

  • George Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary

    _For which of you, &c. The similitude, which our divine Saviour makes us of, represents the offices and duty of a true Christian, for he has to build within himself and conduct others by his example t...

  • Godbey's Commentary on the New Testament

    HEALING OF PETER'S MOTHER-IN-LAW Matthew 8:14-17; Mark 1:2-34; & Luke 14:3-35 Mark: “And immediately coming out of the synagogue? came into the house of Simon and Andrew and James and John. The mother...

  • Godbey's Commentary on the New Testament

    CHRISTIAN PERFECTION Luke 14:28-30. “ _For which one of you_, _wishing to build a tower_, _does not first_, _sitting down_, _count the cost_, _if he has unto sufficiency_? _Lest he_, _having laid the...

  • Godet's commentary on Luke, John, Romans, 1 Corinthians

    4. _A Warning against hasty Professions: Luke 14:25-35_. The journey resumes its course; great crowds follow Jesus. There is consequently an attraction to His side. This appears in the plurals ὄχλοι,...

  • Godet's commentary on Luke, John, Romans, 1 Corinthians

    _The Improvident Builder._ Building here is the image of the Christian life, regarded in its positive aspect: the foundation and development of the work of God in the heart and life of the believer. T...

  • Hawker's Poor man's commentary

    And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple. For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient...

  • James Nisbet's Church Pulpit Commentary

    _TOWER BUILDING_ ‘For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost.… This man began to build, and was not able to finish.’ Luke 14:28; Luke 14:30 In the p...

  • John Calvin's Bible Commentary

    Luke 14:28._For which of you, etc , _That no one may think it hard to follow Christ on the condition of renouncing all his desires, a useful warning is here given. We must consider beforehand what the...

  • John Darby's Synopsis

    Some moral details are unfolded in the next chapter (14). [37] The Lord, being invited to eat with a Pharisee, vindicates the rights of grace over that which was the seal of the old covenant, judging...

  • John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible

    FOR WHICH OF YOU INTENDING TO BUILD A TOWER,.... Taking up a profession of Christ and his Gospel, is like building a tower; which, as a tower, must be laid on a good foundation; not on carnal descent...

  • John Trapp Complete Commentary

    For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have _sufficient_ to finish _it_ ? Ver. 28. _Intending to build a tower_] Rodulphus Gualther be...

  • Joseph Benson’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    _Which of you, intending to build a tower_, (the word πυργος here signifying the same as the Hebrew _migdol_, seems to denote any great building whatever,) _sitteth not down first and counteth the cos...

  • Justin Edwards' Family Bible New Testament (1851)

    A TOWER; a high building, erected for observation and defence....

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    FOR WHICH OF YOU, INTENDING TO BUILD A TOWER, SITTETH NOT DOWN FIRST, AND COUNTETH THE COST, WHETHER HE HAVE SUFFICIENT TO FINISH IT?...

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    Two parables for emphasis:...

  • Leslie M. Grant's Commentary on the Bible

    EATING IN THE PHARISEE'S HOUSE (vs.1-14) This chapter shows the heart of God in seeking man, yet also man in thorough contrast and opposition to God. One of the chief Pharisees invited the Lord Jesu...

  • Matthew Henry Commentary on the Whole Bible

    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 exp...

  • Matthew Poole's Concise Commentary On The Bible

    Ver. 28-33. Our Lord had in the parable of the supper showed what those things are which keep men from embracing the call of the gospel, to wit, their hearts too much adherence to and embracing of sen...

  • NT Verse References in the Ante-Nicene Fathers

    Tertullian On Idolatry . For after the similitude of that most prudent builder,[78] Origen Commentary on John Book VI It is at your sacred encouragement that I have made up my mind to build up in w...

  • Patchworkid's Personal Study Bible Notes

    Luke 14:28 For G1063 which G5101 of G1537 you G5216 intending G2309 (G5723) build G3618 (G5658) tower...

  • Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible

    “For which of you, desiring to build a tower (farm mansion), does not first sit down and count the cost, whether he have that with which to complete it? Lest haply, when he has laid a foundation, and...

  • Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible

    THE CALL TO DISCIPLESHIP (14:25-35). Luke closes this section off as he opened it by showing Jesus as challenging His disciples and His would be disciples to consider what was involved in what they we...

  • Philip Schaff's Popular Commentary on the NT (4 vols)

    THE discourse was delivered, on the way to Jerusalem, probably very shortly after the meal in the Pharisee's house (Luke 14:1-24). The _place_ was therefore Perea, and the _time_ one of the three days...

  • Philip Schaff's Popular Commentary on the NT (4 vols)

    THIS division of the Gospel of Luke, embracing nearly one third of the whole, contains for the most part matter peculiar to this Evangelist. A number of the incidents probably belong to an earlier per...

  • Philip Schaff's Popular Commentary on the NT (4 vols)

    Luke 14:28. FOR WHICH OF YOU. By two illustrations our Lord enforces the requirements just stated. TO BUILD A TOWER, a structure of some importance, and involving considerable expense. The prudent w...

  • Robertson's Word Pictures of the New Testament

    BUILD A TOWER (πυργον οικοδομησα). A common metaphor, either a tower in the city wall like that by the Pool of Siloam (Luke 13:4) or a watchtower in a vineyard (Matthew 21:33) or a tower-shaped buil...

  • Spurgeon's Bible Commentary

    Luke 14:25. _And there went great multitudes with him:_ During at least a part of his earthly ministry, Christ was very popular. The people crowded to his feet, and they were willing to make him a ki...

  • Summarized Bible Commentary

    CONTENTS: Jesus heals on the Sabbath. Parable of the ambitious guest. Parable of the great supper. Parable of the tower, of the king going to war, and of the savorless salt. CHARACTERS: Jesus, Pharis...

  • Sutcliffe's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    Luke 14:3. _Is it lawful to heal on the sabbath day._ When customs are good, let us keep them; but when they are burthensome and inconsistent, the Saviour refused submission to the traditions of men....

  • The Bible Study New Testament

    HE SITS DOWN FIRST AND FIGURES OUT WHAT IT WILL COST. This is just good sense. Before anyone follows Christ, they must learn what it will cost them, because everything that stands between them and Chr...

  • The Biblical Illustrator

    _For which of you, intending to build a tower_ THE CHRISTIAN BUILDER Our Lord on purpose mentioned a tower rather than any other building, perhaps to signify that the top of our spiritual building m...

  • The ESV Global Study Bible's Study Notes

    LUKE—NOTE ON LUKE 14:28 Two illustrations warn against making a hasty decision to follow Jesus (compare Luke 8:15; Luke 21:19).

  • The Great Commentary of Cornelius à Lapide

    CHAPTER 14 VER. 1. _And it came to pass that He went into the house of one of the chief Pharisees_. "To do them service," says Titus, "Christ makes Himself their friend, and, as it were, one of their...

  • The Great Commentary of Cornelius à Lapide

    _For which of you, intending to build a tower_, &c. By means of this parable Christ would teach us with what prudence we ought to test our bodily, and above all our spiritual strength, as well as such...

  • The Preacher's Complete Homiletical Commentary

    _CRITICAL NOTES_ Luke 14:25. THERE WENT WITH HIM.—_I.e._, journeyed with Him; many, if not most, of them being on their way to one of the feasts in Jerusalem. The multitudes were attracted by Christ’s...

  • The Pulpit Commentaries

    EXPOSITION LUKE 14:1 _The Pharisee_'_s feast on a sabbath day. The healing of the sick with dropsy._ LUKE 14:1 AND IT CAME TO PASS, AS HE WENT INTO THE HOUSE OF ONE OF THE CHIEF PHARISEES TO EAT B...

  • Through The Bible C2000 Serie by Chuck Smith

    Shall we turn in our Bibles now to the gospel according to Luke, chapter 14. The fourteenth chapter involves an invitation for Jesus to come to a supper on the Sabbath day and of the things that trans...

  • Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

    1 Thessalonians 3:4; 1 Thessalonians 3:5; 2 Peter 1:13; 2 Peter 1:14;...

  • Vincent's Word Studies in the New Testament (4 Volume Set)

    A tower. The subject of the parable is the life of Christian discipleship, which is figured by a tower, a lofty structure, as something distinguished from the world and attracting attention. Counteth...

  • Wesley's Explanatory Notes

    And which of you intending to build a tower — That is, and whoever of you intends to follow me, let him first seriously weigh these things....

  • William Burkitt's Expository Notes

    Our blessed Saviour, by these two parables, advises all his followers to sit down and consider, to weigh well, and cast up beforehand, what it is likely to cost them to go through with their professio...

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Old Testament