Luke 14:30

Saying, This man began to build, and was not able to finish. SAYING, THIS MAN BEGAN TO BUILD, AND WAS NOT ABLE TO FINISH. Common sense teaches men not to begin any costly work without first seeing that they have the wherewithal to finish it. And he who does otherwise exposes himself to general ridicule....

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...

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 BREAD ON THE SABBATH DAY. Still on the same journey; the Lord was approaching gradually nearer Jerusalem. The house into which he entered this sabbath belonged to one who was a leading member of the Pharisee party, probably an influential rabbi, a man of great wealth, or a member of the Sanhedrim "To eat bread on the sabbath day," as a guest, was a usual practice; such entertainments on the sabbath day were very usual; they were often luxurious and costly. The only rule observed was that all the viands provided were cold,, every

SAYING, THIS MAN BEGAN TO BUILD,.... He set out well, he promised great things, and made a considerable bluster and stir, as if he would carry things at once to a very high pitch: AND WAS NOT ABLE TO FINISH; it was all noise and talk, and nothing else: falling off from a profession of religion, exposes men to contempt and scorn; such are not only cast out of churches with disgrace, but are despised by men, by wicked men; and are a reproach, a proverb, and a taunt in all places; and even are mocked by devils too....

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 king; but you must have observed that he was always faithful in speaking to the populace, he did not flatter them. He dealt in the same fashion also with those who professed to be his followers. He winnowed the heap that was laid upon the floor, and drove away the chaff from the midst of the wheat. Luke 14:25. _And he turned, and said unto them, If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple._ Do not misunderstand this passage. Our Lord does not use the word «hat

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. (Luke 14:15) 5. Conditions of Discipleship. (Luke 14:25 .) Luke 14:1 Again He heals on the Sabbath. In the house of a ruler, a Pharisee, they were watching Him. He had gone there to eat bread. What condescension! They were His enemies, yet He loved

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 stringent and sifting test. Few after all will reach the Messianic banquet, and only then after much tribulation. The saying of Luke 14:26 f. is in a harder form than Matthew 10:37 f., and it is better to think that Mt. has softened it than for us to do so here. Such uncompromising sayings were quite in Jesus-' manner, and we have to judge them in the light of His whole spirit and teaching. (We may perhaps compare the Blessing of Levi by Moses in Deuteronomy 33:9.) Yet we may very well find in Jesus-' teaching a distinction betwe

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

SAYING, &c.. Saying that this man, &c. See note on Luke 4:21; Luke 19:9; Mark 14:30, &c....

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 with the journey (probably to the Feast of the Dedication, John 10:22) which is partially Luke 9:51-56. And it came to pass, when the time was come that he touched upon in Matthew 18:1 to Matthew 20:16 and...