Luke 14:28-30
For which of you, desiring to build a tower, does not first sit down and count the cost, whether he has enough to complete it? Otherwise, when he has laid a foundation and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him, saying, ‘This man began to build and was not able to finish.’
English Standard Version (ESV)
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This verse highlights that building a tower requires calculating the "cost," a word that carries the sense of something "devouring" resources. Jesus isn't just talking about money; he's pointing to the total commitment required for discipleship, a commitment that demands a thorough accounting of what it will cost you personally.
Jesus is speaking to large crowds, and He's been teaching about the radical demands of discipleship. He's just told them that following Him requires loving Him more than even family, and taking up their cross. This parable about building a tower is the next step, illustrating that this commitment isn't a casual undertaking but requires serious consideration of its costs.
Thinking about starting something big? Jesus uses a relatable image: building a tower. But it's not just about the grand vision – it's about the bedrock beneath.
Jesus asks us to consider what it truly means to 'build' a life of discipleship. It's not a casual undertaking, but a significant structure that requires a solid foundation.
The Foundation of Faith
Like any great building, our spiritual lives need a strong base. The commentaries highlight that this foundation isn't about outward appearances, family heritage, or even just knowing the right things. It's about Christ Himself.
What 'Counting the Cost' Really Means
Before laying a single brick, a wise builder calculates everything – materials, labor, time. Jesus applies this to discipleship, urging us to calculate the 'cost.' This involves self-denial, potential loss of favor from others, and embracing suffering, all sustained by God's grace. It's about understanding the commitment involved, not to be deterred, but to be prepared.
Starting a project without a plan can lead to embarrassment and failure. Jesus uses this common-sense analogy to highlight a much deeper spiritual reality.
Jesus isn't trying to scare people away from following Him. Instead, He's presenting a realistic picture of discipleship, which involves a deliberate and well-considered commitment.
More Than a Whim
Building a tower wasn't a small undertaking; it was a significant investment of resources and effort. Similarly, following Jesus demands more than a passing interest or emotional surge. It requires a conscious decision to dedicate ourselves fully.
Facing the 'Cost'
The 'cost' Jesus refers to includes sacrificing personal desires, potentially facing opposition, and taking up a 'cross'—a symbol of hardship and suffering. The commentary notes that this doesn't mean literal abandonment of family, but a reordering of priorities where Christ comes first. It's about being prepared for the challenges, not turning back when they arise.
Understand the original words
dapanē · Greek Noun
A metaphor for evaluating the spiritual requirements and personal sacrifices necessary for following Jesus. It emphasizes the necessity of intentional, forward-thinking commitment rather than impulsive, emotional zeal.
themēlios · Greek Noun
Refers to the foundational doctrine or the beginning of a life of faith. Theologically, it implies the act of establishing one's spiritual commitment on the correct basis, which is Christ, to ensure the structure of one's life can endure.
empaizō · Greek Verb
The act of ridiculing or holding up to shame someone who fails to maintain their stated commitment. In Scripture, this often highlights the public testimony of a person’s faith and the reproach that comes from failing to live consistently with one's profession of faith.
This passage presents a parallel parable of two builders, one wise and one foolish, directly illustrating the importance of counting the cost and having a solid foundation before undertaking a significant construction, just as Luke 14:28 emphasizes for discipleship.
Luke 14:33This verse immediately follows the tower parable and summarizes its main point: 'So, therefore, any one of you who does not renounce all that he has cannot be my disciple.' It highlights that the 'cost' calculated must include radical commitment and self-renunciation.
Matthew 10:37-39Jesus directly addresses the cost of discipleship, stating that love for family and even life itself must be secondary to following Him, reinforcing the idea that discipleship requires a profound calculation of what truly matters and what must be relinquished.
Philippians 3:7-8Paul's testimony exemplifies counting the cost, as he considered all he once valued as 'loss' for the surpassing worth of knowing Christ, showing a practical application of relinquishing earthly gains for a heavenly prize.
vincentLuke 14:28: "For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it?"
A towerThe 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 (ψηφίζει)Only here and Revelation 13:18. From ψῆφος, a pebble (see Revelation 2:17), used as a counter. Thus Herodotus says that the Egyptians, when the…
calvinLuke 14:25-32: "And there went great multitudes with him: and he turned, and said unto them,"
- He who loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; and he who loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. 38. And he who doth not take his cross and follow me, [603] is not worthy of me. 39. He who findeth his life [604] shall lose it; and he who loseth his life for my sake shall find it. [605] 40. He who receiveth you receiveth me: and he who receiveth me receiveth him w…
This verse highlights that building a tower requires calculating the "cost," a word that carries the sense of something "devouring" resources. Jesus isn't just talking about money; he's pointing to the total commitment required for discipleship, a commitment that demands a thorough accounting of what it will cost you personally.
Jesus is speaking to large crowds, and He's been teaching about the radical demands of discipleship. He's just told them that following Him requires loving Him more than even family, and taking up their cross. This parable about building a tower is the next step, illustrating that this commitment isn't a casual undertaking but requires serious consideration of its costs.
Jesus is speaking to large crowds, and He's been teaching about the radical demands of discipleship. He's just told them that following Him requires loving Him more than even family, and taking up their cross. This parable about building a tower is the next step, illustrating that this commitment isn't a casual undertaking but requires serious consideration of its costs.
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"For which of you, desiring to build a tower, does not first sit down and count the cost, whether he has enough to complete it? Otherwise, when he has laid a foundation and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him, saying, ‘T…" — This verse highlights that building a tower requires calculating the "cost," a word that carries the sense of something "devouring" resources. Jesus isn't just talking about money; he's pointing to t…
