So therefore, any one of you who does not renounce all that he has cannot be my disciple.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This verse isn't just about giving things up; it's about saying a radical "goodbye" to everything—not necessarily to get rid of possessions, but to sever our deepest affections and reliance from them. The word for "renounce" implies a deliberate detachment, a farewell, so that our ultimate allegiance is free to be placed solely on Christ.
So therefore, any one of you who does not renounce all that he has cannot be my disciple.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Jesus is teaching crowds on his final journey to Jerusalem, drawing on analogies of building and warfare to explain the immense cost of discipleship. He stresses that becoming his follower requires a radical willingness to renounce everything – family, possessions, even one's own life – in order to fully commit to him. This radical call to total allegiance sets the stage for understanding what it truly means to leave all and follow Christ, no matter the personal sacrifice.
Jesus didn't sugarcoat the demands of discipleship. He laid out a truth that might shock us today: 'renounce all that he has.' What does that really mean?
Saying Goodbye to Your 'All'
When Jesus says "renounce all that he has," he's using a powerful word that meant "to bid farewell" or "to cut oneself off from." Think of it like officially resigning from a job or saying goodbye to a former life.
It's not just about giving away possessions, though that can be part of it. It's about a complete detachment of the heart. It means not letting anything—possessions, comfort, status, relationships, even your own plans—have ultimate control over your life.
This isn't about losing things; it's about gaining the ultimate King. True discipleship means your loyalty and affections are redirected to Christ above all else. Anything that hinders this complete devotion must be let go.
Building a tower or going to war requires careful planning. Jesus uses these analogies to show that following Him isn't a casual decision, but a deliberate commitment.
The Builder and the Warrior
Jesus presents two analogies to illustrate the seriousness of discipleship:
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Both analogies point to the same truth: becoming a disciple demands a radical inventory of your life and a willingness to pay the price. It requires a deliberate choice to prioritize God's kingdom, even when it means letting go of lesser things.
Understand the original words
apotassomai · Greek Verb
To give up, forsake, or separate oneself from something. In a biblical context, it implies a total surrender of ownership, priority, or allegiance to follow Christ, recognizing Him as the supreme authority.
mathētēs · Greek Noun
A student, follower, or apprentice. Biblically, it denotes one who is committed to learning from, imitating, and obeying a master or teacher, particularly Jesus Christ, involving total dedication of life.
Jesus' teaching on renouncing 'all that he has' was delivered during his final journey to Jerusalem, amidst large crowds. This wasn't a theoretical lesson, but a stark, practical warning to those considering following him, highlighting that true discipleship demands a willingness to leave everything behind when called.
Early 1st century AD— this verse
Jesus' Final Journey to Jerusalem
Jesus embarked on his final journey to Jerusalem, drawing large crowds of followers and pilgrims. This context underscores the urgency and public nature of his teachings during this period.
Early 1st century AD
Jesus Teaches on True Discipleship
In response to the crowds, Jesus offers radical teachings about the cost of discipleship, using parables about building and warfare to illustrate the need for careful consideration and commitment.
Early 1st century AD
The Concept of Renunciation
Jesus employs the term 'renounce' (or 'bid farewell') to emphasize the complete detachment required of his followers from earthly possessions, relationships, and self-interests.
This passage echoes the same radical call to prioritize Christ above all earthly ties, stating that loving father or mother more than Jesus is not worthy of Him, directly aligning with the renunciation of all things.
Philippians 3:7-8Paul's declaration of counting all his past achievements and possessions as loss for the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus vividly illustrates the spirit of 'renouncing all' for discipleship.
Matthew 6:24Jesus' teaching that no one can serve two masters, God and money, provides the foundational principle for why renouncing 'all' is necessary; one's ultimate allegiance must be to God alone.
Acts 4:32The early church's willingness to share all their possessions, selling property and laying the proceeds at the apostles' feet, demonstrates a practical outworking of the discipleship cost Jesus described.
vincentLuke 14:33: "So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple."
Forsaketh (ἀποτάσσεται)Bids good-by to. Rev., renounceth. See on Luke 9:61. "In that forsaketh lies the key to the whole passage" (Trench). Christian discipleship is founded in self-renunciation.
clarkeLuke 14:33: "So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple."
Whosoever he be of you - This seems to be addressed particularly to those who were then, and who were to be, preachers of his Gospel; and who were to travel over all countries, publishing salvation to a lost world.
This verse isn't just about giving things up; it's about saying a radical "goodbye" to everything—not necessarily to get rid of possessions, but to sever our deepest affections and reliance from them. The word for "renounce" implies a deliberate detachment, a farewell, so that our ultimate allegiance is free to be placed solely on Christ.
Jesus is teaching crowds on his final journey to Jerusalem, drawing on analogies of building and warfare to explain the immense cost of discipleship. He stresses that becoming his follower requires a radical willingness to renounce everything – family, possessions, even one's own life – in order to fully commit to him. This radical call to total allegiance sets the stage for understanding what it truly means to leave all and follow Christ, no matter the personal sacrifice.
Jesus is teaching crowds on his final journey to Jerusalem, drawing on analogies of building and warfare to explain the immense cost of discipleship. He stresses that becoming his follower requires a radical willingness to renounce everything – family, possessions, even one's own life – in order to fully commit to him. This radical call to total allegiance sets the stage for understanding what it truly means to leave all and follow Christ, no matter the personal sacrifice.
"So therefore, any one of you who does not renounce all that he has cannot be my disciple." — This verse isn't just about giving things up; it's about saying a radical "goodbye" to everything—not necessarily to get rid of possessions, but to sever our deepest affections and reliance from them…
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Last reviewed October 2026