As we began this morning, I asked why you were here. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blogs author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. sermon preached on Luke 14:25-33 by Emily Hull McGee at First Baptist Church on Fifth, Winston-Salem, NC on September 8, 2019 I. What are we dealing with here? The danger of discipleship is simply this it changes you. The story of Jeremiahs visit to the potters house and Gods use of the potters process as a metaphor for Gods own work is wonderfully and frustratingly straightforward. (Luke 14:25-33) Wow. His original listeners would not have been aware, as we are, of the connection between this challenge and the suffering Jesus would soon experience at his own crucifixion. Luke 14. Dr. Craddock goes on: We were talking the next day after his baptism, and I said, Uh, Frank, you remember that little saying you used to give me so much: I work hard, I take care of my family, I mind my own business?, He said, Yeah, I remember. He said, I work hard, I take care of my family and I mind my own business. Luke has crafted a brilliant paradox here: the building project is no measurable structure of clay and timber but the kingdom of God, and the battle, already underway, is being waged on no earthly battlefield. Jesus is now on the road, and traveling with large crowds. The Gospel of Luke is crowded with crowds (oxloi) who are filled with awe (5:26) at Jesus words and deeds. Discipleship is defined by following Jesus and carrying the cross. This phrase indicates that giving up self interest and competing loyalties are central to discipleship. In this passage, Lukes Jesus calls people to a kind of discipleship that is not cheap (akin to Bonhoeffers aversion toward cheap grace), not easy, and not to be entered into without deep consideration of the consequences and costs. Then you must be prepared to die for the cause. For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not first sit down and estimate the cost, to see whether he has enough to complete it? But there are three things about these little parables we may miss if we read them too quickly. Ooh! Biblical Commentary Instead, He talked to them about something that seems almost shocking. We are told in verse 25 that "large crowds were traveling with Jesus" only to have Jesus immediately turn to that same throng of people to say some things that seemed calculated to turn people off. Lots of reasons. Concerning the illustration of building a tower: how could any disciple assess in advance whether they have the resources to stand firm in the face of social ostracization, incarceration, torture, or the threat of execution? (McLarty), If anyone comes to me, and doesnt disregard his own father, mother, wife, children, brothers, and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he cant be my disciple. Processing with God: Narrative Lectionary, Liturgy, Prayers, Bringing to Light Those Truths Which Have been Neglected. Only as we die completely to the things of this world can we hope to experience the full power of his resurrection from the dead. Luke 14:25-33 (NIV) 25 Large crowds were traveling with Jesus, and turning to them he said: 26 "If anyone comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sistersyes, even their own lifesuch a person cannot be my disciple. Ten times in these few verses, he uses the word not three of those are in the phrase cannot be my disciple. Jesus has seen the crowds growing behind him, and he knows that some of these followers are only tagging along to see another miracle, especially if that miracle includes getting a free lunch. The majestic speech of Deuteronomy nears its conclusion in this stirring exhortation. 1. Concerning the illustration of battling a stronger adversary: how could Jesus followers hope to overcome the legions arrayed against them, whether the enemy be imagined as Roman imperial troops or malevolent spiritual forces (Ephesians 6:1112)? Its perhaps worth nothing that Jesus isnt making imperatives (the verbs are not commands), but describing reality. Luke 14:25-33 The Danger of Discipleship (Leininger), All Rights Reserved | 1997-2023 Richard Niell Donovan. The next saying emphasizes the same point about loyalty. They must look only to Jesus. Resources to inspire you and your congregation! Is it the accurate picture of self and ones resources thats missing? In this case, there is historic, cultural precedence for doing so. Theyre difficult sayings, not because theyre hard to understand, but because theyre almost impossible to accept. All Resources by Scripture; Biblical Commentary; Espaol Comentario; Sermons; Children's Sermons; Hymns; Hymn Lists SW-Admin 2023-02-27T09:19:11-08:00. Give him the best that you have.. If the cost was too high, we didnt eat it! More than this, there is also a shift of topic. In the words of an old gospel hymn, All to Jesus I surrender, all to him I freely give . What God is doing in Jesus is nothing short of spectacular. Why you are here today? Sometimes, hating your possessions will literally mean selling it all for the benefit of common good, while other times it will mean changing your attitude about what you have, deserve and/or need. They had heard about his preaching and teaching; they had especially heard about his miracles; they wanted to get close to this incredible character and experience the unusual energy that seemed to surround him. Sometimes it will be a literal disobedience and refusal to play the role that your family has set before you. Old Testament. This would mean that Jesus is saying is that his disciples need to be able to disregard or be disinclined to i.e., do not favourtheir own family, life, and things. The Lukan saying is shocking, and preachers should address it, not least to steer hearers away from the misunderstanding that violent antagonism could be the will of God. Lutheran Book of Worship (LBW) ( Luke 14:2-4) In front of His critics, Jesus heals an afflicted man. GET YOUR FOUR FREE SAMPLES! Scripture quotations are from the World English Bible (WEB), a public domain (no copyright) modern English translation of the Holy Bible. 25 Large crowds were traveling with Jesus, and turning to them he said: 26 "If anyone comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sistersyes, even their own lifesuch a person cannot be my disciple. Counting the cost requires some thoughtful pondering before any action can take place. First, we must realize that this kind of hate is not an emotion its an attitude of perspective. Check out these helpful resources Luke 14:25 sets the scene: "Now great crowds accompanied Him, and He turned and said to them". First, Jesus tells us that the process of building or going to battle starts with sitting down. , 9:23). Because there is no way to sort of take up your cross. You are completely irresponsible to have encouraged her to do this. Luke 14:25-33 - Center for Excellence in Preaching Some while ago on TV I saw a news profile of megachurch pastor Joel Osteen. Here, preachers can offer meaningful examples of following Jesus in all things daily. Luke 14:25-26 The crowds were following Jesus. We have to bid farewell to everything we call our own. If they found one believer in a household they would arrest everyone, so it really was true that turning toward Jesus meant turning away from your family, whether you wanted to or not. When facing adversity, disciples must look daily neither to kinship networks nor to some other resource or power to save them. Luke 14:25-33 - Center for Excellence in Preaching If this scene seems familiar, it is because it is the second time this summer that we have encountered this scene: Jesus among a crowd on the road to Jerusalem, questioning people's abilities and willingness to be truly committed to discipleship. The danger of discipleship is that it changes us. I dont think so. John Smith was the owner and operator of the John Smith Grocery Store and Filling Station downtown, a primitive little convenience store where, in one stop, John would fill your tank, sell you a pound of bologna and fix your flat tire. We will always prefer preaching and teaching about Gods grace, that is, Gods own covenant loyalty to redeem and save, but we ought not neglect preaching about the covenant loyalty that is expected from us in return. Jesus was a good teacher, teaching His disciples with a statement hard enough for them to fathom. In todays passage, Jesus explains the cost of true discipleship to his followers. As one commentator says, If Jesus were in charge of an average congregation I figure there would be about four people left there on Sunday mornings, and chances are those four would be fooling themselves. And it is my job to help you do just thatprimarily by exposing you to Gods instructive word in scripture. . You cant follow Jesus for the way it makes you feel about yourself or the way others admire your piety. Following Jesus is an all or nothing proposition. Barbara Brown Taylor, High-Priced Discipleship, Bread of Angels, (Cambridge, MA : Cowley Publications, 1997), pp. Its an ongoing, day-by-day, moment-by-moment surrender to Gods grace and mercy. For example, He told his disciples, Come to me, all you who labor and are heavily burdened, and I will give you rest. (Matthew 11:28), He told Nathaniel, who spent every waking moment studying the Torah, You will see greater things than these! (Jn. Worship & Rejoice (WR), How Firm a Foundation (BH #338; CH #618; CO #452; CP #527; ELW #796; GC #606; JS #404; LBW #507; LSB #728; LW #411; PH #361; TH #636, 637; TNCH #407; UMH #529; VU #660; WR #411), Sing Praise to God Who Reigns Above (BH #20; CH #6; CP #310; JS #458; PH #483; TH #408; TNCH #6; UMH #126; VU #216; WR #56), Lift High the Cross (BH #594; CH #108; CO #542; CP #602; ELW #660; GC #791; JS #383; LBW #377; LSB #837; LW #311; PH #371; JS #383; TH #473; TNCH #198; VU #151; UMH #159; WR #287), Must Jesus Bear the Cross Alone (BH #475; UMH #424), O Master Let Me Walk With Thee (BH #279; CH #602; ELW #818; LBW #492; PH #357; TH #659, 660; TNCH #503; UMH #430; VU #560; WR #589), Where He Leads Me (BH #288; CH #346; UMH # 338), Would I Have Answered When You Called (TFWS #2137), I Am Thine, O Lord (BH #290; CH #601; TNCH #455; UMH #419; WR #408), I Have Decided to Follow Jesus (BH #305; CH #344, TFWS #2129; WR #344), O Jesus I Have Promised (BH #276; CH #612; CP #438; ELW #810; LBW #503; PH #388-389; TH #655; TNCH #493; UMH #396; VU #120; WR #458), Take My Life and Let It Be (BH #277 or 283; CH #609; CP #435; ELW #583, 685; LBW #406; LSB #783, 784; LW #404; PH #391; TH #707; TNCH #448; UMH #399; VU #506; WR #466), Also known as Take My Life, That I May Be, Take Up Thy Cross (BH #494; CO #651; CP #431; ELW #667; JS #253; LBW #398; LW #382; PH #393; TH #675; TNCH #204; VU #561; UMH #415; WR #351), All Rights Reserved | 1997-2023 Richard Niell Donovan. Following Jesus must be at the heart of all that a disciple undertakes. In the same way, we cant follow Jesus any old way it suits us. I work out most mornings these days at The Gym on Hervey Street. A captivating teacher and wonder-worker, Jesus is acclaimed and followed by thousands (9:14; 12:1). It could mean participating in a work trip in Venezuela next year to help Christian brothers and sisters who have only limited resources themselves. Every moment requires your full commitment. Thats why it doesnt often happen to people who break easily, or have sharp edges, or who have to be carefully kept. Fred says the patron saint of the group that met at the caf was named Frank. Maybe by using hyperbole you could help someone see their imbalance, and by turning them just a little towards hate, youd help them find appropriate attachment. 2Robert H. Stein, The Method and Message of Jesus Teachings, rev. As I say, that is less Gods doing than our own we, after all, are the ones who set our own priorities. Leta Hays was a member of my church in Prosper, Texas. In our passage, Jesus warns that following him will require that disciples hate (. ) Jesus extols a commitment to finishing the discipleship journey once begun or not beginning it at all. But it is also used in binary wisdom aphorisms employing love and hate as paradigmatic responses of discernment: the wicked are said to hate discipline, justice, and knowledge, while the righteous hate wickedness, falsehood, and gossip (for example, Psalms 45:7; 50:17; 97:10; 119:163; Proverbs 1:29; Sirach 19:6). Thats how the world knew him for almost thirty years. Hymn Lists. But I still dont give everything that I have. September 5, 2010 Revised Common Lectionary View Bible Text Commentary on Luke 14:25-33 Jeannine K. Brown We live in a market driven society, so it is not surprising that we feel the urge to "sell" Christianity in the marketplace of competing ideas and ways of life. I also read Bible commentaries, other preachers sermons and my own sermons from the past, and I can tell you the broad consensus regarding the text for today can be stated in three words: Count the Costs. You could have slept late lots of people do. Multitudes hear Jesus Sermon on the Plain (6:1749); a large crowd watches as Jesus raises a widows son at Nain; they glorify God, praising Jesus as a great prophet (7:1117). Used by permission. Whenever Jesus found that his words were too hard for people to hear, he turned to one of his favorite teaching strategies telling parables. Theres been some debate as to whether or not we should read Jesus call to hate our family as an idiom or not. A real bargain. Resources to inspire you and your congregation! Biblical Commentary That was the message back then. In Aramaic, the word we translate hate has nothing to do with an emotion. This becomes clear when we compare this saying in Luke with its parallel in Matthew (10:37): Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. Matthew, drawing on the same Jesus tradition as Luke, seems to have interpreted the more stark language of hate to refer to primary allegiance. Preparing to engage this from the pulpit, preachers may wish first to render vividly the crowds' joyous amazement at witnessing Jesus' power over demons, diseases, and disabilities. Throw your souls fresh glowing ardor I do not read the Wall Street Journal, but I rushed to the library this morning to read the stories in their entirety. A SUBSCRIBER SAYS: I thought I was a decent preacher before I subscribed (subject to the problem of never having time to write my sermons), but SermonWriter is the best! There is no way to follow Jesus on your own terms, when it is convenient to you. Not only has my preaching improved, but I preach with a more confident voice after making the changes that make the sermons my own.. The worry about being ridiculed or mocked for not weighing your resources doesnt seemat least to meto be as big of a deal in our culture today. And who would know this reality best, other than the Lord himself, who suffered and knows every temptation and trial we might face? He didn't do a miracle to get more followers. Click here for more information, Mayme Porter was a member of my church in Sherman, Texas, who taught at Austin College. ". When you come to this Table, having counted the cost, come asatrue follower of Jesus Christ, ready to leave behind everything you ever thought was important, so that you can take up your cross and follow Him. The Lukan travel narrative continues in today's reading with the pointed observation that "large crowds were traveling with" Jesus, yet another signal to the . Would-be disciples must acknowledge at the outset that following Jesus will cost them everything, and they cannot know what lies ahead until they take up the cross and follow their Lord. And thats what Id like for us to think about this morning: So, youre not yet ready to lay down your life for the gospel, to fork over all of your earthly possessions. Luke 14:25-26. But of all the possible reasons why you are here this morning, let us assume, just as a working hypothesis, that you are all here because you are trying to follow Jesus. Yes. We have to carefully consider the commitment we are making. Dont come out of habit, or because you want others to see you doing the right thing. What God is doing in Jesus is nothing short of spectacular. But wait until you hear todays gospel lesson! The Good News is every time we choose Christ over the things of this world, a little part of our old nature will die and a little part of Christs New Creation will be born in us. I would like to believe that you are here for the preaching. There is no price tag visible, so you cant afford it. Keep in mind that, at this point in his ministry, his own cross wasnt even on the horizon yet. Connie and Debbie and the choir would like to believe that you are here for the music. We will get back to you as we continue our search. Sure! Christian discipleship comes at a hefty price. Fred says, I met Frank on the street one time. No. While emphases in the earlier part of Luke 14 on the redemption and freedom that Jesus brings and the inclusive nature of Gods kingdom are assumed in this last part of the chapter, those inclusive and redemptive themes should not dull our sense that here in 14:28-33 are some difficult sayings of Jesus. I am not a shopper. I dont enjoy looking at rows and rows of merchandise with an Ill know it when I see it attitude. Dauntless was he, young and brave; The BDAG (biblical Greek dictionary) uses this sense of the word for one of the definitions of hate, citing our passage as its example. Seasoned believers, seekers, and skeptics will benefit from a compelling reminder that what Jesus is doing is utterly astonishing. I know Im in trouble if the price tag isnt visible, because: If you have to ask how much it costs, you cant afford it.. She and a fitness trainer work with him on the various machines. It will take everything you have. Then we hear Jesus: unless we hate our families, carry our crosses, and give up all our possessions, we cannot be his disciples. Love me more than whatever holds first place in your life, whatever matters most to you.. It was a way of expressing priorities so if I say, I love Penn State and hate Pitt (or vice versa), it would not mean I feel hostile toward one school or the other, but simply that one of those was my first choice. The Matthean version of this shared tradition is milder: Jesus says those who love family members more than they love him are not worthy of him (Matthew 10:37). He just wants them and us to know what is involved in being a true disciple. Preachers should help their congregations understand that Luke 14:26 is not advocating intense hostility toward kin and life, but, rather, is promoting the steadfast refusal to allow something less valuable to displace something more valuable. And yet, the consequences for choosing the right posture, differentiation, and purpose in life is also quite difficult to follow through on. Luke has crafted a brilliant paradox here: the building project is no measurable structure of clay and timber but the kingdom of God, and the battle, already underway, is being waged on no earthly battlefield. Fill in your details below or click an icon to log in: You are commenting using your WordPress.com account. Dont we really mean all that were able to give or think were able to give at the moment? In Luke 14:25-33, Jesus' teaching takes a sobering turn as he underlines the demands of discipleship. 2. Old Testament. You see needs and you want to fill them; you see hurts and you want to heal them. Yes, Christ demands our total allegiance to love him and serve him above family, friends, property, even life itself. The more we entrust ourselves to him, the more we experience the fullness of his grace and love. Would-be disciples must acknowledge at the outset that following Jesus will cost them everything. It even involves giving up your own life for the sake of the gospel. R. Longenecker (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2000) 295. Into the battle for truth. Lets face it: Most of us will never be called on to face a firing squad, or go to the gallows, or be put on trial for being a Christian. Sermon Commentary for Sunday, September 4, 2022. who are filled with awe (5:26) at Jesus words and deeds. Whoever doesnt bear his own cross, and come after me, cant be my disciple So therefore whoever of you who doesnt renounce all that he has, he cant be my disciple., So therefore whoever of you who doesnt renounce all that he has, he cant be my disciple., Come to me, all you who labor and are heavily burdened, and I will give you rest., You will see greater things than these!, Allow the little children, and dont forbid them to come to me; for the Kingdom of Heaven belongs to ones like these., All Rights Reserved | 1997-2023 Richard Niell Donovan. The New Century Hymnal (TNCH) Jesus wants to do more for us than save us from our sins, as important as that is. I would hate for you to get in over your head.'(1). That adverbial phrase, absent from the Synoptic parallels (Matthew 16:24; Mark 8:34), matters for the Third Gospel. THE CONTEXT Jesus healed a man with dropsy, leading to a Sabbath controversy (14:1-6). Not so much in the words that he speaks, but in the larger context of his life and witness. Far as Im concerned, everything else is fluff. You see what he told me? Thats why the entire church, and the whole town were surprised, and the men at the caf church were absolutely bumfuzzled when old Frank, seventy-seven years old, presented himself before me one Sunday morning for baptism. The second story is about a king who assesses the number of his troops in light of the greater number that his enemy possesses (14:31-32). Disciple? Giving becomes a pleasure, so that, the more we give, the more we want to give. The neighbours complained about the house from the very beginning, feeling as though their nice houses would be devalued by the palace going up in their backyardnot to mention their loss of privacy from having a multi-story building go up among ranch houses. Of course, I wouldnt preach tithing if I didnt do it myself. . Change). You must surrender everything to Christ, or you arent really a follower. In this particular instance, Jesus is offering a comparison between the devotion one would normally hold sacred only for family members and the devotion required to become one of his disciples. Whoever does not carry the cross and follow me cannot be my disciple, he says. Jesus said Scripture quoted from the English Standard Version (ESV) unless otherwise noted. What we ate depended on its cost. And no relationship lasts without loyal commitments and actions. The first thing is to look at the context. In a roundabout way, Jesus is describing idols: the things we love, serve, and allow to weigh heavily on our decisions under the guise of the needs of our circumstances.. And like the kings decision to either put his soldiers in harms way or not, our egos and naivety have the distinction of causing great harm on those we love the most. That might sound a bit strange. Ha! As we come to this Table, prepared for all who desire to follow Jesus, he invites you to count the cost. The end result will be ridicule from all who see the unfinished structure. 32If he cannot, then, while the other is still far away, he sends a delegation and asks for the terms of peace. Chalice Hymnal (CH) It almost sounds as if Jesus is trying to get people to stop following him! 25-33. You dont follow Jesus unless you want your life to be changed forever. Amen. The Gospel of Luke is crowded with crowds (. ) There is more to this disciple business than meets the eye. That adverbial phrase, absent from the Synoptic parallels (Matthew 16:24; Mark 8:34), matters for the Third Gospel. - Sermon on Luke 14:25-33 Leave a reply September 8, 2013 Note: There's a newer (and I think better) sermon on this text here. Now large crowds were traveling with [Jesus]; and he turned and said to them, "Whoever comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and even life itself, cannot be my disciple.". And the truth is, generally speaking, our giving grows over time. You could have gone to the lake or played golf; its a good day for that. He knows that this will be his last journey, that the price tag on this trip is high, and it isnt negotiable. You wouldnt want to become a laughingstock because you failed to plan your project well! One of the keys to understanding scripture, especially difficult passages like our lesson today, is to remember who is speaking and what we know of him or her from previous encounters. In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. You remember the story, right? . The book of Luke 14:25-33 is in the new testament, among the four Gospel books. All Resources by Scripture; Biblical Commentary; Espaol Comentario; Sermons; Children's Sermons; Hymns; Biblical Commentary SW-Admin 2022-12-14T09:26:19-08:00. One of the first phrases I learned to speak when I lived in Germany was, Wie viel kostet es? How much does it cost? I had to know how much things were worth, to stay within the budget dictated by the cash in my hand whenever Iwent to the market.
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