The Gospel According to St. Luke
The King James Bible
Luke 14:25-15:10
The cost of being a disciple 25 And there went great multitudes with him: and he turned, and said unto them, 26 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. 27 And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple. 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? 29 Lest haply, after he hath laid the foundation, and is not able to finish it, all that behold it begin to mock him, 30 Saying, This man began to build, and was not able to finish. 31 Or what king, going to make war against another king, sitteth not down first, and consulteth whether he be able with ten thousand to meet him that cometh against him with twenty thousand? 32 Or else, while the other is yet a great way off, he sendeth an ambassage, and desireth conditions of peace. 33 So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple. 34 Salt is good: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be seasoned? 35 It is neither fit for the land, nor yet for the dunghill; but men cast it out. He that hath ears to hear, let him hear. Luke 15:1-10 Two parables 1 Then drew near unto him all the publicans and sinners for to hear him. 2 And the Pharisees and scribes murmured, saying, This man receiveth sinners, and eateth with them. 3 And he spake this parable unto them, saying, 4 What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it? 5 And when he hath found it, he layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing. 6 And when he cometh home, he calleth together his friends and neighbours, saying unto them, Rejoice with me; for I have found my sheep which was lost. 7 I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance. 8 Either what woman having ten pieces of silver, if she lose one piece, doth not light a candle, and sweep the house, and seek diligently till she find it? 9 And when she hath found it, she calleth her friends and her neighbours together, saying, Rejoice with me; for I have found the piece which I had lost. 10 Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth. |
Margin notes:
"Hate not his father..." (14:26) - See "Today's Question" below. "Whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple." (14:27) - Jesus is reinforcing His message on total submission to God from Matthew 10:37, 16:24, Mark 8:34, and Luke 9:23. "Counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it?" (14:28) - "Counts the cost, to see if he has enough money to finish the job." "Lest haply." (14:29) - Means, "Otherwise." "All that behold it." (14:29) - "All that see it." "Sendeth an ambassage." (14:32) - "Sends a delegation." "And desireth conditions of peace." (14:32) - "And asks for terms of peace." "But if the salt have lost his savour." (14:34) - "But if the salt has lost its taste." "Wherewith shall it be seasoned?" (14:34) - "How will it be seasoned again?" "Publicans." (15:1) - Tax collectors, some manned customhouses, and collected duty on imported and exported trade goods. Others collected taxes on anything that was bought or sold. There were taxes to cross bridges, taxes to use the roads or the harbor, to enter the marketplace or to ship merchandise. There were taxes on wagons and the animals that pulled them. To the disgruntled population, it seemed like everything was taxed. The publicans paid Rome to get the job of tax collector and then paid themselves by overcharging taxpayers (Luke 3:12-13) and keeping the difference. Couple this with the fact that they worked for the Romans meant they were not popular with the Jewish population. "This man receiveth sinners." (15:2) - "This man welcomes sinners." Evidence that Jesus loves and wants to save sinners. "Go after that which is lost." (15:4) - The Pharisees believed that God would accept sinners who sought Him out. But here, Jesus teaches that God is seeking out sinners. Additional note; Just as a shepherd worries about one lost sheep, God worries when we go astray. Jesus shed His blood on the cross for the salvation of mankind. But even if you were the only "lost sheep," Christ would have still sacrificed Himself to save you. Such is the love of God. "Rejoice with me; for I have found my sheep which was lost." (15:6) - Jesus celebrates when a lost sheep is saved. "Just persons." (15:7) - "Good people." "Either what woman." (15:8) - "Or what woman." |
Matthew 18:12-14 (lesson 35) also tells the story of the lost sheep.
New Living Translation
Luke 14:25-15:10
The Cost of Being a Disciple
25 A large crowd was following Jesus. He turned around and said to them,
26 "If you want to be my disciple, you must hate everyone else by comparison-your father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters-yes, even your own life. Otherwise, you cannot be my disciple.
27 And if you do not carry your own cross and follow me, you cannot be my disciple.
28 "But don't begin until you count the cost. For who would begin construction of a building without first calculating the cost to see if there is enough money to finish it?
29 Otherwise, you might complete only the foundation before running out of money, and then everyone would laugh at you.
30 They would say, 'There's the person who started that building and couldn't afford to finish it!'
31 "Or what king would go to war against another king without first sitting down with his counselors to discuss whether his army of 10,000 could defeat the 20,000 soldiers marching against him?
32 And if he can't, he will send a delegation to discuss terms of peace while the enemy is still far away.
33 So you cannot become my disciple without giving up everything you own.
34 "Salt is good for seasoning. But if it loses its flavor, how do you make it salty again?
35 Flavorless salt is good neither for the soil nor for the manure pile. It is thrown away. Anyone with ears to hear should listen and understand!"
Luke 15:1-10
Parable of the Lost Sheep
1 Tax collectors and other notorious sinners often came to listen to Jesus teach.
2 This made the Pharisees and teachers of religious law complain that he was associating with such sinful people-even eating with them!
3 So Jesus told them this story:
4 "If a man has a hundred sheep and one of them gets lost, what will he do? Won't he leave the ninety-nine others in the wilderness and go to search for the one that is lost until he finds it?
5 And when he has found it, he will joyfully carry it home on his shoulders.
6 When he arrives, he will call together his friends and neighbors, saying, 'Rejoice with me because I have found my lost sheep.'
7 In the same way, there is more joy in heaven over one lost sinner who repents and returns to God than over ninety-nine others who are righteous and haven't strayed away!
Parable of the Lost Coin
8 "Or suppose a woman has ten silver coins and loses one. Won't she light a lamp and sweep the entire house and search carefully until she finds it?
9 And when she finds it, she will call in her friends and neighbors and say, 'Rejoice with me because I have found my lost coin.'
10 In the same way, there is joy in the presence of God's angels when even one sinner repents."
This second Bible text from the "New Living Translation" (Tyndale House, Publishers, Wheaton, Illinois) is a paraphrase and not an accurate word for word translation of the Bible. However, it is a helpful tool when read with the "King James Version."
The Cost of Being a Disciple
25 A large crowd was following Jesus. He turned around and said to them,
26 "If you want to be my disciple, you must hate everyone else by comparison-your father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters-yes, even your own life. Otherwise, you cannot be my disciple.
27 And if you do not carry your own cross and follow me, you cannot be my disciple.
28 "But don't begin until you count the cost. For who would begin construction of a building without first calculating the cost to see if there is enough money to finish it?
29 Otherwise, you might complete only the foundation before running out of money, and then everyone would laugh at you.
30 They would say, 'There's the person who started that building and couldn't afford to finish it!'
31 "Or what king would go to war against another king without first sitting down with his counselors to discuss whether his army of 10,000 could defeat the 20,000 soldiers marching against him?
32 And if he can't, he will send a delegation to discuss terms of peace while the enemy is still far away.
33 So you cannot become my disciple without giving up everything you own.
34 "Salt is good for seasoning. But if it loses its flavor, how do you make it salty again?
35 Flavorless salt is good neither for the soil nor for the manure pile. It is thrown away. Anyone with ears to hear should listen and understand!"
Luke 15:1-10
Parable of the Lost Sheep
1 Tax collectors and other notorious sinners often came to listen to Jesus teach.
2 This made the Pharisees and teachers of religious law complain that he was associating with such sinful people-even eating with them!
3 So Jesus told them this story:
4 "If a man has a hundred sheep and one of them gets lost, what will he do? Won't he leave the ninety-nine others in the wilderness and go to search for the one that is lost until he finds it?
5 And when he has found it, he will joyfully carry it home on his shoulders.
6 When he arrives, he will call together his friends and neighbors, saying, 'Rejoice with me because I have found my lost sheep.'
7 In the same way, there is more joy in heaven over one lost sinner who repents and returns to God than over ninety-nine others who are righteous and haven't strayed away!
Parable of the Lost Coin
8 "Or suppose a woman has ten silver coins and loses one. Won't she light a lamp and sweep the entire house and search carefully until she finds it?
9 And when she finds it, she will call in her friends and neighbors and say, 'Rejoice with me because I have found my lost coin.'
10 In the same way, there is joy in the presence of God's angels when even one sinner repents."
This second Bible text from the "New Living Translation" (Tyndale House, Publishers, Wheaton, Illinois) is a paraphrase and not an accurate word for word translation of the Bible. However, it is a helpful tool when read with the "King James Version."
Today's question:
1. Did Jesus say we must hate our family? (14:26)
Let me know if you need copies of past lessons. I'm happy to email them to you.
1. Did Jesus say we must hate our family? (14:26)
Let me know if you need copies of past lessons. I'm happy to email them to you.
Answer: (Do you agree?)
1. No, the Bible teaches love (Luke 10:26-27) and tells us to honor our parents (Matthew 15:4; Exodus 20:12). Using hyperbole, "the hatred called for here is actually a lessor love. Jesus was calling His disciples to cultivate such a devotion to Him that their attachment to everything else - including their own lives - would seem like hatred by comparison"
("The MacArthur Bible Commentary" by John MacArthur published by Thomas Nelson, Nashville Tennessee; Page 1308).
There is a milder, but similar sentiment reflected in Matthew 10:37. Remember, no one "can serve two masters" (Matthew 6:24).
Application thought for the day:
Christians my stumble or lose their way, but as long as they focus on Jesus, he will forgive them.
1. No, the Bible teaches love (Luke 10:26-27) and tells us to honor our parents (Matthew 15:4; Exodus 20:12). Using hyperbole, "the hatred called for here is actually a lessor love. Jesus was calling His disciples to cultivate such a devotion to Him that their attachment to everything else - including their own lives - would seem like hatred by comparison"
("The MacArthur Bible Commentary" by John MacArthur published by Thomas Nelson, Nashville Tennessee; Page 1308).
There is a milder, but similar sentiment reflected in Matthew 10:37. Remember, no one "can serve two masters" (Matthew 6:24).
Application thought for the day:
Christians my stumble or lose their way, but as long as they focus on Jesus, he will forgive them.
Thanks to the writings and commentary of John Wesley and Adam Clarke. Also, "The Layman's Bible Study Notebook" by Irving Jensen published by Harvest House Publishing, Irvine, California; the "Life Change Series" published by NavPress Books, Colorado Springs, Colorado; the "Life Application Study Bible" published by Tyndale House Publishing, Carol Stream, Illinois; "The Quest Study Bible" published by The Zondervan Corporation, Grand Rapids, Michigan; "Robertson's New Testament Word Studies"; "The MacArthur Bible Commentary" by John MacArthur published by Thomas Nelson, Nashville, Tennessee; "Wisdom of the Bible" CD by Topics Entertainment, Inc., Renton, Washington for their inspiring pictures; "My utmost for His Highest" by Oswald Chambers published by Barbour publishing, Inc., Uhrichsville, Ohio; The "Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge" by Reuben Archer Torrey; "Hope For Each Day" by Billy Graham published by J. Countryman, a division of Thomas Nelson, Inc., Nashville, Tennessee; "Easton's Bible Dictionary" by Matthew George Easton; "Unger's Bible Dictionary" by Merrill F. Unger, published by Moody Press, Chicago, Illinois; "Halley's Bible Handbook" by Henry H. Halley, Zondervan Publishing House, Grand Rapids, Michigan; "The Living New Testament" published by Tyndale house; "The New Living Translation" published by Tyndale House; BibleGateway.com for all their wonderful links; and of course the "King James Bible". All were critical in putting these lessons together.
© 2024 evolke
© 2024 evolke