Parables
Back to Parables

Parables · 26 of 45

Counting the Cost

On the road to Jerusalem

Luke 14:25–33

Luke 14:25–33

25Large crowds were traveling with Jesus. He turned around and said to them, 26If anyone comes to me and does not hate his father, mother, wife, children, brothers, sisters, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple. 27Anyone who doesn't carry his own cross and follow me cannot be my disciple. 28Suppose you want to build a tower. Wouldn't you first sit down and figure out the cost to make sure you can finish it? 29Otherwise, you might lay the foundation and then run out of money. Everyone who sees it will laugh at you, 30saying, 'This man started to build and was not able to finish.' 31Or suppose a king is about to go to war against another king. Won't he first sit down and consider whether his 10,000 soldiers can defeat the one coming against him with 20,000? 32If he can't win, he'll send a delegation while the enemy is still far away to negotiate terms of peace. 33In the same way, anyone who doesn't give up everything he has cannot be my disciple.

Read Luke 14

About this passage

What the parable says

Jesus told the crowds that following him has a cost. A man who wants to build a tower first sits down and counts the cost. A king going to war first considers whether he can win. In the same way, anyone who does not give up all he has cannot be his disciple.

Where this fits

One of 45 passages in Jesus' Parables, in the group “On the road to Jerusalem.”

Keep exploring