Great crowds were traveling with him, and he turned and addressed them, 26 “If any one comes to me without hating his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple. 27 Whoever does not carry his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple. 28 Which of you wishing to construct a tower does not first sit down and calculate the cost to see if there is enough for its completion? 29 Otherwise, after laying the foundation and finding himself unable to finish the work the onlookers should laugh at him 30 and say, ‘This one began to build but did not have the resources to finish.’ 31 Or what king marching into battle would not first sit down and decide whether with ten thousand troops he can successfully oppose another king advancing upon him with twenty thousand troops? 32 But if not, while he is still far away, he will send a delegation to ask for peace terms. 33 In the same way, everyone of you who does not renounce all his possessions cannot be my disciple.
Jesus often spoke in ways that made people stop and think. In this passage, He addresses the crowds traveling with Him and lays out what it truly means to be His disciple. The words are strong, even shocking: He tells us that to follow Him, we must “hate” our family and even our own life. This is not a call to cruelty or selfishness, but a way of saying that nothing, not even the closest relationships or our own comfort, can come before Him. True discipleship demands that Jesus take first place in our hearts.
Jesus’ language in this passage was very unusual compared with the typical teaching methods of His time. Most Jewish rabbis of the time taught using moderation, interpretation of the Law, and moral examples. Jesus, however, often uses direct, even confrontational language to make a point. He uses hyperbolic language, telling His followers to “hate” father and mother, and even one’s own life. This was not meant to be taken literally, but it was a method to capture attention and shock the listener into realizing the seriousness of discipleship. Throughout salvation history, God has consistently called His people to give Him their full allegiance—from Abraham being asked to leave his home, to the prophets speaking truth to kings, to the apostles leaving everything to follow Christ. True discipleship has always required, and will always require, the faithful to put God above all else.
He also speaks of carrying one’s own cross. In Jesus’ time, a cross was a symbol of suffering, humiliation, and death. For His followers, this means accepting the difficulties and sacrifices that come with living a life fully committed to Him. To be His disciple is not easy. It requires courage, endurance, and a willingness to face trials for the sake of Christ. This continues to be a challenge today.
In the Bread of Life Discourse (Jn. 6:60‑66), some disciples left because Jesus’ teaching about eating His flesh and drinking His blood was too difficult for them—they wanted the comfort of following Him on their own terms. This mirrors Luke 14:25‑33: many hear the call to discipleship, but not all accept the full cost, or they try to follow Christ in a way that suits their preferences rather than His demands.
Jesus then gives practical examples: building a tower and a king preparing for battle. Both images show the need to plan, calculate, and understand the cost before committing. Following Him cannot be casual or half-hearted. Just as someone planning a career, choosing a vocation, or committing to marriage must consider the responsibilities and sacrifices involved, so too must a disciple consider the demands of following Christ. We must be ready to persevere even when it is difficult, knowing that true discipleship requires dedication and thoughtful commitment.
Finally, when Jesus speaks about possessions, He is not necessarily calling all people to sell everything they own, but He challenges us to let go of whatever might keep us from following Him fully. If love of money, status, possessions, or anything else comes before our love of Christ, then we are not fully committed to renouncing everything and following Him. Our love for Him must be stronger than our attachment to material things. Anything that becomes more important than Christ can prevent us from living as His true disciples.
This passage challenges us directly, but it is also deeply encouraging. God does not call us to follow Him and leave us unsupported. He gives grace, strength, and the Holy Spirit to help us carry our cross, although these graces are not always easily perceived. For those who fully commit, the reward of following Christ is incomparable—peace, joy, and eternal life with Him. Counting the cost is not meant to scare us but to prepare us. This way, we can follow Him confidently, without turning back, remaining faithful even when the path is difficult.
Lord Jesus, help me to follow You with courage and love. Teach me to carry my cross with patience and faith. Give me the strength to place You above all else in my life and to trust that every sacrifice for Your sake will bear fruit in eternal life. Amen.
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Sources and References:
- The Holy Bible, New American Bible, Revised Edition (2011).
- A Catholic Commentary on Holy Scripture, ed. Bernard Orchard et al. (1953).
- The Paulist Biblical Commentary, ed. José Enrique Aguilar Chiu et al. (2018).
- The Navarre Bible: Luke, Faculty of the University of Navarre (2008).
- The New Jerome Biblical Commentary, ed. Raymond E. Brown et al. (1990).
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