Luke 14:25-35 Meaning: Counting the Cost of Following Jesus
25Now great multitudes were going with him. He turned and said to them,
26“If anyone comes to me, and doesn’t disregard his own father, mother, wife, children, brothers, and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he can’t be my disciple.
27Whoever doesn’t bear his own cross and come after me, can’t be my disciple.
28For which of you, desiring to build a tower, doesn’t first sit down and count the cost, to see if he has enough to complete it?
29Or perhaps, when he has laid a foundation and isn’t able to finish, everyone who sees begins to mock him,
30saying, ‘This man began to build and wasn’t able to finish.’
31Or what king, as he goes to encounter another king in war, will not sit down first and consider whether he is able with ten thousand to meet him who comes against him with twenty thousand?
32Or else, while the other is yet a great way off, he sends an envoy and asks for conditions of peace.
33So therefore, whoever of you who doesn’t renounce all that he has, he can’t be my disciple.
34“Salt is good, but if the salt becomes flat and tasteless, with what do you season it?
35It is fit neither for the soil nor for the manure pile. It is thrown out. He who has ears to hear, let him hear.”
25And there went great multitudes with him: and he turned, and said unto them,
26If 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.
27And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple.
28For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it?
29Lest haply, after he hath laid the foundation, and is not able to finish it, all that behold it begin to mock him,
30Saying, This man began to build, and was not able to finish.
31Or 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?
32Or else, while the other is yet a great way off, he sendeth an ambassage, and desireth conditions of peace.
33So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple.
34Salt is good: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be seasoned?
35It 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.
25Now there went with him great multitudes: and he turned, and said unto them,
26If any man cometh unto me, and hateth not his own father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple.
27Whosoever doth not bear his own cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple.
28For which of you, desiring to build a tower, doth not first sit down and count the cost, whether he have wherewith to complete it?
29Lest haply, when he hath laid a foundation, and is not able to finish, all that behold begin to mock him,
30saying, This man began to build, and was not able to finish.
31Or what king, as he goeth to encounter another king in war, will not sit down first and take counsel whether he is able with ten thousand to meet him that cometh against him with twenty thousand?
32Or else, while the other is yet a great way off, he sendeth an ambassage, and asketh conditions of peace.
33So therefore whosoever he be of you that renounceth not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple.
34Salt therefore is good: but if even the salt have lost its savor, wherewith shall it be seasoned?
35It is fit neither for the land nor for the dunghill: men cast it out. He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.
25And there were going on with him great multitudes, and having turned, he said unto them,
26`If any one doth come unto me, and doth not hate his own father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brothers, and sisters, and yet even his own life, he is not able to be my disciple;
27and whoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, is not able to be my disciple.
28`For who of you, willing to build a tower, doth not first, having sat down, count the expence, whether he have the things for completing?
29lest that he having laid a foundation, and not being able to finish, all who are beholding may begin to mock him,
30saying--This man began to build, and was not able to finish.
31`Or what king going on to engage with another king in war, doth not, having sat down, first consult if he be able with ten thousand to meet him who with twenty thousand is coming against him?
32and if not so--he being yet a long way off--having sent an embassy, he doth ask the things for peace.
33`So, then, every one of you who doth not take leave of all that he himself hath, is not able to be my disciple.
34`The salt is good, but if the salt doth become tasteless, with what shall it be seasoned?
35neither for land nor for manure is it fit--they cast it without. He who is having ears to hear--let him hear.'
25And great crowds went with him; and, turning round, he said to them,
26If any man come to me, and shall not hate his own father and mother, and wife, and children, and brothers, and sisters, yea, and his own life too, he cannot be my disciple;
27and whoever does not carry his cross and come after me cannot be my disciple.
28For which of you, desirous of building a tower, does not first sit down and count the cost, if he have what [is needed] to complete it;
29in order that, having laid the foundation of it, and not being able to finish it, all who see it do not begin to mock at him,
30saying, This man began to build and was not able to finish?
31Or what king, going on his way to engage in war with another king, does not, sitting down first, take counsel whether he is able with ten thousand to meet him coming against him with twenty thousand?
32and if not, while he is yet far off, having sent an embassy, he asks for terms of peace.
33Thus then every one of you who forsakes not all that is his own cannot be my disciple.
34Salt [then] [is] good, but if the salt also has become savourless, wherewith shall it be seasoned?
35It is proper neither for land nor for dung; it is cast out. He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.
Meaning in one sentence
Jesus turns to the crowds following Him and speaks plainly about the cost of discipleship, hate family, bear your cross, renounce all. What does He mean?
Context
Jesus is on His final journey to Jerusalem. The crowds swell around Him, pilgrims heading to the Passover, curious onlookers, people stirred by His miracles and teaching. Just before this passage He told a parable about a great banquet where many invited guests made excuses and were replaced by the poor and outcast. Then He turned to the multitudes and spoke words that would stop anyone in their tracks. This is not an evangelistic appeal to attract followers. It is a warning, a gracious warning, to anyone tempted to join the movement without understanding what it actually requires. He wants them to know what they are getting into before they go any further.
Key Words
The word Jesus uses for “hate”, miseō in Greek, sounds harsh to our ears. But in the Semitic world, it often meant loving less by comparison. When Genesis says Jacob loved Rachel but Leah was “hated”, it means Leah was loved less. Jesus is not commanding cruelty toward your family. He is saying that every other love must look like hate next to your love for Him.
The verb bastazō, to “bear” your cross, carries the sense of lifting a burden and carrying it steadily. It is not about one dramatic moment of suffering. It is the daily, patient endurance of whatever following Jesus costs you.
And apotassomai, translated “renounce” or “forsake”, originally meant to bid farewell, to release your grip on something you hold. It is the opposite of clutching. Jesus invites open hands, not a desperate grasp on everything you own.
How Christians Read This Verse
Christians across traditions have wrestled with the same question: did Jesus mean we must literally hate our families? John Wesley explained it as loving them “comparatively to Christ”, so that even the dearest relationship takes second place. John Calvin wrote that we must “prefer Christ so greatly” that nothing holds us back from following Him.
The call to renounce all possessions has been read in different ways. Some early interpreters, like some monastics, took it as a literal demand to give away everything. Others, including Calvin and many Reformers, saw it as an inner disposition of the heart, being willing to let go of anything if Christ asks. Both readings agree: discipleship costs everything, whether or not you are actually called to give it all up today.
A common misunderstanding
Many people read “hate” in verse 26 and think Jesus demands we despise our parents and siblings. In fact, the Greek word miseō is used here as a Semitic idiom of comparison, the same way Matthew records Jesus saying we must love Him more than father or mother. Jesus is not calling for broken homes. He is calling for a love so deep that every other bond feels lesser by comparison.
Living This Out
You might be following Jesus right now without having stopped to ask what it will really cost you. Not to scare you off, but to help you build on solid ground. This week, take one honest look at the thing you are most afraid to lose: a relationship, a comfort, a dream. Ask yourself, quietly, whether you would release it if He asked. Not because He always will. But because following Him means He holds first place. If you find something you are clutching too tightly, you have found the place where discipleship gets real, and where grace has room to grow.
Main takeaway: Following Jesus means putting Him above every other love, counting the cost honestly, and letting go of everything that would keep you from Him.
For Families
For ages 5, 8
Jesus wants us to love Him most of all, even more than our favorite toys or our best friends. He wants us to think carefully before we say we will follow Him, because following Him is the most important thing we will ever do.
For ages 9, 12
Jesus was honest with the crowds: following Him is not easy. It means putting Him first, even when your friends want you to do something else or when it costs you something you really want. That is why He tells the stories about the builder and the king, He wants you to think ahead and be ready. He will give you the strength you need, but you have to decide to follow Him for real.
Questions People Ask
Does Jesus really want me to hate my family?
No. The word 'hate' in Luke 14:26 is a Semitic idiom meaning to love less by comparison. In Matthew 10:37, Jesus says we must love Him more than father or mother. He is not commanding hostility toward your family, He is saying your love for Him must be so great that every other love looks like hate next to it.
What does it mean to 'bear your own cross'?
In Jesus' day, a man carrying his cross was walking to his own execution. It meant the end of his own plans. For us, 'bearing your cross' means accepting the shame, suffering, or loss that may come from following Jesus. It is not about putting up with everyday hardships, it is the specific cost of loyalty to Christ.
Is the tower builder parable about salvation?
Not exactly. The parable is about counting the cost of discipleship before committing. Jesus is not saying you earn salvation by being prepared, He is warning that if you start following Him without understanding what it requires, you may give up when things get hard. He wants honest followers, not half-hearted ones.
What does the salt metaphor mean in this passage?
Salt was a valuable preservative and seasoning in the ancient world. Jesus calls His disciples the salt of the earth. But if salt loses its saltiness, if a disciple loses the distinctive quality of loyalty to Christ, it is useless. The warning is serious: a half-hearted follower is good for nothing in the kingdom.
Do I have to give away all my money to be a disciple?
Jesus says 'whoever does not renounce all that he has cannot be my disciple.' Some Christians have taken this literally and sold everything for the poor. Others see it as a heart posture, being willing to let go of anything if Jesus asks. Both agree that our possessions must not hold a grip on us that prevents us from following Christ fully.
For pastors & researchers
Greek interlinear, 8 commentaries & word study