LUKE 14:25-27 DEVOTION DEMANDED OF DISCIPLES

DEVOTION DEMANDED OF DISCIPLES

LUKE 14:25-27

(See also Matthew 10:32-38)

Luke 14:25 And there went great multitudes with him: and he turned, and said unto them,

Susan: It is significant that Jesus addressed the crowd at large, rather than just the twelve.

Susie: Jesus invited many more people to follow Him than just the most intimate disciples. However, He made it plain that there was a tremendous cost involved in being His disciple.

Susan: Jesus was about to make it clear that the cost of following Him was mandatory, not optional.

Luke 14:26 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.

Susie: Jesus used the word “hate” in this context to mean that the love of anything or anyone else would not compare to the disciple’s love for their Savior.

Matthew 10:37 He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.

Susan: Dr. Charles Stanley hit the nail on the head as he explained Luke 14:26:

NASB Charles F. Stanley Life Principles Bible Notes

Jesus calls for an exclusive commitment from His disciples. Everything else should pale in comparison to our love for Him because He alone must be enthroned in our hearts.

Susan: Jesus must be the supreme love our lives to whom we surrender all—everything we have, everyone we love, and even ourselves. We should even be willing to sacrifice our very lives because of the veracity of our love for Him.

Susie: Following Jesus is not a half-hearted commitment. We must be “all in.”

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

Self-renunciation, pushed, if necessary, to the extremest issues, is with Jesus the one indispensable condition of discipleship. He asks for nothing less than the heart, and that cannot be given by halves.

Luke 14:27 And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple.

Susan: Not every Christian will die as a martyr, but as His witnesses we must be willing and prepared to do so if the Lord places us in that position. But remember if we die a martyr’s death, we are then ushered into the arms of our Savior and Lord.

Susie: The Greek word “martus,” translated “witnesses” in Acts 1:8, could also be translated as “martyrs.”

Acts 1:8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses³¹⁴⁴ unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.

Susan: To truly define ourselves as disciples, students of Jesus, we must consider ourselves dead to all that is sinful, those things that distract us from His divine purpose for our lives. Instead, we must attach ourselves, be grafted into the vitality of the Lord Himself.

Romans 6:11 Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.

John 15:5 I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.

Ponder this and Apply it: To be a follower of Christ is a life of complete surrender, total abandonment, of all we would claim to be ours, being willing to allow the Lord to take everything (including our lives) in order to glorify God. Who or what is most dear to you? Jesus wants us to love others, to care for our families (1 Timothy 5:8), to be His caring arms. However, these earthly relationships cannot be placed above our love and loyalty to Jesus. Prayerfully evaluate your dedication to Jesus and seeking His kingdom above all else. Ask Him for the strength to make any adjustments necessary to bring God the most glory through your daily life.