Luke 14:28 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.
Whew. Somehow I don't think I need to have otherworldly insight to suggest that verses like this aren't discussed much in many lukewarm institutions today....
In examining this passage; of course we need the context as to what God is trying to emphasize that love for Him trumps associations; commitments and sometimes outright nagging by family members who the enemy is using to attack our efforts at walking in faith and obedience. What I want to look at here is the last part of the passage as it is the key: hating our own lives helps us actually love those around us more than ourselves and of course this is because of the overall love for God we have through the Spirit working in us. Now some come from close families whether or not they are of the faith; and some not. I grew up with a very mentally abusive father who now with advanced Dementia has mellowed out (thankfully in a facility as I was no longer able to care for him and he had the money saved up for such care; praise the Lord). I have written letters in the past when he was able to give a long dissertation on my "narrow minded" ways; now I still have letters I plan to continue to give him as he can still read and seems to get some concepts better that way.
Telling him I loved him about 15 years ago after having been away from home many years was something he heard no doubt and probably was uncomfortable with; especially in light of his own abusive upbringing; but it was necessary. Trying to communicate the need he still has for the Lord is hard but it is my duty; I pray I can display His work in a tangible way.
I can say with my mom in her last months there was much anger toward me and some in regard to my faith; mocking; etc.
Loving her meant arranging for her to have a chaplain who happened to call the day she died.
When we see someone we love fall away; it is easy to idolize them and remember something that is an illusion. It is also easy to compare what someone was in the past to what they are now. As much as we love someone (and I'm thinking of my ex wife here) when they are determined to follow a course of rebellion (and in her case adultery) obviously the relationship is shattered and only with repentance things can change. Given that I haven't heard for a number of years from her that doesn't seem likely.
I don't have any kids but I'm sure there are those out there who have raised them in the fear and admonition of the Lord in loving homes. The presence of angels beholding the Father in heaven is stated in scripture but of course once they grow up things change. We can be encouraged that some who stray far have a Prodigal son moment; but statistically of course that is only a fraction of a percentage. Nonetheless we should not give up in prayer; but we need to keep ourselves from being totally destroyed emotionally. I am still working on that after 10 years from the date of my divorce being finalized.
Our love for God has to be preeminent above all other loyalties; Christ uses the word "hate" ( Luke 14:26). Naturally given the context of so many passages on God's love and His demonstration of ultimate Agape illustrated in 1 John repeatedly as well as many other passages it is hatred compared to unconditional love. Jesus ultimately loved the Father as the example in His life; hence there may be people He didn't heal as indicated because of unbelief in His own hometown. That is the key to the context here; we shouldn't allow our own personal lives to drive a wedge in our ministry but in the same token we have to balance responsibilities with a wife and children; and as Peter did can involve them on our travels.
We must trust God and lean not on our own understanding; and this means not to idolize or be controlled either
With so many things happening around, I find myself asking: How is my soul doing?
As it says in (see Psalm 25) "Lead me in Your truth and teach me, for You are the God of my salvation; on You I wait all day." This reminds me of (see Ephesians 2), "For He Himself is our peace, who has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility."And also of verse 13 (see Romans 2),my faith human renounce,"(For not the hearers of the Law are iust before God, but the doers of the Law shalbe iustified;" Even though my faith is still growing and my human understanding feels limited, I rest in these truths.
Even though my faith is still growing and my human understanding feels limited, I rest in these truths.
I also cannot forget one of the most well-known verses, which I've heard many times: 28"And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose."( romans 8). My hope is in Him, just as it's written in Luke 12:28-34 and in Jude 1:3, where I'm reminded to remain fully committed and present. This is a wake-up call for me - not to be negligent, even if my English vocabulary is still limited. Obedience depend on a willing heart.
In today's world, rushing has become so normal. That's why I often reflect on a chapter that helps me deal with anxiety: Philippians 4:6-9.
He has so many attributes, and one of the first I found in the Bible was lthe manifold wisedome of God. The verses in Luke 14:7-11 summarize my entire text
Matthew 22:1-14 reflects the story of Luke 14 but apparently there are some differences. The summary of the parable in Matthew is this in verse 14 For many are called, but few are chosen.
There is much analysis as to how this pertained to the Pharisees and the Jews rejecting Christ. I would say this also applies in other ways too; such as those who hear the Gospel message say decades ago whose hearts have dulled and those today who convert. We have to search ourselves to see if we are truly saved; but also not try to add our own righteousness which could signify not wearing the proper attire no doubt referring to the white garments we receive being needed. The need not to have our garments stained is another issue; perhaps not focused on here.
There is no doubt some reference was made here to the final call of the good and bad here; much as those who are summoned in the highways and hedges in Luke 14:23. The issue of the cares of this world or thorns that entangle us to prevent fruit from being produced is a concern here too. We are reminded of John 10:2 about the thief and robber that attempts to enter the sheepfold in a way other than the door (or Christ).
Verses such as this must be studied; with the idea of not terrifying a new believer with thoughts of our Lord throwing them out of heaven; but more importantly exhorting us with the truth of the fact that anyone can have their heart dulled and their minds distracted slowly over time. Exhortations such as this are readily accepted by those mature in the faith; just as rebuke and exhortation are. Something doesn't have to apply to us personally; but as Romans 11:22 states Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in his goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off. This passage is describing the Jews who rejected the Messiah and Gentiles grafted in. True believers have faith to the end even if weak.
Concluding thoughts for now on Christ's perfect character.
I am not sure if continuing the rest of Matthew will bring out a lot of new points of this particular subject but I may do it anyway for general insights. The last posting about Jesus and His statement about who are His mother and brothers in Matthew 12:48
must have been rather stinging in the family's ears. He had demonstrated love and loyalty to His family so they had to know there was no malice in His words. Perhaps we need to remember that when we consider counting the cost ( Luke 14:28).
Here's the lyrics of that old song from David Meece originally out in 1983; I'll focus on the second verse as most pertinent today:
The modern-day disciple
Still has a price to pay
There's a war within, and a war with sin
And he fights it ev'ryday
So be sure and understand
The voice you hear behind the call
You can't come with half a heart
Because He's asking for it all
Kind of smacks you like a V-8 commercial. You don't see 'em lyrics anymO!
Ok; I digress. God uses men to help encourage and rebuke us; and generally motivate us by example and prodding for service in the Kingdom. In the long run; we all have to come to personal communion with the Lord regularly to learn to seek His face and hear His voice to continue to run the race and endure to the end. If we don't we WILL fail; burn out or some sadly will apostatize. The thought is enough to bring tears to my eyes; but it must be godly sorrow as a million tears of human sorrow as to unfaithfulness and disobedience amount to nothing. Today frankly we don't even see much worldly sorrow! Jesus was a man of sorrows; and acquainted with our grief ( Isaiah 53:3). Surely the Apostle's lives weren't exactly a rose garden (except for the thorns I suppose). But they would be rewarded ( Rev. 21:14). He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many.. ( Isaiah 53:11)
Many people interpret Luke 16:19-31, the story of the rich man and Lazarus, as a literal account rather than a parable. However, in Mark 4:11 and Luke 8:10, Jesus explicitly states that He spoke to others in parables. We must consider the entirety of Scripture when evaluating this story, as I have referenced only a few relevant passages.
If this story were literal, it would imply that individuals receive their rewards immediately after death. This notion contradicts the rewards are given after the resurrection, as indicated in Revelation 22:12, Luke 14:13-14, 2 Timothy 4:8, and 1 Corinthians 15:51-54, along with what we see in Revelation 20:4.
What was the purpose of this story? Is it our choices, what we have faith in, God, or do we crave wealth, or do we have faith, and charity, 1 Corinthians 13:1-13. This story shows the rich man rich in worldly things, but poor in morality, and Lazarus the opposite. This story also points to Jesus' death and resurrection, Luke 16:31. We see that is what happened, they still rejected Jesus after He was hung on a cross and died, put in a tomb, rose from the grave, and spoke to them for 40 days, and it did not convince them.
2 Corinthians 4:4 makes it clear that we are brain dead when it comes to spiritual discernment until God opens the door to understanding. This particular posting (likely a series) isn't so much about correct doctrine but it explains how we should avoid "compartmentalizing" our lives into that which is "spiritual" and the rest of our existence in regard to employment; marital status and living location in particular.
Scripturally it is crucial to take into account Luke 14:26 as to our love for God being paramount and essentially any other affections being "hate" in comparison. The context here certainly cannot be permitted to ignore other scriptures or be contradictory to loving our enemies; honoring our parents; etc. We are asked not to let influences of others stop us from following Christ; so that we follow the Master who will guide us and direct us how to conduct ourselves. Nonetheless we see the Disciples leaving everything; although Paul would mention (see 1 Corinthians 9:5) that believing wives should be allowed whenever safe to do so to accompany them and such precedent exists when we see Abraham leaving with Sarai and Moses also being married despite his years in exile.
This marriage issue is something some people like to throw around when coming to Christ; where they use an excuse that their wives aren't believers but wish to remain ( 1 Cor. 7:13-14) they should when often seeking a new "model" as it were. If they don't then verse 15 takes effect; but I am doubtful of the NIV interpretation divorce; in any case I don't see anyone free to remarry if a spouse is still alive. In my situation it is sad to report that my faith was something that was eventually scoffed at and ridiculed and my ex used it as an excuse to be disloyal; since marriages among professing believers isn't much better than the world there should be just as much a chance of a believer winning over his wife or at least staying together with some harmony.
Luke 14:33 - So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple.
Here's how this verse is broken down in the Greek text:
Whosoever he be of you that does not forsake, and that is a Present Tense verb, continuously forsake all that he has. The word "forsakes" APOSTAIA, that is where we get our term apostasy from. It means to separate yourself, to abandon, to standoff from.
Whosoever is not continually forsaking all that he has. The term "all that he has" has a Reflexive Pronoun in there, meaning all of the possessions that belong to him, he cannot be my disciple.
He is not telling people to take everything that you have and get rid of it. This is the relationship that the believer must have because those things will interfere with following Jesus Christ.
Remember what Paul said in 1 Corinthians Chapter 7, purchase but don't possess it, because no matter whether it is during your lifetime or afterwards, whatever you purchase today is going to be gone tomorrow.
Jesus is saying that whosoever does not continually standoff, separate, abandon all that he has, cannot be my disciple.
Luke 15:2 - And the Pharisees and scribes murmured, saying, This man receiveth sinners, and eateth with them.
The word "receive" in the Greek means to welcome. Jesus did more than receive sinners. He welcomed them. And Jesus welcomed eating with them.
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.
The word "hate" in this verse is the word MISEO. It is not the word for hostile. It is a word of comparison. When MISEO is used with any of the words that have to do with love, it is showing comparison.
What Jesus is saying here is that you must love Him so much that the comparison between Him and anyone else, or anything else makes it look like you hate them.
Luke 14:27 - And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple.
And whosoever doth not bear. That's called a Present Tense verb. It shows continuous action. Whosoever does not continuously bear his cross, and come after me, again the word "come" is a Present Tense verb, continually carrying his cross and continually coming after me.
Here is the word I have mentioned before. It is the word "after" OPEISO. It means behind. The proper position to follow Christ is behind Him.
Luke 14:32 - Or else, while the other is yet a great way off, he sendeth an ambassage, and desireth conditions of peace.
An ambassage is an ambassador. In fact, it is the word PRESBAYA for elder. He sends out an ambassador (an elder), and desires conditions of peace.
It would be foolish to go out there being outnumbered two to one, as we see in Luke 14:31. Somebody would say, what are you thinking? Putting all your men in jeopardy and count the cost.
Luke 14:8 - When thou art bidden of any man to a wedding, sit not down in the highest room; lest a more honourable man than thou be bidden of him;
The Greek word here for "highest room" means the chief reclining places. When the master of the feast, (the one who has made the feast), he sits at the head, at the back of this big reclining table, and the most honorable sit next to him, and working its way down to the end is the lowest seats or reclining places at the table.
Luke 14:10 - But when thou art bidden, go and sit down in the lowest room; that when he that bade thee cometh, he may say unto thee, Friend, go up higher: then shalt thou have worship in the presence of them that sit at meat with thee.
Here is the literal translation of this verse:
But when you are invited, go and sit down in the lowest reclining place; that when he that has invited you, he may say unto you, Friend, go up higher: then you shall have glory, (the word worship is the word glory (DOKSA), in the presence of them that sit at meal with you.
Luke 14:11 - For whosoever exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.
The word "abased" is the word humbled. One of the primary teachings in the New Testament and this is where it comes from. This is a quote from Proverbs 3:34 and it is used quite extensively through the entire NT.
Peter has probably the best presentation of this in 1 Peter 5:5. He quotes Proverbs 3:34 "For whosoever exalts themselves shall be humbled, and whosoever should humble themselves shall be exalted."
Luke 14:16 - Then said he unto him, A certain man made a great supper, and bade many:
The word bade is invitation.
Luke 14:23 - And the lord said unto the servant, Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled.
The word compel (ANANKASON), is a word of urgency. It means be urgent but don't use physical force.
Luke 14:2 - And, behold, there was a certain man before him which had the dropsy.
HUDROPIKOS is the Greek word, and it is made up of two Greek words that literally means water, HUDOR, and PHINO, to appear. It means to appear watery.
In those days, this was a technical medical term that meant that the connecting tissues of the body were filling with water. And this is the only instance of it in the New Testament. By saying that this man was before him, EMPROSTHEN in the Greek, it indicates that he was strategically placed.
So, they invited Jesus over on the Sabbath Day for a meal. And on the Sabbath Day the main meal was the mid-afternoon meal for the Jews. They did not warm the food. It was cold food prepared the day before.
And this man who suffered from HUDROPIKOS (the dropsy), water in the connecting tissues of the body, they put him before them. Because they knew what Jesus was going to do.
Luke 14:3 - And Jesus answering spake unto the lawyers and Pharisees, saying, Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath day?
It is interesting that the word for "to heal" is the word THERAPUO where we get our word therapy from. There is a different Greek word for physical healing. This is therapy (THERAPUO).
What it indicates is that when Jesus healed someone of their physical problem, He also healed all of the effects afterwards. They didn't have to go for therapy. He took care of it all so there would be no doubt as to what happened.
Luke 14:4 - And they held their peace. And he took him, and healed him, and let him go;
And He is saying to them, is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath Day? And they didn't want to answer. And He took the man, and healed him, physical healing. And released him, let him go. Go home, you are healed!
Differences between God and Satan in terms of the soul
The law of diminishing returns which our natural man itself is subject to means that all pleasures in life at some point apart from the Lord are vanity. God's gifts are from above without variableness or shadow ( James 1:17 loosely translated). The enemy infuses evil spirits to gradually bring men from what appeared at first to be a wonderful experience to one of torment and bondage. No wonder he is described as an angel of light ( 2 Cor. 11:14).
Clearly then our enemy doesn't appear like a creature with horns and a pitchfork. His true ugliness isn't from the outer appearance but from the corrupted nature that he has instilled in the world system ( James 3:15). We could say the opposite about the Lord; He doesn't have to show off; and there isn't anything appealing to the flesh in Him. Of course we all will be flat on our faces when He comes but His beauty shows forth to us mainly in righteousness and through the remnant Body of believers who are sold out for Him. Only God knows who are His; but the lukewarm show no clear difference from the world at large and are neither transforming society with salt or light or being any real help to the remnant that are fighting through daily spiritual warfare and not being given aid on the battlefield.
God grants legal authority to Satan based on two things; one as with Job to demonstrate testing and trials on a righteous man to exalt him further in the end or two the most common thing someone has sin in their lives allowing the enemy to continue to work on holding someone in bondage so that he is rendered ineffective for the Kingdom of God.
The Lord makes it clear; that He is Lord and Master as well as Savior; that He doesn't tolerate any others in charge over His subjects. The sooner we realize that true freedom comes through serving the Lord and not to being served what the world offers the better off we will be. (see Luke 14:28).
"So I prophesied as he commanded me, and the breath came into them, and they lived, and stood up upon their feet, an exceeding great army."
We see them again in the vision of St John. God fashioned "their hearts alike; He considereth all their works."(Ps.33:15) They follow a dress code and they follow their leader representing each heart that makes up the company. Their formation has single measurement, that of angel, man and the Word of God on the lead. "And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war."(Re.19:11;21:17)
Coming back to the vision of Ezekiel, bone to bones and flesh to flesh the army is close-knit across as well as up and down. This is the army according to the will of God. This also explains why David went wrong while he took census of the people. "And again the anger of the Lord was kindled against Israel, and he moved David against them to say, Go, number Israel and Judah."(2 Sa.24:1). In fact it was Satan who tempted David. "And Satan stood up against Israel, and provoked David to number Israel."(1 Chr.21:1). A rational man determines the number so in the matter of numbers he holds advantage. Jesus referred to it. ( Luke 14:28). The battle is of God. "Thus saith the Lord unto you, Be not afraid nor dismayed by reason of this great multitude; for the battle is not yours, but God's."(2 Chr.20:15)
King David is a man after my heart so God willed to which we have this verse, ""After removing Saul, he made David their king. He testified concerning him: 'I have found David son of Jesse a man after my own heart; he will do everything I want him to do. "(Ac.13:22). But when David took pride in his glory forgetting the manifold benefits from God where it connected. The same pride that Satan showed off.
Much can be said about today's music and entertainment industry as to how they mock God. In all of this we can tend to ignore the passage in Jude 1:9 where slander against Satan himself by Michael the Archangel was not proclaimed; there was an appeal to the Lord to rebuke him. If that is the case for an Archangel surely it should be the case for us. Yet many wish to mock Satan as well to their own detriment.
This statement is by no means; of course to suggest that we should worship the Devil. We simply cannot fight against an enemy who is vastly superior to us any other way; and the verse Luke 14:31 demonstrates this principle fighting against an army of superior manpower. This is why deliverance ministers that implore a demon to "go to hell" are clearly unscriptural (or else if true by now there wouldn't be any left to possess and oppress men). Satan is not ruling in hell; or in hell currently as that is the place where he will suffer eternally himself. God has; however given him a sort of usurper role at present where he is given an army of principalities and powers to rule over regions of the earth as many verses in Daniel indicate. Demons are also under his rule; likely disembodied spirits from the offspring of Nephilim it would seem. Jesus and the prophets never went after these principalities ruling over nations; but cast out devils living inside individuals. Again Daniel shows how in Daniel 10:13 Micheal fought against a principality for 21 days before his prayers could be answered. We don't often think of that being an issue with prayers being answered but should consider such things.
From the outset let me say that no amount of dissertation can help answer all of the questions we as mere mortals can ask regarding the state of suffering we must endure in a fallen world or fully comprehend the reasons God allowed it in His sovereignty and Master plan. The sufferings of Christ are the prime example.
1 Corinthians 16:2 "Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him, t
Romans 14:5 "And upon the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul preached unto them, ready to depart on the morrow; and continued his speech until midnight."(Question? Does your church only meet on Sunday to fellowship and hear preaching and teaching? Is Sunday the only day of the week you might hear preaching from the minister? This verse just tells of believers gathering on Sunday to fellowship and listen to Paul preach because he had to leave the next day. It doesn't interpret as abolishing their regular worshiping on the Sabbath.)
Collisians 2:14 & 16 "Blotting out the handwriting of ORDINANCES (my caps) that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to His cross; Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or the new moon or of the sabbath days." (This judgment is speaking of situations on the sabbath as when David fed his men shewbread that was only to be eaten by the Jewish Priests on the Sabbath. 1 Samuel 21:1-6, Christ feeding His disciples from the cornfield on a Sabbath. Matthew 1:21 and pulling an ox out of a ditch on the Sabbath. Luke 14:5; if there are things that needed to be done out of necessity on the Sabbath, you should not let men judge you for doing that.)
I don't know how any of the verses I noted can be interpreted as showing that the early church willingly changed it's weekly worship and fellowship from the sabbath to the first day of the week. As I presented, there is historical proof that they didn't. As the "ravening wolves in sheep clothing" ( Matthew 7:15) began to creep into the church, a change was eventually made to abolish the sabbath and worship and refrain form labor on Sunday. Constantine and the Catholic Church mainly changed it and the world followed.
This situation and others like it are not disobeying the Sabbath. But if you get a part time job helping your fiend with his moving business on The Sabbath, this is disobeying the Sabbath. If you need the extra money, pray and God will provide it to you without you having to break the Sabbath. Remember David and his feeding his men the shewbread. ( 1 Sam. 21: 1-6). It wasn't something he did all the time, it was something of need at the time. The same with Christ feeding his disciples from the cornfield on the sabbath ( Matt. 12:21) or someone pulling their ox out of a ditch on the sabbath ( Luke 14:5). So the Holy Spirit is telling us to not let others "judge" you for this kind of behavior on the Sabbath. It does not say to no longer keep this day Holy.
Corinthians 16:2, "On the first day of every week, each one of you should set aside a sum of money in keeping with his income, saving it up, so that when I come no collections will have to be made.
Excuse me but how-in-the-world does this scripture indicate that the church met on Sunday? Paul is asking them at the beginning of each week to set aside an amount of money for whatever so this won't have to be bothered with when he visits them again. This is not work and he certainly doesn't say for them to switch to Sundays to have church until he comes. Please use some discernment.
Colossians 2:14 & 16 "Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross." Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days." God did give Moses statues and ordinances for instructions on His 10 commandments to give to the Jews but they eventually added foolish ones of their own. Verses 14 explains this by calling these ordinances that were "against" them and which caused the Jews much confusion in following the real laws of God and Moses.
Jesus says to honor your father and your mother. He is quoting Exodus 20:12 and is speaking of honoring our biological father and mother.
And then we look over at Luke 14:26 which reads, "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."
So it seems that we have a dilemma. We're told to honor our father and mother, but then we're told that we can't be His disciple if we come to Him and we don't hate our father and mother.
In the English language, we see the word hate and we know what it means to hate someone or hate something. Hate is such a very strong word.
But here's the beauty of the Greek language. In Luke 14:26, the word hate in the Greek text is the word MISEO. It does not mean to hate someone according to our definition of the word hate in our English language.
This word is MISEO. It is not the word for hostile. It is a word of comparison. When MISEO is used with any of the words that have to do with love, it is showing comparison.
In other words, Jesus is saying you must love me so much that the comparison between me and anybody else, or anything else, it makes it look like you hate them. You really don't, but that's what it looks like to them.
Jesus is saying that our love for Him can't even be close in comparison to how we love others.
Hope this makes things a little clearer on these sections of scripture.
I have been presented with a question which gave rise to another question:
In Matthew 12:49 Jesus refers to His brothers and sisters and even His mother as His followers whom He is surrounded by. This He replies when asked by His biological family. Should it then be considered possible that the commandment of "Honor you father and your mother" refers to your elderly persons within the Body of Christ as your "mothers and fathers", and not your biological parents?
If we are to be willing to hate our father and mother and ... ( Luke 14:26) to be a disciple, does these again refer to our biological parents?
Could someone with Hebrew understandings assist me by explaining if there is differences in the term mother and father in the different verses, and what is actual intended?
Ah! The perpetual discussion on eternal security. Almost as exciting as discussing who the Sons of God were in Gen. 6:2, but I'll save that one for another time. Unfortunately, we live in a time when 'rightly' dividing the Word has become somehow more complicated. I believe the Bible has every answer to all the questions we need to have answered in order to walk circumspectly with the Lord. I'll make it brief, then, that the ability to lose one's salvation rests completely with that individual. God made the way, Christ made the sacrifice and the Holy Spirit provides the ability or power for us to follow Christ daily, unless we choose otherwise. Salvation from God does not negate one's ability to choose between God or something less. The Bible contains those who started well and finished poorly. So poorly they ended up in Hades. Saul, Israel's first king, was one whom God withdrew His spirit from ( 1 Sam. 16:14), Judas Iscariot whom Christ called to follow Him, willingly rejected and betrayed Christ after he witnessed and performed miracles/wonders in His name when sent out by Jesus in pairs ( Mark 6:7-13) and then, Demas, who forsook Paul for the love of the world ( 2 Tim. 4:10). But, finally, God has a word that many overlook in the Bible. It's a short 4-letter word called "blot". It's used in Exodus 32:32-33 where God tells Moses He will blot out the names of those who reject Him from His book and then in Revelation 3:5, Jesus himself declares that He will not blot out the names of those who overcome the trials and sufferings that believers face, but warns those who are not watching and keeping His commands. I know that my flesh nature would love the idea that once I get saved, I have no more worries about anything. Lack of rewards in Heaven will be no big deal because we won't feel shame or regret. You better read Luke 14:27 and Matt. 10:38, no one will wear Heaven's crown until they carry their earthly cross in His service. Thanks for your time.
Theophany of God was in the glory of the word, which is encapsulated by the name Jehovahshalom, God our peace. At a time of great depredations from the Midianites and of strife in the land what prompted Gideon to think of peace unless it was from God? The angel of the Lord had greeted him by 'TheLordis with thee, thou mighty man of valour.' In short God's word brought it in so many words that he found peace, unlike anything he had known before and it was a covenant as it were when the angel accepted his offering. 'Can two walk together unless agreed upon?' The angel of the Lord visited him as a mighty man of valor and now he had to grow into the stature God desired of him. This is what we find in vv.25-35.
Gideon was a new creation and where he was nervous of the Midianites coming down to rob him of his crop he had 'threshed wheat by the winepress, to hide it from the Midianites'. Now he was demanded of God to cut down the grove 'and throw down the altar of Baal that thy father hath', God was now leading him to a point of no return. No more he could continue his former life going against his grain, while putting up with the practice of Baal-worship of his father's household he was cultivating a defeatist attitude of taking the line of least resistance. No more of that. The word of God had planted the light of the knowledge of the word, and he had to be heroic for God. This reminds the words of Jesus," 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.( Luke 14:26)".
He had to choose bullock one for himself as a peace offering and the second bullock of seven years old as a token of cutting himself loose from vain traditions of his father. The bullock of seven years holds another significance and it signaled that the threat of Midian was coming to an end and unknown to him he was spearheading the revolt.
It costs something to be a disciple of Christ. To live for Christ is to let go of all our possessions, pick up our cross, and follow Him. We no longer live for ourselves, we live for the King. If Jesus can die on the cross for our sins, the least we can do if give him our life and proclaim the gospel to the whole world. "If you have not chosen the Kingdom of God first, it will in the end make no difference what you have chosen instead. By: William Law
"If anyone comes to Me, and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be My disciple." Luke 14:26
Then Jesus said to His disciples, "If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me. "For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it; but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it." Matthew 16:24-25
"We have suffered from the preaching of cheap grace. Grace is free, but it is not cheap. People will take anything that is free, but they are not interested in discipleship. They will take Christ as Savior but not as Lord." By: Vance Havne
Jesse, Jesus tells us that its impossible to live a worldly life, and still follow him!
Though the knowledge and obedience of the doctrine of the cross of Christ be of infinite moment to the souls of men, for that is the only door to true Christianity, and that path the ancients ever trod to blessedness; yet, with extreme affliction let me say, it is so little understood, so much neglected, and what is worse, so bitterly contradicted by the vanity, superstition, and intemperance of professed Christians, that we must either renounce to believe what the Lord Jesus hath told us, that whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after him, cannot be his disciple; Luke 14:27 or, admitting that for truth, conclude, that the generality of Christendom do miserably deceive and disappoint themselves in the great business of Christianity, and their own salvation.
II. For, let us be never so tender and charitable in the survey of those nations that entitle themselves to any interest in the holy name of Christ, if we will but be just too, we must needs acknowledge, that after all the gracious advantages of light, and obligations to fidelity, which these latter ages of the world have received by the coming, life, doctrine, miracles, death, resurrection, and ascension of Christ, with the gifts of his Holy Spirit; to which add the writings, labours, and martyrdom of his dear followers in all times, there seems very little left of Christianity but the name; which being now usurped by the old heathen nature and life, makes the professors of it but true heathens in disguise. For though they worship not the same idols, they worship Christ with the same heart: and they can never do otherwise, whilst they live in the same lusts. So that the unmortified Christian and the heathen are of the same religion. For though they have different objects to which they do direct their prayers, that adoration in both is but forced and ceremonious, and the deity they truly worship is the god of the world, the great lord of lusts: to him they bow
As with man we have seen birth of nations where the founding fathers swore their solemn oath,'In God we Trust'. What we see the nation put under the greatest constitutional crisis the citizens who love law and order ought to remember what Jesus had said,"Lest haply, after he hath laid the foundation, and is not able to finish it, all that behold it begin to mock him,/Saying, This man began to build, and was not able to finish."( Luke 14:29-30) This objective lesson brings us to consider the rage of the heathens.
"Bloodthirsty men hate one who is blameless and seek the life of the upright./A fool gives full vent to his spirit, but a wise man quietly holds it back./If a ruler hearken to lies, all his servantsarewicked."(Pr.29:10-12) Who created cultural wars based on color? A ruler who hearkens to lies surely would have learned from the father of lies. All his servants as the word of God speaks of them, are wicked.
"The tongue of the righteous is choice silver, but the heart of the wicked is of little value. The lips of the righteous nourish many, but fools die for lack of sense."(Pr.10:20-21-NIV)
The Golden Three in a nutshell
In purpose is it the glory of God that I seek? God blesses us in his Son.
2. Do we accept our sufferings identifying with what the Son underwent for our sakes? Do we learn from it to help others in their distress?
3. Our faith in his providence is our reward, view it as more as 'the love of Christ' constraining me so faith learns from experience and it serves as the second wind to glorify his Name without tiring our physical reserves.
Why do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing?
Rage is a characteristic of man who is void of understanding. In the lexicon of the Spirit he is morally deficient. In the Bible there are several instances of enterprises undertaken by them. The Tower of Babel was one such. Their prime concern was to defeat the holiness of God. Lest God should judge them again as he did with the old world they had the means. So it was but it would not go further. They had the muscle-power and the brains; nor was there any dearth for materials but their speech betrayed them just as the Galilean accent of Peter led him to deny his master thrice in a single night. When morally devoid what does a fool speak? In our times it would be conspiracy theories. It is thus the tower of Babel stand as a monument to folly of ungodly men. Their rage is expressed and amplified in so many sound bytes. Does it mean any thing? Nothing. What Internet Age does is what morally deficient man has set up and is of no consequence.
Jesus speaks of a builder who set about building a tower with similar results as we have seen in the tower of Babel. ( Luke 14:28-30) He did not build with God who is the maker and builder, and not according to his purpose. In the many trials of Job we came across what St James speaks of his patience. "You have heard of the steadfastness of Job, and you have seen the purpose of the Lord, how the Lord is compassionate and merciful." Here we have the Golden Three that makes any enterprise of man succeed. In purpose both God and man are as one. Secondly his steadfastness to endure even as Job suffered. Thirdly the grace of God that passes all understanding so man has to take him on trust."Unless theLordbuilds the house,/those who build it labor in vain. Unless theLordwatches over the city,
the watchman stays awake in vain."(Ps.127:1-3) (1 of 2)
Today; as stated in my earlier post we don't have meals in church specifically commemorating Communion. In our country
not only do we not have many opportunities for feasting in special occasions (as marriages seem to be on the decline); but regular meals often are frenzied with cell phone interruptions or people glued to the TV set.
There are still some cultures where there is significance to taking an extended time and an elaborate meal. Such is the case in the Mediterranean and Middle East; and this can be a way missionaries can have an opportunity to witness the Gospel to Muslims in particular. It is fine under certain circumstances and at times necessary to do a quick Gospel presentation; but willingness to accept an invitation for a family meal can allow for more in depth conversation and interactions which also help to facilitate long term relationships that in time can bear fruit. Understanding how to initiate conversation in such environments often starts with the male head of the household. It takes wisdom and discernment when to fully engage in sharing the Gospel and when to offer evidence of error in other faiths (as it could cost us our lives). Nonetheless; we need to allow the Spirit to guide us in these situations.
Inviting the "poor; maimed; blind etc" ( Luke 14:13) is helpful as well at least in principal. Today our Pastor shared about someone in Cleveland who started giving basketballs to kids in a neighborhood that had a housing project in Ohio that shot up the business and set a car on fire. Eventually; in 10 years the man was feeding over 100 kids when he left that position. He had started just giving a few kids a free drink. It does take discernement admittedly these days with so many who expect handouts to help support drug or alcohol addiction. Perhaps more directly the mission field gives more opportunities; but there are places helping men to be productive; and at times we should help strangers
The leading Republican candidate for the 2024 election has announced his plan for the prosecution of drug cartel and child trafficking groups. The cost for such efforts will be extreme as was brought up in a recent message. Countless thousands in Mexico have been beheaded and butchered; including police who have dared to stand up against such things; and they have been outgunned in the last attempt to take out a major drug dealer.
The love of money is the root of all evil ( 1 Timothy 6:10) and as a pampered society we have reaped what we've sown in many ways. There are many issues such as international military affairs that are tied into business dealings with contractors; and as is pretty clear there is enough corruption to go around. We have record numbers of people expecting a handout and not contributing to society with productive work; while the rest of us are out working 2 or even 3 jobs to make ends meet; and partially to support these unproductive individuals. The image of life as being a continuous party ensnares some to get rich by any means necessary as to get the newest car; nicest home; or trade in their wife for a newer model. While everyone seems to accumulate more things there is less quality time; less value to human life and of course this results from turning away from the God of the Bible. 1 Timothy 1:9 shows how the law is supposed to keep the unrighteous in line; but of course not enforced we see the chaos and decay of any structure that was holding us together in the past.
Judgment is inevitable; but on this side of the Rapture how much resistance can hold back the overwhelming flood of sin is unknown. Certainly God's people can be used for a time to accomplish this; but they THEMSELVES need to turn from evil ( 2 Chron. 7:14). It is GOD'S people who must once again in significant numbers become DISTINCT from the world and be willing to count the cost. ( Luke 14:28). We'll see.
No, my friend, I have the Witness within me bearing witness to the Truth of what I here write & have written, back up with the Scriptures & sound reasoning, sealed with the experiential personal knowledge of them that God has given me in bringing me out of the darkness into His glorious Light Act 26:18 Wherein I stand in my present measure, abiding in the Vine & being further purged that I may bring forth more fruit. John 15:2,3
This has not happen instantaneously, but a 13yr on going journey, Matt 7:14 God has been very gracious & good in His longsuffering love towards me, I was so mule headed, thinking I could have God's salvation my way. In His tender mercies to me He broke me & in this brokenness I yielded up myself & committed to wait upon Him Psalm 123:2 & have His salvation on His terms, John 14:6Luke 14:271Cor 1:18
Present day Christianity has not these gifts & fruits & why? In the Reformation, which small beginning began around 1400's, in slowly breaking away from the darkness of popery, did not cut all the cord asunder, but keep some of the their teaching. Like the Catholic's took over the Head of the Ministry from Christ, alone with His gifts unto men. Read the whole church history here, its freely on the web, don't rely on any man word for it, but turn to the Witness within your own heart, the Scriptures & sound reasoning, with a whole hearted love for the Truth, one cannot remain deceived for long or be deceived from what God in truth will discover to one who is searching for Him. Psalms 145:18
Hello One eighty - thanks for your response as it helps me understand more about you and where you are spiritually.
I'll share some "meat" with you that you can respond by telling me whether you agree or not with what I am sharing with you below.
In the following three verses, Jesus uses the term "...cannot be my disciple" implying that Discipleship is a mandatory requirement to becoming "saved':
"If any man come to me, and hate not [meaning love less than Christ] his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, HE CANNOT BE MY DISCIPLE." ( Luke 14:26)
"And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, CANNOT BE MY DISCIPLE." ( Luke 14:27)
"So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all [of his worldly possessions] that he hath, HE CANNOT BE MY DISCIPLE." ( Luke 14:33)
In this last verse, Jesus is again saying to every Christian - in much the same way as he said to the rich young ruler - "...sell all that thou hast, and distribute unto the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, follow me." ( Luke 18:22-23)
When I came to Jesus some 30+ years ago, I had the choice to abandon ALL that I had and take up my cross and follow Jesus or chase family members who had rejected me for no reason at all. I willingly chose to make that choice to follow Jesus, and have never regretted doing so.
However, such choices also require God's people to bring forth "...PATIENCE and FAITH in all your PERSECUTIONS and TRIBULATIONS that ye endure" (2 Thes 1:4) together with "... INFIRMITIES, in REPROACHES, in NECESSITIES, in PERSECUTIONS, in DISTRESSES for Christ's sake" ( 2 Cor 12:10) while "...earnestly CONTENDING FOR THE FAITH" ( Jude 1:3) among those who "...corrupt the word of God ( 2 Cor. 2:17).
Given that most Christians profess that they have ETERNAL SECURITY (which contradicts Phil 2:12 and 1 Peter 5:8-9), how do you relate to the scripture verses in Luke 14 above?
Luke 14:7-14
Whew. Somehow I don't think I need to have otherworldly insight to suggest that verses like this aren't discussed much in many lukewarm institutions today....
In examining this passage; of course we need the context as to what God is trying to emphasize that love for Him trumps associations; commitments and sometimes outright nagging by family members who the enemy is using to attack our efforts at walking in faith and obedience. What I want to look at here is the last part of the passage as it is the key: hating our own lives helps us actually love those around us more than ourselves and of course this is because of the overall love for God we have through the Spirit working in us. Now some come from close families whether or not they are of the faith; and some not. I grew up with a very mentally abusive father who now with advanced Dementia has mellowed out (thankfully in a facility as I was no longer able to care for him and he had the money saved up for such care; praise the Lord). I have written letters in the past when he was able to give a long dissertation on my "narrow minded" ways; now I still have letters I plan to continue to give him as he can still read and seems to get some concepts better that way.
Telling him I loved him about 15 years ago after having been away from home many years was something he heard no doubt and probably was uncomfortable with; especially in light of his own abusive upbringing; but it was necessary. Trying to communicate the need he still has for the Lord is hard but it is my duty; I pray I can display His work in a tangible way.
I can say with my mom in her last months there was much anger toward me and some in regard to my faith; mocking; etc.
Loving her meant arranging for her to have a chaplain who happened to call the day she died.
When we see someone we love fall away; it is easy to idolize them and remember something that is an illusion. It is also easy to compare what someone was in the past to what they are now. As much as we love someone (and I'm thinking of my ex wife here) when they are determined to follow a course of rebellion (and in her case adultery) obviously the relationship is shattered and only with repentance things can change. Given that I haven't heard for a number of years from her that doesn't seem likely.
I don't have any kids but I'm sure there are those out there who have raised them in the fear and admonition of the Lord in loving homes. The presence of angels beholding the Father in heaven is stated in scripture but of course once they grow up things change. We can be encouraged that some who stray far have a Prodigal son moment; but statistically of course that is only a fraction of a percentage. Nonetheless we should not give up in prayer; but we need to keep ourselves from being totally destroyed emotionally. I am still working on that after 10 years from the date of my divorce being finalized.
Our love for God has to be preeminent above all other loyalties; Christ uses the word "hate" ( Luke 14:26). Naturally given the context of so many passages on God's love and His demonstration of ultimate Agape illustrated in 1 John repeatedly as well as many other passages it is hatred compared to unconditional love. Jesus ultimately loved the Father as the example in His life; hence there may be people He didn't heal as indicated because of unbelief in His own hometown. That is the key to the context here; we shouldn't allow our own personal lives to drive a wedge in our ministry but in the same token we have to balance responsibilities with a wife and children; and as Peter did can involve them on our travels.
We must trust God and lean not on our own understanding; and this means not to idolize or be controlled either
As it says in (see Psalm 25) "Lead me in Your truth and teach me, for You are the God of my salvation; on You I wait all day." This reminds me of (see Ephesians 2), "For He Himself is our peace, who has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility."And also of verse 13 (see Romans 2),my faith human renounce,"(For not the hearers of the Law are iust before God, but the doers of the Law shalbe iustified;" Even though my faith is still growing and my human understanding feels limited, I rest in these truths.
Even though my faith is still growing and my human understanding feels limited, I rest in these truths.
I also cannot forget one of the most well-known verses, which I've heard many times: 28"And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose."( romans 8). My hope is in Him, just as it's written in Luke 12:28-34 and in Jude 1:3, where I'm reminded to remain fully committed and present. This is a wake-up call for me - not to be negligent, even if my English vocabulary is still limited. Obedience depend on a willing heart.
In today's world, rushing has become so normal. That's why I often reflect on a chapter that helps me deal with anxiety: Philippians 4:6-9.
He has so many attributes, and one of the first I found in the Bible was lthe manifold wisedome of God. The verses in Luke 14:7-11 summarize my entire text
"For whosoever exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted."
Blessings
There is much analysis as to how this pertained to the Pharisees and the Jews rejecting Christ. I would say this also applies in other ways too; such as those who hear the Gospel message say decades ago whose hearts have dulled and those today who convert. We have to search ourselves to see if we are truly saved; but also not try to add our own righteousness which could signify not wearing the proper attire no doubt referring to the white garments we receive being needed. The need not to have our garments stained is another issue; perhaps not focused on here.
There is no doubt some reference was made here to the final call of the good and bad here; much as those who are summoned in the highways and hedges in Luke 14:23. The issue of the cares of this world or thorns that entangle us to prevent fruit from being produced is a concern here too. We are reminded of John 10:2 about the thief and robber that attempts to enter the sheepfold in a way other than the door (or Christ).
Verses such as this must be studied; with the idea of not terrifying a new believer with thoughts of our Lord throwing them out of heaven; but more importantly exhorting us with the truth of the fact that anyone can have their heart dulled and their minds distracted slowly over time. Exhortations such as this are readily accepted by those mature in the faith; just as rebuke and exhortation are. Something doesn't have to apply to us personally; but as Romans 11:22 states Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in his goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off. This passage is describing the Jews who rejected the Messiah and Gentiles grafted in. True believers have faith to the end even if weak.
I am not sure if continuing the rest of Matthew will bring out a lot of new points of this particular subject but I may do it anyway for general insights. The last posting about Jesus and His statement about who are His mother and brothers in Matthew 12:48
must have been rather stinging in the family's ears. He had demonstrated love and loyalty to His family so they had to know there was no malice in His words. Perhaps we need to remember that when we consider counting the cost ( Luke 14:28).
Here's the lyrics of that old song from David Meece originally out in 1983; I'll focus on the second verse as most pertinent today:
The modern-day disciple
Still has a price to pay
There's a war within, and a war with sin
And he fights it ev'ryday
So be sure and understand
The voice you hear behind the call
You can't come with half a heart
Because He's asking for it all
Kind of smacks you like a V-8 commercial. You don't see 'em lyrics anymO!
Ok; I digress. God uses men to help encourage and rebuke us; and generally motivate us by example and prodding for service in the Kingdom. In the long run; we all have to come to personal communion with the Lord regularly to learn to seek His face and hear His voice to continue to run the race and endure to the end. If we don't we WILL fail; burn out or some sadly will apostatize. The thought is enough to bring tears to my eyes; but it must be godly sorrow as a million tears of human sorrow as to unfaithfulness and disobedience amount to nothing. Today frankly we don't even see much worldly sorrow! Jesus was a man of sorrows; and acquainted with our grief ( Isaiah 53:3). Surely the Apostle's lives weren't exactly a rose garden (except for the thorns I suppose). But they would be rewarded ( Rev. 21:14). He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many.. ( Isaiah 53:11)
Part 4
Many people interpret Luke 16:19-31, the story of the rich man and Lazarus, as a literal account rather than a parable. However, in Mark 4:11 and Luke 8:10, Jesus explicitly states that He spoke to others in parables. We must consider the entirety of Scripture when evaluating this story, as I have referenced only a few relevant passages.
If this story were literal, it would imply that individuals receive their rewards immediately after death. This notion contradicts the rewards are given after the resurrection, as indicated in Revelation 22:12, Luke 14:13-14, 2 Timothy 4:8, and 1 Corinthians 15:51-54, along with what we see in Revelation 20:4.
What was the purpose of this story? Is it our choices, what we have faith in, God, or do we crave wealth, or do we have faith, and charity, 1 Corinthians 13:1-13. This story shows the rich man rich in worldly things, but poor in morality, and Lazarus the opposite. This story also points to Jesus' death and resurrection, Luke 16:31. We see that is what happened, they still rejected Jesus after He was hung on a cross and died, put in a tomb, rose from the grave, and spoke to them for 40 days, and it did not convince them.
See part 5
2 Corinthians 4:4 makes it clear that we are brain dead when it comes to spiritual discernment until God opens the door to understanding. This particular posting (likely a series) isn't so much about correct doctrine but it explains how we should avoid "compartmentalizing" our lives into that which is "spiritual" and the rest of our existence in regard to employment; marital status and living location in particular.
Scripturally it is crucial to take into account Luke 14:26 as to our love for God being paramount and essentially any other affections being "hate" in comparison. The context here certainly cannot be permitted to ignore other scriptures or be contradictory to loving our enemies; honoring our parents; etc. We are asked not to let influences of others stop us from following Christ; so that we follow the Master who will guide us and direct us how to conduct ourselves. Nonetheless we see the Disciples leaving everything; although Paul would mention (see 1 Corinthians 9:5) that believing wives should be allowed whenever safe to do so to accompany them and such precedent exists when we see Abraham leaving with Sarai and Moses also being married despite his years in exile.
This marriage issue is something some people like to throw around when coming to Christ; where they use an excuse that their wives aren't believers but wish to remain ( 1 Cor. 7:13-14) they should when often seeking a new "model" as it were. If they don't then verse 15 takes effect; but I am doubtful of the NIV interpretation divorce; in any case I don't see anyone free to remarry if a spouse is still alive. In my situation it is sad to report that my faith was something that was eventually scoffed at and ridiculed and my ex used it as an excuse to be disloyal; since marriages among professing believers isn't much better than the world there should be just as much a chance of a believer winning over his wife or at least staying together with some harmony.
Luke 14:33 - So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple.
Here's how this verse is broken down in the Greek text:
Whosoever he be of you that does not forsake, and that is a Present Tense verb, continuously forsake all that he has. The word "forsakes" APOSTAIA, that is where we get our term apostasy from. It means to separate yourself, to abandon, to standoff from.
Whosoever is not continually forsaking all that he has. The term "all that he has" has a Reflexive Pronoun in there, meaning all of the possessions that belong to him, he cannot be my disciple.
He is not telling people to take everything that you have and get rid of it. This is the relationship that the believer must have because those things will interfere with following Jesus Christ.
Remember what Paul said in 1 Corinthians Chapter 7, purchase but don't possess it, because no matter whether it is during your lifetime or afterwards, whatever you purchase today is going to be gone tomorrow.
Jesus is saying that whosoever does not continually standoff, separate, abandon all that he has, cannot be my disciple.
Luke 15:2 - And the Pharisees and scribes murmured, saying, This man receiveth sinners, and eateth with them.
The word "receive" in the Greek means to welcome. Jesus did more than receive sinners. He welcomed them. And Jesus welcomed eating with them.
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.
The word "hate" in this verse is the word MISEO. It is not the word for hostile. It is a word of comparison. When MISEO is used with any of the words that have to do with love, it is showing comparison.
What Jesus is saying here is that you must love Him so much that the comparison between Him and anyone else, or anything else makes it look like you hate them.
Luke 14:27 - And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple.
And whosoever doth not bear. That's called a Present Tense verb. It shows continuous action. Whosoever does not continuously bear his cross, and come after me, again the word "come" is a Present Tense verb, continually carrying his cross and continually coming after me.
Here is the word I have mentioned before. It is the word "after" OPEISO. It means behind. The proper position to follow Christ is behind Him.
Luke 14:32 - Or else, while the other is yet a great way off, he sendeth an ambassage, and desireth conditions of peace.
An ambassage is an ambassador. In fact, it is the word PRESBAYA for elder. He sends out an ambassador (an elder), and desires conditions of peace.
It would be foolish to go out there being outnumbered two to one, as we see in Luke 14:31. Somebody would say, what are you thinking? Putting all your men in jeopardy and count the cost.
Luke 14:8 - When thou art bidden of any man to a wedding, sit not down in the highest room; lest a more honourable man than thou be bidden of him;
The Greek word here for "highest room" means the chief reclining places. When the master of the feast, (the one who has made the feast), he sits at the head, at the back of this big reclining table, and the most honorable sit next to him, and working its way down to the end is the lowest seats or reclining places at the table.
Luke 14:10 - But when thou art bidden, go and sit down in the lowest room; that when he that bade thee cometh, he may say unto thee, Friend, go up higher: then shalt thou have worship in the presence of them that sit at meat with thee.
Here is the literal translation of this verse:
But when you are invited, go and sit down in the lowest reclining place; that when he that has invited you, he may say unto you, Friend, go up higher: then you shall have glory, (the word worship is the word glory (DOKSA), in the presence of them that sit at meal with you.
Luke 14:11 - For whosoever exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.
The word "abased" is the word humbled. One of the primary teachings in the New Testament and this is where it comes from. This is a quote from Proverbs 3:34 and it is used quite extensively through the entire NT.
Peter has probably the best presentation of this in 1 Peter 5:5. He quotes Proverbs 3:34 "For whosoever exalts themselves shall be humbled, and whosoever should humble themselves shall be exalted."
Luke 14:16 - Then said he unto him, A certain man made a great supper, and bade many:
The word bade is invitation.
Luke 14:23 - And the lord said unto the servant, Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled.
The word compel (ANANKASON), is a word of urgency. It means be urgent but don't use physical force.
Luke 14:2 - And, behold, there was a certain man before him which had the dropsy.
HUDROPIKOS is the Greek word, and it is made up of two Greek words that literally means water, HUDOR, and PHINO, to appear. It means to appear watery.
In those days, this was a technical medical term that meant that the connecting tissues of the body were filling with water. And this is the only instance of it in the New Testament. By saying that this man was before him, EMPROSTHEN in the Greek, it indicates that he was strategically placed.
So, they invited Jesus over on the Sabbath Day for a meal. And on the Sabbath Day the main meal was the mid-afternoon meal for the Jews. They did not warm the food. It was cold food prepared the day before.
And this man who suffered from HUDROPIKOS (the dropsy), water in the connecting tissues of the body, they put him before them. Because they knew what Jesus was going to do.
Luke 14:3 - And Jesus answering spake unto the lawyers and Pharisees, saying, Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath day?
It is interesting that the word for "to heal" is the word THERAPUO where we get our word therapy from. There is a different Greek word for physical healing. This is therapy (THERAPUO).
What it indicates is that when Jesus healed someone of their physical problem, He also healed all of the effects afterwards. They didn't have to go for therapy. He took care of it all so there would be no doubt as to what happened.
Luke 14:4 - And they held their peace. And he took him, and healed him, and let him go;
And He is saying to them, is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath Day? And they didn't want to answer. And He took the man, and healed him, physical healing. And released him, let him go. Go home, you are healed!
The law of diminishing returns which our natural man itself is subject to means that all pleasures in life at some point apart from the Lord are vanity. God's gifts are from above without variableness or shadow ( James 1:17 loosely translated). The enemy infuses evil spirits to gradually bring men from what appeared at first to be a wonderful experience to one of torment and bondage. No wonder he is described as an angel of light ( 2 Cor. 11:14).
Clearly then our enemy doesn't appear like a creature with horns and a pitchfork. His true ugliness isn't from the outer appearance but from the corrupted nature that he has instilled in the world system ( James 3:15). We could say the opposite about the Lord; He doesn't have to show off; and there isn't anything appealing to the flesh in Him. Of course we all will be flat on our faces when He comes but His beauty shows forth to us mainly in righteousness and through the remnant Body of believers who are sold out for Him. Only God knows who are His; but the lukewarm show no clear difference from the world at large and are neither transforming society with salt or light or being any real help to the remnant that are fighting through daily spiritual warfare and not being given aid on the battlefield.
God grants legal authority to Satan based on two things; one as with Job to demonstrate testing and trials on a righteous man to exalt him further in the end or two the most common thing someone has sin in their lives allowing the enemy to continue to work on holding someone in bondage so that he is rendered ineffective for the Kingdom of God.
The Lord makes it clear; that He is Lord and Master as well as Savior; that He doesn't tolerate any others in charge over His subjects. The sooner we realize that true freedom comes through serving the Lord and not to being served what the world offers the better off we will be. (see Luke 14:28).
"So I prophesied as he commanded me, and the breath came into them, and they lived, and stood up upon their feet, an exceeding great army."
We see them again in the vision of St John. God fashioned "their hearts alike; He considereth all their works."(Ps.33:15) They follow a dress code and they follow their leader representing each heart that makes up the company. Their formation has single measurement, that of angel, man and the Word of God on the lead. "And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war."(Re.19:11;21:17)
Coming back to the vision of Ezekiel, bone to bones and flesh to flesh the army is close-knit across as well as up and down. This is the army according to the will of God. This also explains why David went wrong while he took census of the people. "And again the anger of the Lord was kindled against Israel, and he moved David against them to say, Go, number Israel and Judah."(2 Sa.24:1). In fact it was Satan who tempted David. "And Satan stood up against Israel, and provoked David to number Israel."(1 Chr.21:1). A rational man determines the number so in the matter of numbers he holds advantage. Jesus referred to it. ( Luke 14:28). The battle is of God. "Thus saith the Lord unto you, Be not afraid nor dismayed by reason of this great multitude; for the battle is not yours, but God's."(2 Chr.20:15)
King David is a man after my heart so God willed to which we have this verse, ""After removing Saul, he made David their king. He testified concerning him: 'I have found David son of Jesse a man after my own heart; he will do everything I want him to do. "(Ac.13:22). But when David took pride in his glory forgetting the manifold benefits from God where it connected. The same pride that Satan showed off.
Much can be said about today's music and entertainment industry as to how they mock God. In all of this we can tend to ignore the passage in Jude 1:9 where slander against Satan himself by Michael the Archangel was not proclaimed; there was an appeal to the Lord to rebuke him. If that is the case for an Archangel surely it should be the case for us. Yet many wish to mock Satan as well to their own detriment.
This statement is by no means; of course to suggest that we should worship the Devil. We simply cannot fight against an enemy who is vastly superior to us any other way; and the verse Luke 14:31 demonstrates this principle fighting against an army of superior manpower. This is why deliverance ministers that implore a demon to "go to hell" are clearly unscriptural (or else if true by now there wouldn't be any left to possess and oppress men). Satan is not ruling in hell; or in hell currently as that is the place where he will suffer eternally himself. God has; however given him a sort of usurper role at present where he is given an army of principalities and powers to rule over regions of the earth as many verses in Daniel indicate. Demons are also under his rule; likely disembodied spirits from the offspring of Nephilim it would seem. Jesus and the prophets never went after these principalities ruling over nations; but cast out devils living inside individuals. Again Daniel shows how in Daniel 10:13 Micheal fought against a principality for 21 days before his prayers could be answered. We don't often think of that being an issue with prayers being answered but should consider such things.
From the outset let me say that no amount of dissertation can help answer all of the questions we as mere mortals can ask regarding the state of suffering we must endure in a fallen world or fully comprehend the reasons God allowed it in His sovereignty and Master plan. The sufferings of Christ are the prime example.
1 Corinthians 16:2 "Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him, t
Romans 14:5 "And upon the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul preached unto them, ready to depart on the morrow; and continued his speech until midnight."(Question? Does your church only meet on Sunday to fellowship and hear preaching and teaching? Is Sunday the only day of the week you might hear preaching from the minister? This verse just tells of believers gathering on Sunday to fellowship and listen to Paul preach because he had to leave the next day. It doesn't interpret as abolishing their regular worshiping on the Sabbath.)
Collisians 2:14 & 16 "Blotting out the handwriting of ORDINANCES (my caps) that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to His cross; Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or the new moon or of the sabbath days." (This judgment is speaking of situations on the sabbath as when David fed his men shewbread that was only to be eaten by the Jewish Priests on the Sabbath. 1 Samuel 21:1-6, Christ feeding His disciples from the cornfield on a Sabbath. Matthew 1:21 and pulling an ox out of a ditch on the Sabbath. Luke 14:5; if there are things that needed to be done out of necessity on the Sabbath, you should not let men judge you for doing that.)
I don't know how any of the verses I noted can be interpreted as showing that the early church willingly changed it's weekly worship and fellowship from the sabbath to the first day of the week. As I presented, there is historical proof that they didn't. As the "ravening wolves in sheep clothing" ( Matthew 7:15) began to creep into the church, a change was eventually made to abolish the sabbath and worship and refrain form labor on Sunday. Constantine and the Catholic Church mainly changed it and the world followed.
God Bless :)
This situation and others like it are not disobeying the Sabbath. But if you get a part time job helping your fiend with his moving business on The Sabbath, this is disobeying the Sabbath. If you need the extra money, pray and God will provide it to you without you having to break the Sabbath. Remember David and his feeding his men the shewbread. ( 1 Sam. 21: 1-6). It wasn't something he did all the time, it was something of need at the time. The same with Christ feeding his disciples from the cornfield on the sabbath ( Matt. 12:21) or someone pulling their ox out of a ditch on the sabbath ( Luke 14:5). So the Holy Spirit is telling us to not let others "judge" you for this kind of behavior on the Sabbath. It does not say to no longer keep this day Holy.
Corinthians 16:2, "On the first day of every week, each one of you should set aside a sum of money in keeping with his income, saving it up, so that when I come no collections will have to be made.
Excuse me but how-in-the-world does this scripture indicate that the church met on Sunday? Paul is asking them at the beginning of each week to set aside an amount of money for whatever so this won't have to be bothered with when he visits them again. This is not work and he certainly doesn't say for them to switch to Sundays to have church until he comes. Please use some discernment.
Colossians 2:14 & 16 "Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross." Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days." God did give Moses statues and ordinances for instructions on His 10 commandments to give to the Jews but they eventually added foolish ones of their own. Verses 14 explains this by calling these ordinances that were "against" them and which caused the Jews much confusion in following the real laws of God and Moses.
Jesus says to honor your father and your mother. He is quoting Exodus 20:12 and is speaking of honoring our biological father and mother.
And then we look over at Luke 14:26 which reads, "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."
So it seems that we have a dilemma. We're told to honor our father and mother, but then we're told that we can't be His disciple if we come to Him and we don't hate our father and mother.
In the English language, we see the word hate and we know what it means to hate someone or hate something. Hate is such a very strong word.
But here's the beauty of the Greek language. In Luke 14:26, the word hate in the Greek text is the word MISEO. It does not mean to hate someone according to our definition of the word hate in our English language.
This word is MISEO. It is not the word for hostile. It is a word of comparison. When MISEO is used with any of the words that have to do with love, it is showing comparison.
In other words, Jesus is saying you must love me so much that the comparison between me and anybody else, or anything else, it makes it look like you hate them. You really don't, but that's what it looks like to them.
Jesus is saying that our love for Him can't even be close in comparison to how we love others.
Hope this makes things a little clearer on these sections of scripture.
Blessings!!!
In Matthew 12:49 Jesus refers to His brothers and sisters and even His mother as His followers whom He is surrounded by. This He replies when asked by His biological family. Should it then be considered possible that the commandment of "Honor you father and your mother" refers to your elderly persons within the Body of Christ as your "mothers and fathers", and not your biological parents?
If we are to be willing to hate our father and mother and ... ( Luke 14:26) to be a disciple, does these again refer to our biological parents?
Could someone with Hebrew understandings assist me by explaining if there is differences in the term mother and father in the different verses, and what is actual intended?
Thank you
"At the ordered place"
Theophany of God was in the glory of the word, which is encapsulated by the name Jehovahshalom, God our peace. At a time of great depredations from the Midianites and of strife in the land what prompted Gideon to think of peace unless it was from God? The angel of the Lord had greeted him by 'TheLordis with thee, thou mighty man of valour.' In short God's word brought it in so many words that he found peace, unlike anything he had known before and it was a covenant as it were when the angel accepted his offering. 'Can two walk together unless agreed upon?' The angel of the Lord visited him as a mighty man of valor and now he had to grow into the stature God desired of him. This is what we find in vv.25-35.
Gideon was a new creation and where he was nervous of the Midianites coming down to rob him of his crop he had 'threshed wheat by the winepress, to hide it from the Midianites'. Now he was demanded of God to cut down the grove 'and throw down the altar of Baal that thy father hath', God was now leading him to a point of no return. No more he could continue his former life going against his grain, while putting up with the practice of Baal-worship of his father's household he was cultivating a defeatist attitude of taking the line of least resistance. No more of that. The word of God had planted the light of the knowledge of the word, and he had to be heroic for God. This reminds the words of Jesus," 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.( Luke 14:26)".
He had to choose bullock one for himself as a peace offering and the second bullock of seven years old as a token of cutting himself loose from vain traditions of his father. The bullock of seven years holds another significance and it signaled that the threat of Midian was coming to an end and unknown to him he was spearheading the revolt.
It costs something to be a disciple of Christ. To live for Christ is to let go of all our possessions, pick up our cross, and follow Him. We no longer live for ourselves, we live for the King. If Jesus can die on the cross for our sins, the least we can do if give him our life and proclaim the gospel to the whole world. "If you have not chosen the Kingdom of God first, it will in the end make no difference what you have chosen instead. By: William Law
"If anyone comes to Me, and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be My disciple." Luke 14:26
Then Jesus said to His disciples, "If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me. "For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it; but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it." Matthew 16:24-25
"We have suffered from the preaching of cheap grace. Grace is free, but it is not cheap. People will take anything that is free, but they are not interested in discipleship. They will take Christ as Savior but not as Lord." By: Vance Havne
Jesse, Jesus tells us that its impossible to live a worldly life, and still follow him!
GBU
Though the knowledge and obedience of the doctrine of the cross of Christ be of infinite moment to the souls of men, for that is the only door to true Christianity, and that path the ancients ever trod to blessedness; yet, with extreme affliction let me say, it is so little understood, so much neglected, and what is worse, so bitterly contradicted by the vanity, superstition, and intemperance of professed Christians, that we must either renounce to believe what the Lord Jesus hath told us, that whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after him, cannot be his disciple; Luke 14:27 or, admitting that for truth, conclude, that the generality of Christendom do miserably deceive and disappoint themselves in the great business of Christianity, and their own salvation.
II. For, let us be never so tender and charitable in the survey of those nations that entitle themselves to any interest in the holy name of Christ, if we will but be just too, we must needs acknowledge, that after all the gracious advantages of light, and obligations to fidelity, which these latter ages of the world have received by the coming, life, doctrine, miracles, death, resurrection, and ascension of Christ, with the gifts of his Holy Spirit; to which add the writings, labours, and martyrdom of his dear followers in all times, there seems very little left of Christianity but the name; which being now usurped by the old heathen nature and life, makes the professors of it but true heathens in disguise. For though they worship not the same idols, they worship Christ with the same heart: and they can never do otherwise, whilst they live in the same lusts. So that the unmortified Christian and the heathen are of the same religion. For though they have different objects to which they do direct their prayers, that adoration in both is but forced and ceremonious, and the deity they truly worship is the god of the world, the great lord of lusts: to him they bow
As with man we have seen birth of nations where the founding fathers swore their solemn oath,'In God we Trust'. What we see the nation put under the greatest constitutional crisis the citizens who love law and order ought to remember what Jesus had said,"Lest haply, after he hath laid the foundation, and is not able to finish it, all that behold it begin to mock him,/Saying, This man began to build, and was not able to finish."( Luke 14:29-30) This objective lesson brings us to consider the rage of the heathens.
"Bloodthirsty men hate one who is blameless and seek the life of the upright./A fool gives full vent to his spirit, but a wise man quietly holds it back./If a ruler hearken to lies, all his servantsarewicked."(Pr.29:10-12) Who created cultural wars based on color? A ruler who hearkens to lies surely would have learned from the father of lies. All his servants as the word of God speaks of them, are wicked.
"The tongue of the righteous is choice silver, but the heart of the wicked is of little value. The lips of the righteous nourish many, but fools die for lack of sense."(Pr.10:20-21-NIV)
The Golden Three in a nutshell
In purpose is it the glory of God that I seek? God blesses us in his Son.
2. Do we accept our sufferings identifying with what the Son underwent for our sakes? Do we learn from it to help others in their distress?
3. Our faith in his providence is our reward, view it as more as 'the love of Christ' constraining me so faith learns from experience and it serves as the second wind to glorify his Name without tiring our physical reserves.
Why do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing?
Rage is a characteristic of man who is void of understanding. In the lexicon of the Spirit he is morally deficient. In the Bible there are several instances of enterprises undertaken by them. The Tower of Babel was one such. Their prime concern was to defeat the holiness of God. Lest God should judge them again as he did with the old world they had the means. So it was but it would not go further. They had the muscle-power and the brains; nor was there any dearth for materials but their speech betrayed them just as the Galilean accent of Peter led him to deny his master thrice in a single night. When morally devoid what does a fool speak? In our times it would be conspiracy theories. It is thus the tower of Babel stand as a monument to folly of ungodly men. Their rage is expressed and amplified in so many sound bytes. Does it mean any thing? Nothing. What Internet Age does is what morally deficient man has set up and is of no consequence.
Jesus speaks of a builder who set about building a tower with similar results as we have seen in the tower of Babel. ( Luke 14:28-30) He did not build with God who is the maker and builder, and not according to his purpose. In the many trials of Job we came across what St James speaks of his patience. "You have heard of the steadfastness of Job, and you have seen the purpose of the Lord, how the Lord is compassionate and merciful." Here we have the Golden Three that makes any enterprise of man succeed. In purpose both God and man are as one. Secondly his steadfastness to endure even as Job suffered. Thirdly the grace of God that passes all understanding so man has to take him on trust."Unless theLordbuilds the house,/those who build it labor in vain. Unless theLordwatches over the city,
the watchman stays awake in vain."(Ps.127:1-3) (1 of 2)
Today; as stated in my earlier post we don't have meals in church specifically commemorating Communion. In our country
not only do we not have many opportunities for feasting in special occasions (as marriages seem to be on the decline); but regular meals often are frenzied with cell phone interruptions or people glued to the TV set.
There are still some cultures where there is significance to taking an extended time and an elaborate meal. Such is the case in the Mediterranean and Middle East; and this can be a way missionaries can have an opportunity to witness the Gospel to Muslims in particular. It is fine under certain circumstances and at times necessary to do a quick Gospel presentation; but willingness to accept an invitation for a family meal can allow for more in depth conversation and interactions which also help to facilitate long term relationships that in time can bear fruit. Understanding how to initiate conversation in such environments often starts with the male head of the household. It takes wisdom and discernment when to fully engage in sharing the Gospel and when to offer evidence of error in other faiths (as it could cost us our lives). Nonetheless; we need to allow the Spirit to guide us in these situations.
Inviting the "poor; maimed; blind etc" ( Luke 14:13) is helpful as well at least in principal. Today our Pastor shared about someone in Cleveland who started giving basketballs to kids in a neighborhood that had a housing project in Ohio that shot up the business and set a car on fire. Eventually; in 10 years the man was feeding over 100 kids when he left that position. He had started just giving a few kids a free drink. It does take discernement admittedly these days with so many who expect handouts to help support drug or alcohol addiction. Perhaps more directly the mission field gives more opportunities; but there are places helping men to be productive; and at times we should help strangers
The leading Republican candidate for the 2024 election has announced his plan for the prosecution of drug cartel and child trafficking groups. The cost for such efforts will be extreme as was brought up in a recent message. Countless thousands in Mexico have been beheaded and butchered; including police who have dared to stand up against such things; and they have been outgunned in the last attempt to take out a major drug dealer.
The love of money is the root of all evil ( 1 Timothy 6:10) and as a pampered society we have reaped what we've sown in many ways. There are many issues such as international military affairs that are tied into business dealings with contractors; and as is pretty clear there is enough corruption to go around. We have record numbers of people expecting a handout and not contributing to society with productive work; while the rest of us are out working 2 or even 3 jobs to make ends meet; and partially to support these unproductive individuals. The image of life as being a continuous party ensnares some to get rich by any means necessary as to get the newest car; nicest home; or trade in their wife for a newer model. While everyone seems to accumulate more things there is less quality time; less value to human life and of course this results from turning away from the God of the Bible. 1 Timothy 1:9 shows how the law is supposed to keep the unrighteous in line; but of course not enforced we see the chaos and decay of any structure that was holding us together in the past.
Judgment is inevitable; but on this side of the Rapture how much resistance can hold back the overwhelming flood of sin is unknown. Certainly God's people can be used for a time to accomplish this; but they THEMSELVES need to turn from evil ( 2 Chron. 7:14). It is GOD'S people who must once again in significant numbers become DISTINCT from the world and be willing to count the cost. ( Luke 14:28). We'll see.
No, my friend, I have the Witness within me bearing witness to the Truth of what I here write & have written, back up with the Scriptures & sound reasoning, sealed with the experiential personal knowledge of them that God has given me in bringing me out of the darkness into His glorious Light Act 26:18 Wherein I stand in my present measure, abiding in the Vine & being further purged that I may bring forth more fruit. John 15:2,3
This has not happen instantaneously, but a 13yr on going journey, Matt 7:14 God has been very gracious & good in His longsuffering love towards me, I was so mule headed, thinking I could have God's salvation my way. In His tender mercies to me He broke me & in this brokenness I yielded up myself & committed to wait upon Him Psalm 123:2 & have His salvation on His terms, John 14:6 Luke 14:27 1Cor 1:18
Present day Christianity has not these gifts & fruits & why? In the Reformation, which small beginning began around 1400's, in slowly breaking away from the darkness of popery, did not cut all the cord asunder, but keep some of the their teaching. Like the Catholic's took over the Head of the Ministry from Christ, alone with His gifts unto men. Read the whole church history here, its freely on the web, don't rely on any man word for it, but turn to the Witness within your own heart, the Scriptures & sound reasoning, with a whole hearted love for the Truth, one cannot remain deceived for long or be deceived from what God in truth will discover to one who is searching for Him. Psalms 145:18
I'll share some "meat" with you that you can respond by telling me whether you agree or not with what I am sharing with you below.
In the following three verses, Jesus uses the term "...cannot be my disciple" implying that Discipleship is a mandatory requirement to becoming "saved':
"If any man come to me, and hate not [meaning love less than Christ] his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, HE CANNOT BE MY DISCIPLE." ( Luke 14:26)
"And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, CANNOT BE MY DISCIPLE." ( Luke 14:27)
"So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all [of his worldly possessions] that he hath, HE CANNOT BE MY DISCIPLE." ( Luke 14:33)
In this last verse, Jesus is again saying to every Christian - in much the same way as he said to the rich young ruler - "...sell all that thou hast, and distribute unto the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, follow me." ( Luke 18:22-23)
When I came to Jesus some 30+ years ago, I had the choice to abandon ALL that I had and take up my cross and follow Jesus or chase family members who had rejected me for no reason at all. I willingly chose to make that choice to follow Jesus, and have never regretted doing so.
However, such choices also require God's people to bring forth "...PATIENCE and FAITH in all your PERSECUTIONS and TRIBULATIONS that ye endure" (2 Thes 1:4) together with "... INFIRMITIES, in REPROACHES, in NECESSITIES, in PERSECUTIONS, in DISTRESSES for Christ's sake" ( 2 Cor 12:10) while "...earnestly CONTENDING FOR THE FAITH" ( Jude 1:3) among those who "...corrupt the word of God ( 2 Cor. 2:17).
Given that most Christians profess that they have ETERNAL SECURITY (which contradicts Phil 2:12 and 1 Peter 5:8-9), how do you relate to the scripture verses in Luke 14 above?
Blessings, Alan