Discuss Luke 14 Page 3

Chris,

I agree with the way you adressed this topic before. I believe you helped break down the biggest most divisive issue, when there is hypocrisy with abuses & blatant unrepented sins, there is accountability. I believe Jesus clearly taught accountability & old testament usually addressed as within Church / temple & leadership within, also: Isaiah 9:17, Matthew 20:1-19, Luke 20:45-47, Luke 11:39-54, Matthew 23, Isaiah 1:17, Isaiah 1, Isaiah 58, Jeremiah 7:1-17, Jeremiah 22:3, Jeremiah 34:8-12 ._..

I believe you Chris or possibly someone else addressed the question we're they ever really saved?

I address this question as to answer the many outside the church who ask because of injustice etc. This site is for those, I believe most of all.

Faith Knight, I also agree with Adam & Chris this is an issue with disagreement. & hesitation is possibly warning. But, I included scripture covering love, meekness in the way, its addressed. John 15:18,24,25, Luke 21:17, Zechariah 13:6,

Count the cost? Luke 14:26-35,

Said in sincerity of Love, through the fellowship of Faith in Jesus Christ

I believe it's a daily decision effort. Referring to "pick up your cross daily & follow" Jesus, "dying to self", being "born again " we have to go from a symbolic crawling to walking. Luke 9:23, Luke 14:27, Matthew 10:38, John 8:24,

Learn to :

Deuteronomy 17:19, Isaiah 1:17,

Even fruit, isn't automatic, it takes time to grow.

Pruning, is there habits that need to be cut off? Even if it starts growing back, to trim again.

Luke 17:33, John 8:34, Romans 6, Romans 7, Romans 8:2,

Hopefully these are helpful

Apparently from commentary preparing the outside property and analyzing sufficient resources are available before building a house. This reminds us of Christ admonishing us that people will mock if we build a tower and don't have enough money to complete the work. ( Luke 14:28-30). Clearly; financial planning needs to be sufficient along with resources when undertaking any task; and this takes wisdom.

Suze

Hello, I don't think Mishael checks this comment section. l read your question, I will give you my opinion, an example I went through & scriptures I find relevant. Hopefully these are all helpful.

1st if we're personally bothered in our spirit about something it may be the HOLY Spirit telling us it's wrong. Ephesians 4:30, John 14:23-26, 1Corinthians 2:10-16,

2nd if we're doubtful, is that also indication it's wrong? Romans 14:22-23, scripture in context, whole chapter: Romans 14,

3rd, is this were loving GOD, hating your ._.__ comes in? Are we willing to serve GOD over love of family? Luke 14:26,

4th, Luke 14:27, not being a cross you put in your pocket, around your neck or on the wall: Micah 5:12,13, Deuteronomy 18:9-14, Nahum 1:14, Deuteronomy 4:14-20, Deuteronomy 4:23-25, I even have personal conviction about wearing a cross, since I accepted JESUS as my Savior at young age. Something just bothered me inside about it spiritually. Even though some were special "Christian" gifts. & many people wear them.

5th, One day recently, I saw a "Christian" bookstore selling crucifixion nails as jewelry. I cringed. Then I thought if someone was killed, raised again from the grave; would that person eagerly embrace another that had the weapon or thing that tortured & caused the pain & death, hung around their neck? or would they feel multiple emotions triggered by it? I thought of someone wearing a pill, bullet, ect. of a loved one, in resemblance, remembrance.

Luke 14,

6th, sometimes we're an example to others, in these matters set before us as tests. 1Corinthians 10:13,14, James 1:12, 2Corinthians 3:2,

Hopefully helpful

@Suze: Don't get me wrong. I'm not trying to be difficult. I just want clarification.

Luke 14:

12 Then said he (Jesus) also to him that bade him, When thou makest a dinner or a supper, call not thy friends, nor thy brethren, neither thy kinsmen, nor thy rich neighbors; lest they also bid thee again, and a recompence be made thee.

13 But when thou makest a feast, call the poor, the maimed, the lame, the blind:

14 And thou shalt be blessed; for they cannot recompense thee: for thou shalt be recompensed at the resurrection of the just.

Who was Jesus talking to?? The "Jews". "....call the poor, the maimed, the lame, the blind..."

Jesus didn't say to invite the infidels or Baal worshippers. Let them Repent first, then they can be helped.

And what does the incident of that woman pouring expensive oil on the head of Jesus have to do with giving to infidels?

I'm pretty sure the Lord God laid it on that woman's heart to do that. She knew in her heart that Jesus was worthy of that expensive oil. But Jesus's "apostles" murmured among themselves calling it a waste.

People often begrudge others what they themselves cannot have.

Satan and his followers cannot ever have salvation so they begrudge it to others, and try to destroy them.

The poor, the hungry cannot have, so they steal from those that do.

Re. Christ deniers: Unless God calls them (like He did to the Apostle Paul) any kindness we show them is, in my opinion, for nothing. And even after Paul converted, he was treated with distain by the other Apostles.

It would be nice if everyone gave to others like Jesus wanted us to, but that's not what happens. Giving should be reciprocal-

(I give to you, you give to them, they give to me) but it doesn't work that way.

"...for thou shalt be recompensed at the resurrection of the just."

Just being allowed into Heaven should be enough recompense for anyone.

Here are a few scriptures that really rattled me: Psalms 10:10, in context: Psalms 10, whole chapter.

* Leviticus 19:15, Amos 2:6-7, Amos 5:12, Amos 8:4, Habakkuk 3:14,

Scriptures about the poor: Exodus 22:25, Exodus 23:1-11, Leviticus 19:10, Leviticus 23:22, Deuteronomy 24:14,15,

Job 29:11-17, Job 30:25, Job 31:13-40, Job 34:19-28,

Leviticus 25:25-55, Deuteronomy 15:1-15,

1Samuel 2:7-8, Job 24, Matthew 19:21,

Psalms 9:18, Psalms 12:5, Psalms 14:6,

Galatians 2:10, Zechariah 7:10, Luke 14:12-14, may want to keep reading Luke 14,

Matthew 5:3, Luke 6:20,

Hopefully these are helpful

Additional scripture for you:

Matthew 3-7, Matthew 5, Matthew 5:20, Matthew 9:10-13, Matthew 9:14-17, Matthew 9:27-34, Matthew 12:14, Matthew 12, Matthew 15, Matthew 16, Matthew 16:6,12, Matthew 19:3, * Matthew 21, Matthew 22, Matthew 22:15, it appears they were wrongfully referring to the book of Tobet, in 1611 version, Tobit 3:7,8, Matthew 22:29,

* Matthew 23:2, whole chapter Matthew 23, Matthew 27:62,

Matthew 23:13,14,

Mark 2:16, Mark 2, Mark 3:1-6, Mark 7:1-23, Mark 8:11,15, Mark 10:2, Mark 12:13,

Luke 5:17-39, Luke 6:2-11, Luke 7:29-50, Luke 11:37-54, Luke 12:1, Luke 12:31, Luke 14:1-24, Luke 14, Luke 16:14-31, Luke 16, Luke 19:35-39,

John 1:19-34, John 3:1-21, John 7:28-32, John 7:43-53, John 8:3-22, John 9, John 9:15,16, John 11:37-57, John 12:19, John 12:42, John 18:3,

Acts 15, Acts 23,

Hopefully these are helpful in your study, I included several Chapters to read next to verses, to read within context, for better understanding

I have wondered how believing in the "finished work" of Christ is a doctrine of the Bible. When Christ died and said "it is finished" he could have meant a lot of things (his life was ended, his suffering was over, the sacrifice for sin was done etc.), but the Bible doesn't teach us just to believe in the "finished work". Since we live in an entitlement society I fear that we use that phrase to apply to us that we no longer have to labor in his kindgom. I listed a few of the teachings and promises of the Bible that apply to our response to his death on cross. Romans 6:5 For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection: Romans 6:6 Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. Luke 14:33 So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple. Luke 9:23 And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me. John 15:10 If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love. 1 John 2:4 He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. We are justified by faith (a total belief in what God has said, commanded, done etc.). Hebrews 11 the faith chapter talks of faith having a response. James 2:14 What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him? James 2:24 Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only. Mat. 25 has several examples of people that were lost at the end of time because they didn't do God's work even though they had a certain knowledge of Him. Faith obviously has to precede anything we do, but if time allows us to labor God expects that of us. Let's all be "wise virgins".

Matthew 6, Matthew 19:16-30, Luke 18:18-30, Luke 14:33, Luke 12,

As for the part about rendering to Caesar he put them in to a trap.He said give to caesar whats his and God what is his.What is God's ?Everything.Jesus did such way of puting his enemies to a trap even other times when he was asked by tge pharisees about his authority he asked them about John authority.So the sincere would understand it as being about giving all to God while the wicked will understand it as being for wretched caesar.And as for Luke 14 Counting the cost is not about investing money its counting the cost of discipleship which Jesus shows just some 3 verses after your citation Luke 14:33 we should give all.And the parable of the talent aint talking for investing either

Read it yourself.

And we know the parable of the rich fool which made treasures for himself luke 12:13-21

And what did Abraham say to the rich man in the story of the rich man and lazarus which i dont think its even a parable luke 16:25 so he will not go to heaven because he had his riches in earth not in heaven .

Hi Alvin,

I agree with some of your points, but not your main conclusions. Here is an example: "Christians cannot work for money( Matthew 6:24)". Here two different things are conflated. The verse says you can't serve two masters. At the end it says you can't both serve God and mammon or weatlth. This verse is true of course and I fully believe it. For context you can read verse 21- where your heart is. It's talking about not money itself being evil, but your heart serving and slaving money... like making it a false god or idol.

Along the same theme I noticed you suggested that the root of evil is money, but that's also not what it says. The Bible says the "love" of money is the root of all kinds of evil. So we should not love it.

So, its not the product that is bad, but the condition of the heart that makes it bad. This is the same for many other sins, for example: idolatry, greed, lust, coveting, lying, hating ones neighbor or father or mother. These sins occur from conditions of the heart, not objects. This is supported by the life of Jesus as he had a job and worked as a carpenter. He make something of value to society and likely traded that for things He needed for living such as food, shelter, clothing. Likely there was a unit of currency used as a convenience for trade and currency is not inherently bad as it facilitates more accurate trade- otherwise its hard to trade 1/10 a house for 1/2 a horse, for example. There is no indication that Jesus grew food himself, or made His own clothes, or was 100% self sufficient, so it is a fairly safe assumption that Jesus traded and bought and sold to meet needs.

Matthew 22:19 - 22:22 - Jesus asked to see the money and said Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar's; and unto God the things that are God's. He was for being a good steward of resources: Luke 14: 28-30, and the parable of the talents seems pro-investing. God bless.

OK my brother lets take it from the begining

Christians must forsake wealth. Yes and no. What Luke 14:33 says in simple wordords is that we must put away anything that becomes obstacle in our way to Heaven. That maybe wealth, a person, my own plans for life, my desires etc. IF THEY ARE OBSTACLES, IF NEEDED.

Christians cannot work for money Not right. See Thessalonians 3:11-12, Acts 20:33-35, 2 Thessalonians 3:10 etc.

Christians do Not pay taxes. Not right. See Romans 13:6-7

Christians travel and trust in God for daily food. Not right. Where do you get that travel? Birds fly all the time because this is how they find food, they just not sit on a branch expecting for food to drop from heaven. the same with people, they must go and find a job and work (and God will help them), they should not sit on their bench expecting God rains money from above. Yes trust that God that will not let us down to meet our material needs.

Christians live together 24/7. Ye and no. That was the case in the Jewish christian church, BUT it was not in the gentile churches in Thessalonika, Berea, Corinth, Ephesus...

Christians give to the needy in secret. Thats right

Women can be leaders in the church . Not quite. The Ancient church did not allow women to teach or preach. See 1 Timothy 2:11-12 and 1 Corinthians 14:34-35. And if somebody argues that Paul was oldfashioned like the whole world at that time, well as far as i am concerned i wouldn't dare disagree to apostle Paul.

If you are a Christian you own nothing in this world. Not right. So far in the history of Christianity there have been the medieval gospels of poverty and nowadays gospels of prosperity. They are both wrong. The Christian is a normal balanced person. We live just like aill the other people but without sin and not forgetting that our citizeshipis is in Heaven.

Christians are nonviolent Thats right

Christians forgive as much as they can. Thats right. Even our enemies with the power and grace of God

God bless u

JESUS said that we must not work for money and wealth and that God would provide our needs Matthew 6:19-33 and john 6:27

He told us to sell all

Luke 11:41 to the pharisees

Luke 12:33 to the disciples

Luke 14:33 to the multitudes

Luke 18:22, Matthew 19:16-30 to the rich guy

And his disciples approve

Acts 2:44-45

Acts 4:33-34

Luke 18:28-30

Matthew 4:18-24

But who will go to heaven

Jesus and Jacob give us a hint

Luke 18:24-25

Mark 10:17-31

Matthew 5:3

Luke 6:20

James 2:5

But where does that put the rich?

Luke 6:24-25

James 5:1-3

What is the root of all evil?

1 timothy 6:10

Genesis 3

Are we to live under the curse or are we set free by God through Jesus? Because he broke every curse including this one:

Genesis 3:17-19

Should we end in the midst of the Sodomites?

Ezekiel 16:49-50

Luke 17:28

But there are days ahead that we would need to learn to trust in Yahweh for Manna his heavenly bread because the mark of the beast is the last form of money as a chip

Revelation 13

But if we learn to do these things that Jesus taught we might survive and prevail.

What does tbis mean?

1 Corinthians 7:21?

Pul does say that when you dont provide you are worse than and disbeliever but he doesnt say if you dont work to provide does he?

Yahweh Jireh?

When you answer anybody speaking about renouncing wealth think "what if he has done it?"

Not "he is challenging us lets ruin his life".

JESUS DOES SAY TO NOT WORK FOR MONEY MATTHEW 6:19-33

He always says sell everything to rich guys? Zaccheus sold half and other gave to cheated dudes.

Peter said"we left all to follow Jesus" luke 18:28-30?

Luke 11:41; luke 12:33; luke 14:33, 18:22 and other

Its prophecied! Buy with No Money! Eat freely without payment! Isaiah 55:1-5.

Christians must forsake all wealth( Luke 14:33 Jesus says forsake it all)

Christians cannot work for money( Matthew 6:24)

Christians do Not pay taxes (Render to Caesar what is his and to God what belongs to Him, what belongs to God?)

Christians travel and trust in God for daily food(Mathew 6:20-33) that's what makes them different from all the world.

Christians live together 24/7 ( Acts 4:34-35) sharing everything in common( Acts 2:44-45).

Christians give to the needy in secret(Matthw 6)

Women can be leaders in the church but it is beter that all be as brothers and sisters.

If you are a Christian you own nothing in this world, as Paul says, and you are homeless as he says also, and you are the rags of this world, as Paul says. Choose Poverty not Wealth! Make Peace not War!

Christians are nonviolent ( Matthew 5:44-45).

Christians forgive as much as they can.

Kay,

2John 1:5-11, James 4:4-5, I'm reminded of 2Kings 20:12-18, Isaiah 39:1-7, Micah 7:5, Proverbs 19:4,= Job 19:14, Proverbs 14:20, Psalms 38:11,

Proverbs 19:7, Luke 21:16, Proverbs 19:6, Proverbs 18:24, Proverbs 27:6,

Even Jesus friends : Mark 3:21, Zechariah 13:6, Psalms 41:9, Luke 7:34, Matthew 11:19, Matthew 26:48-50

John 15:14-26, Job 42:10, -after = ( Job 32:3 ), Mark 5:19, Luke 14:12-14,

Hopefully these are helpful for wisdom in your love & wisdom towards GOD, your friends & close friends

Psalms 9:10, Psalms 18:2,30, Psalms 56:3, Psalms 71:5, Isaiah 12:2, our trust & hope should ultimately be in GOD

* Psalms 118:8, * Jeremiah 9:4, * Micah 7:5,6, Luke 12:52, Psalms 27:10, Ephesian 6:2,3, Proverbs 23:22, people even most dear can betray, abandon, abuse etc. There was much abuse, betrayal, within King David's family & those he served. 1Samuel 21, 2Samuel 15, Saul his King, his children, wife, etc. Starting with his calling, 1Samuel 16:5-11,

Psalms 20:7,

Psalms 62:2,5,8, 2Samuel 22:3,31,

Job 4:17-21,

Psalms 17:7, Psalms 25:2, Psalms 31:19,

Psalms 40:4, Psalms 44:6, Psalms 49:6,7,

Luke 14:26, trust GOD 1st & only yet honor them, this may be when there is contradiction to GOD's will & commandments. Even Jesus faced those struggles with earthly parents & family. Mark 3:20,21, Mark 3:31-35, John 7:3-5, Luke 2:42-52,

Hopefully these are helpful.

Leviticus 13:45, Leviticus 14:2-3,32, Leviticus 14, most of the chapter discusses the law of strictness, sacrifice, isolation, cleansing, hinting the severity. Leviticus 22:4, Numbers 5:1,2, Matthew 8:2-4, Mark 1:40-44, Luke 17:11-19,

2 Kings 5:1-14, note 2 Kings 5:15-27, Luke 4:14-27,

2 Kings 7:3-11, (the whole story started previous chapter/s & continues after verses I noted)

2 Kings 15:5, 2 Chronicles 26:21,23,

Matthew 10:1-8, Matthew 11:1-5,

Mark 3:1-5, Luke 14:1-4,

Hopefully these scriptures help in your study

Genesis 2:2-3 , Ezekiel 46:1, Mark 1:21, Mark 6:2, Luke 4:16, Luke 4:31, Luke 6:1, Luke 13:10,

Isaiah 58:1-14, Exodus 20:8, Exodus 20:10-11,

Exodus 31:13,14,16, Leviticus 16:31, Leviticus 19:3, Leviticus 19:30, Leviticus 23:1-8, Leviticus 24:8, Leviticus 25:2, Leviticus 25:4, Leviticus 25:17, Jeremiah 17:19-27, Lamentations 1:1-7, Isaiah 1:11-17, Isaiah 56:1-8, Ezekiel 20:12, Ezekiel 22:26,

Amos 8:4-8, Mark 2:27,

Matthew 12:8, Matthew 12:1-27, Mark 3:1-11, Luke 6:6-11, Luke 13:11-17, Luke 14:3-6, Luke 14:12-24, Luke 23:3-56, John 5:1-16, John 7:22-24,

Colossians 2:8-17,

James 2:1-26

In previous Chapters we see Jesus is talking to many different people from different backgrounds, educations & walks in life:

Luke 14, Luke 15:1,2, Luke 16:1,14,

Luke 15:3 =3 parables prior have to do with GOD's goodness, amazing mercy & love for HIS lost children. Luke 15:4-32,

Luke 16, continues as Jesus is talking to the disciples, Luke 16:1, yet you see the others appear to still be there. Luke 16:14,

A steward is someone trusted with things, property, belongings (even teachings) that don't belong to them, they are trusted to maintain, keep, watch-over, protect, grow etc. In this parable Jesus seems to be pointing out the wrongs done.

Luke 16:8, notice Luke 16:9-13, if you go back to Luke 14, they appear to be at one of the Cheif Phariees house throughout these chapters. Luke 14:1, (Pharisee known for being very strict religious of GOD's written laws) therefore being a "steward" of GOD's written laws, including teaching, nextJesus speaks of the rich man, that showed no mercy. Luke 16:19-31, I believe Jesus is rebuking the "rich teachers, stewards" yet also teaching HIS disciples to be wiser to what is going on.

Hopefully this is helpful

Hello Brother Spencer,

I'm not sure how this would tie in to the lesson you studied, but I'll share this with you. I'm looking at those Greek words both in Matthew and Luke. In Matthew 4:1, the word tempted is PEIRASTHENAI which means to be tried. In verse 7, the word tempt is EKPEIRASEIS which means to put on trial. What's interesting about Matthew Chapter 4 is that in James 1:13, it tells us first of all that God cannot be tempted, nor does He tempt anyone. You can't tempt Him and God Himself is not responsible for temptation.

As far as Jesus having to prove Himself, here is what I find interesting. In Matthew 4:3, it sounds like the tempter is asking Jesus to prove who He is. The tempter says "If thou be the Son of God, command these stones be made bread. That word "if" makes it sound like he's asking Jesus to prove who He is. That's what we get from the English text.

But here's why I love the Greek so much. The word "if" in the Greek text is what is called the first class condition assumed to be true. It can be translated "since." The devil, in tempting Jesus, was not tempting Him to prove that He was the Son of God. Satan is saying (since) you are the Son of God, then do this. Misuse your authority. Misuse your position. Be disobedient to your heavenly Father. But please note that Satan is not asking Jesus to prove Himself to be the Son of God, but actually questioning Him, baiting Him to disobey the commandments of God.

In Luke 14:19 the word prove is DOKIMASAI which means to test.

I'll share this with you, something I learned. A farmer in those days, if he had one pair of oxen, he would be considered fortunate. This is obviously a rich farmer. He just purchased five pairs of oxen. He's says, and I have to go and prove (DOKIMASAI/Test) them: so have me excused.

This is equivalent in our day to "I just bought a new car. I got to go test drive it and break it in, so have me excused."

Well, I'm off to bed. Hope to chat with you again soon. God Bless

Hi Brother Jesse.

I've heard a lesson once before on Mathew 4:1-10. Where the word tempted/tested can be used as to prove something, Not meaning to see if he can withstand the devil but to show that he could. Similar to the word used in

Luke 14:19. And another said, I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I go to "PROVE" them: I pray thee have me excused.

Even though a different Greek word.

What do you think?

I value your take.

God bless.

Hi James. I know, that word 'hate' can be very pointed & ugly, especially when seen in the Scriptures. We need to realize that 'hate' as seen here & other places, can have several meanings. The word in Greek is 'miseo', & of course, it does mean 'to hate' but also can have other meanings according to application, i.e. 'to detest, to love less, to esteem less'. So, it's not always an ugly uncontrolled emotion that is shown. You can think of 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." Did the Lord mean to say that we are to feel such hatred for our family just so that we can truly follow Him? Or did He mean that we need to esteem Him more, putting Him first in everything even to giving our family second place?

And then we have another conundrum as seen in Isaiah 45:7: "I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the LORD do all these things." I share this verse simply to demonstrate the usage & understanding of languages. In Isaiah, we read of two strange phenomena: God creating darkness & creating evil. Can a God Who is altogether Light & altogether Holy & Good create such things? Some might say, yes, because He is God. Rather we should consider that in light of Who God is, maybe the creation of darkness, is actually God removing His Light. Maybe the creation of evil, is God removing His Peace. Darkness is always the default just as is Evil the present default in the World. We enjoy both physical & spiritual Light because of God's intervention through Christ ( Colossians 1:16,17; John 8:12) - we also enjoy great quietness & enjoyment of life because God by His Spirit is holding back the full onslaught of evil ( 2 Thessalonians 2:7).

Therefore Romans 9:13 & Malachi 1:2,3 that speak of 'hating Esau', can only mean that Esau was hated (rejected) in God's Plan, just as Jacob was loved (accepted).

Kari,

I would like to share with you my perspective from a biblical Greek study on this word hate. In Luke 14:26, it says " 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."

First of all let me tell you what the word hate means. This word is MISEO. It is not the word for hostile or hatred as we know it in English. 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. It can't even be close!

Jesus is not talking about walking away from our families. He's talking about cutting the emotional ties, not cutting the relationship. We need to understand that. In our society, there's a big play on the social interaction with friends and relatives. Jesus didn't say you couldn't have family. Jesus didn't say that you have to stop your relationship with family members. That is not what He is saying.



He is saying that when it comes to choice and service, and what to do with your life, basically it's a no-brainer. It is Jesus. Family members that don't know Jesus aren't going to understand that. But do you know what they are going to understand? They are going to see and understand that Jesus means more to you than anything or anybody else in the world.

So this is the teaching of Jesus, you must hate. That is, love everybody much less then you love me. It can't even be close. No question about it. You love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength, and love your neighbor as yourself, and that's a Hebraism for you are going to love your neighbor according to how you love the Lord.

Luke 14 Vers 26

Heidi,

You have to add in vs 26 to get a feel for how primitive sounding the text is:

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

*Straight forward language to walk he walk with God.

( Luke 14:33) So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple.

*So I have to abandon my possessions to walk with God.

( 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.

*Do not love others above God to walk with God. I don't hate family members, Jesus, so you got me there. I have a feeling there was more to this conversation than was published.

First of all, are you a born-again Christian? If not, take Jesus as your Savior by confessing your sins and asking Him to come into your heart. Romans 10:9-10.

if you are a born-again Christian--you must understand--you received the Holy Spirit the second you were saved. Luke 14:16. You need not ask for God to send Him to you for He does not come and go. He is with you always.

Cast your cares upon Him for He careth for you. 1 Peter 5:7. He will answer according to His will. He will always sustain you. Psalm 55:22. Pray continuously, especially for His will in these matters. Read His Word and wait upon him. He will not fail you. Let your needs rest in Him. He may not answer your prayer the way you want, but he will make a way for you to have victory over this matter.

This passage is often used to provoke us to witness but in fact it's a sad declaration to the Jews (& specifically to those around Jesus at meal-time). The message of Luke 14:16-24 was an indictment against the Jews about their rejection of God's Message & Provision of salvation. One said in verse 15, "Blessed is he that shall eat bread in the kingdom of God", believing in the special position that only the Jews enjoyed & to be in God's Kingdom. Jesus then went about to show him that that position was now untenable because of their rejection of the Messiah of God.

So, in the parable, the invited guests represent the Jewish people. The Kingdom was prepared for them & Jesus came preaching that the Kingdom of Heaven was near ( Matthew 4:17), but they had rejected Him & His Messiahship ( John 1:11). And of course, all types of excuses were given to discount Jesus' claim & works.

Thus the invitation (of God) went out to those whom the Jews considered as outcasts & unclean (the Gentiles), that we in our miserable state of ignorance of God's Holy Demands, would be given the opportunity to salvation which the Jews despised. As Hosea 2:23 says, "I will have mercy upon her that had not obtained mercy; and I will say to them which were not my people, Thou art my people; and they shall say, Thou art my God".

Even as Paul declared in Acts 13:46,47, "It was necessary that the word of God should first have been spoken to you: but seeing ye put it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, lo, we turn to the Gentiles. For so hath the Lord commanded us, saying, I have set thee to be a light of the Gentiles, that thou shouldest be for salvation unto the ends of the earth." We may not all be missionaries in our calling, or standing on street corners warning every man, but we are called to be witnesses of God's Grace reaching out to those who have never heard. In the most part, we as Christians, have failed to be God's Light & Hope in this dark & desperate world.

Hi Dgjot.

Listen here at Paul.

1 Corinthians 3:6-7. I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase.

So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase.

Maybe the World needs a little watering.

"Smile"

God bless.

Dgjot,

I agree with what you are saying.

Although witnessing Christ to others is a good thing, no one should put a heavy burden on us to do so. There are some who even say that Jesus would have come back by now if we believers were out there "doing our jobs."

It should never be about putting a guilt trip on a believer to get out and do their job so that everyone will be reached.

Besides, John 1:9 tells us that the whole world has already been reached.

The word, the Logos, enlightens every person coming into the world. Every single human being born into this earthly life will be enlightened by God to the truth.



There will not be one person that will stand before God that will ever say "Hey I didn't know anything about it." Here is why. I'll give you three scriptures.



Psalm 19:1-4 says that creation, the language of creation goes throughout the world. There is no language that does not understand the language of creation. And creation speaks of the Creator.



So much so that in Romans 1:19-20, the apostle Paul even says that what is known of God is clearly manifest as God reveals the truth of the invisible God to every person.

Romans 10:18 is a verse people will use to motivate Christians to help support missionary work around the world. Unfortunately some stop at Verse 17 when it says faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God.

"So we have got to get the word of God out there and reach those people."

Except in Verse 18 Paul says, but I say have they not heard? Yes they have. Their sound went out into all the earth and their words unto the ends of the world.

So it's not up to us to reach everyone. In the book of Revelation, we are told of God's plan to reach every single person.

There will be the two witnesses, an angel will be flying around in mid-heaven for 3-1/2 years warning everyone.

And there will also be 144,000 Jews who will be evangelizing and reaching the list. So God has it pretty much covered!