Jesus provides two insights into the challenges facing those that need to make a deeper commitment to live for Him.

In the first section (Luke 14:1-14), we looked carefully at three challenges as to how Christ expected His disciples to live out their lives. In this second section (Luke 14:15-35), Jesus challenges the crowds as to their commitment to Him. They might be curious or interested in what Jesus had to say but without making a commitment to allow those truths to shape your lives, then their faith will be found insufficient.

1) Prioritizing Spiritual Matters (Luke 14:15-24)

2) Developing a Committed Heart (Luke 14:25-35)

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The Bible Text (Luke 14:15-24)

"15 And when one of those who were reclining at the table with Him heard this, he said to Him, “Blessed is everyone who shall eat bread in the kingdom of God!” 16 But He said to him, “A certain man was giving a big dinner, and he invited many; 17 and at the dinner hour he sent his slave to say to those who had been invited, ‘Come; for everything is ready now.’ 18 But they all alike began to make excuses. The first one said to him, ‘I have bought a piece of land and I need to go out and look at it; please consider me excused.’ 19 And another one said, ‘I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I am going to try them out; please consider me excused.' 20 And another one said, ‘I have married a wife, and for that reason I cannot come.’ 21 And the slave came back and reported this to his master. Then the head of the household became angry and said to his slave, ‘Go out at once into the streets and lanes of the city and bring in here the poor and crippled and blind and lame.’ 22 And the slave said, ‘Master, what you commanded has been done, and still there is room. 23 And the master said to the slave, ‘Go out into the highways and along the hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled. 24 For I tell you, none of those men who were invited shall taste of my dinner" (Luke 14:15-24).

Prioritizing Spiritual Matters: An introduction (Luke 14:15-24)

Interest does not always develop into commitment. There are many browsers but not so many purchasers. Ideas and ideals are fun to talk about, but when it comes down to it in the end, there are only a few that get serious. What does commitment mean? Commitment means allowing Jesus’ teaching to shape one’s life. A person restricts him or her self by the principles of God. There are not many takers because there are not many true believers.

The Bible Study Questions (Luke 14:15-24)

• What did that person say reclining for the meal in Luke 14:15?

• What did that show of his interest in what Jesus was saying?

• How did Jesus respond starting in verse 16?

• Many were invited but many also made excuses. Name three excuses (Luke 14:18-20).

• What do you think of these three excuses for a invitation to a big dinner? What did the master do as a response (Luke 14:21-24)?

• Why did the Master want the house to be filled (Luke 14:23-24)? What does that mean?

"None of those men who were invited shall taste of my dinner." Luke 14:24

The Application Questions (Luke 14:15-24)

Have you been interested in spiritual things? How so?

Has this curiosity developed into commitment? Give three examples.

What are the consequences of not allowing Christ’s teaching restrict and shape your life?

Not a few pastors and evangelists dilute the real Gospel. What does God think of those Christian leaders who seek to please and retain the crowd? Isn’t that a good means of evangelism? Why or why not?

=> Further Reflection

Talk is cheap. There are many window shoppers but few buyers. Jesus knew this truth by the way many people would gather around Him to listen. But listening is not believing (contrast this with Ephesians 1:13).

Jesus challenged them by showing His displeasure at casual listeners. Why? They were deceived. They thought they were a better judge as to what is right or wrong than God. They allowed them to think good of themselves when they were not so at all. They had rejected God’s truth and applauded their life choices.

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The Bible Text (Luke 14:25-35)

"25 Now great multitudes were going along with Him; and He turned and said to them, 26 “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. 27 “Whoever does not carry his own cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple. 28 “For which one of you, when he wants to build a tower, does not first sit down and calculate the cost, to see if he has enough to complete it? 29 “Otherwise, when he has laid a foundation, and is not able to finish, all who observe it begin to ridicule him, 30 saying, ‘This man began to build and was not able to finish.’ 31 “Or what king, when he sets out to meet another king in battle, will not first sit down and take counsel whether he is strong enough with ten thousand men to encounter the one coming against him with twenty thousand? 32 “Or else, while the other is still far away, he sends a delegation and asks terms of peace. 33 “So therefore, no one of you can be My disciple who does not give up all his own possessions. 34 “Therefore, salt is good; but if even salt has become tasteless, with what will it be seasoned? 35 “It is useless either for the soil or for the manure pile; it is thrown out. He who has ears to hear, let him hear." (Luke 14:25-35)

Developing a Committed Heart: An introduction (Luke 14:25-35)

Jesus goes from a cute story that warns those listening to a demanding challenge to follow Him. These words, perhaps, could not be more anti-modern. Commitment, discipline, self-control, hard work, intolerance, and a zeal for Him (Jesus) make Jesus look extreme. Instead of being a smooth-talker, we find Jesus openly challenging them to count the costs before following Him.

The Bible Study Questions (Luke 14:25-35)

• What was the situation described to us in Luke 14:25?

• What did Jesus say to them in Luke 14:26-27?

• Why do you think Jesus might have said such strong words? (Reflect back on the former section).

• What did Jesus mean by Luke 14:26? How can we hate our family when we are told to love everyone?

• Jesus uses the word ‘disciple’ in verse 14. What does it mean? Do you think of yourself as a disciple?

• What does it mean by ‘carry his own cross’ (Luke 14:27)?

• Can a person be a believer and not a disciple? Why or why not?

• Luke 14:28-35 all have one theme. What is that? What are the two illustrations given?

• What is Jesus’ conclusion in Luke 14:33? What does it mean to give up all his own possessions?

• What is the message behind the last two verses about tasteless salt (Luke 14:34-35)? How does it tie the message together?

"Whoever does not carry his own cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple" (Luke 14:27).

The Application Questions (Luke 14:25-35)

Are you one of the many people who profess to be a Christian or a disciple of Jesus? Are you? How can you be for sure?

Why are there so few teachers who equivocate being a Christian with being a disciple? What is the result of this in the church?

Have you given up your possessions? Explain what Jesus might mean and how you go about doing it.

Write down any ways the Lord is prompting you to follow Him. Don’t be just a hearer. Go and do it!