Luke
14:25–35—Under the theme, “The Demands of Discipleship” Jesus
teaches that discipleship demands total renunciation. Sunday’s gospel deals with the price we must
pay to be in the Kingdom of God. There are conditions to be met. Jesus urges
would-be followers to count the cost, v.28 and describes the cost in terms of
primary loyalty, v.26 a cross, v. 27 and total renunciation v. 33
We are told that great crowds accompanied Jesus, but
accompanying Him is not enough. A person must be ready and willing to turn his
back on the things of this world: his family, his life, indeed, all he has. The
things of this life must never stand in the way of our discipleship with
Christ, that is, our faith in Him as the sole procurer of our salvation, and
the only thing that matters.
The great multitudes are made up of friends and
enemies. In the shadow of His own cross, Jesus demanded total self-renunciation
as the cost of discipleship; a real taking up of the cross. All rival masters
or interest must be put away so that the love of the great Master may be
supreme; love to one’s relatives, life itself, and temporary possessions must
not take priority over allegiance to Christ.
Vv.28-29 A builder goes over his plans carefully, he
purchases his materials. The exact cost of the project is computed before he
begins to build. The imagery was not unfamiliar to Jesus’ hearers. Many tried
to imitate the pomp of the Herodian palaces, only to find that they did not
have the resources to complete the structures. In the end, the builders become
a laughing stock.
Vv.31-32 A ruler, planning to take the offensive,
first determines whether he has sufficient military strength to carry out his plan.
If the matter seems doubtful, he will prefer to enter into negotiations with
the enemy to find conditions of peace. The simile talks about the warfare every
Christian must wage against the devil, the world, and the flesh.
A Prayer for agriculture: Almighty God, You bless the earth to make it
fruitful, bringing forth in abundance whatever is needed for the support of our
lives. Prosper the work of farmers and all those who labor to bring food to our
table. Grant them seasonable weather that they may gather in the fruits of the
earth in abundance and proclaim Your goodness with thanksgiving; through Jesus
Christ, our Lord. Amen. [2]
Collect for
Friday of the week of Pentecost 12: Thou, O God, seest us, and knowest us
altogether. Be present to us not of Thy mercy, and grant us such grace of
understanding as we of ourselves, being ignorant, do not know how to ask. In
Jesus name. Amen [3]
-02 September, 2022
[1] Woodcut by Baron Julius Schnorr von Carolsfeld, 1794-1872, a distinguished German artist known especially for his book, The Book of Books in Pictures © WELS for personal and congregational use
[2] Collect for Agriculture, Lutheran Service Book © 2006 Concordia Publishing House, St. Louis
[3] Collect for Friday of the week of Pentecost 12, For All the Saints, A Prayer Book For and By the Church, Vol. II © 1995 The American Lutheran Publicity Bureau, Delhi, NY
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