Luke 14:28

Luke 14:28 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it?
• New International Version (NIV)“Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Won’t you first sit down and estimate the cost to see if you have enough money to complete it?
• English Standard Version (ESV)For which of you, desiring to build a tower, does not first sit down and count the cost, whether he has enough to complete it?
• New King James Version (NKJV)For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not sit down first and count the cost, whether he has enough to finish it—

Context of Luke 14:28

26“If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his own father, mother, wife, children, brothers, sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be My disciple. 27Whoever does not carry his own cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple. 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? 29Otherwise, when he has laid a foundation and is not able to finish, all who are watching it will begin to ridicule him, 30saying, ‘This person began to build, and was not able to finish!’

Luke 14:28 word by word

Τίς γὰρ ἐξ ὑμῶν θέλων πύργον οἰκοδομῆσαι οὐχὶ πρῶτον καθίσας ψηφίζει τὴν δαπάνην εἰ ἔχει εἰς ἀπαρτισμόν;Read the interlinear

• For whichτίςtis · which?G5101
• one of you, when he wantsθέλωthelō ethelō · to will/desireG2309
• to buildοἰκοδομέωoikodomeō · to buildG3618
• a towerπύργοςpurgos · towerG4444
• does not firstπρῶτοςprōtos · firstG4413
• sitκαθίζωkathizō · to seatG2523
• and calculateψηφίζωpsēphizō · to calculateG5585
• ifεἰei · ifG1487
• he hasἔχωechō · to have/beG2192
• to completeἀπαρτισμόςapartismos · completionG535

Cross-references for Luke 14:28

• Genesis 11:4And they said, “Come, let’s build ourselves a city, and a tower whose top will reach into heaven, and let’s make a name for ourselves; otherwise we will be scattered abroad over the face of all the earth.”
• Proverbs 24:27Prepare your work outside, And make it ready for yourself in the field; Afterward, then, build your house.
• Luke 14:33So then, none of you can be My disciple who does not give up all his own possessions.
• Joshua 24:19Then Joshua said to the people, “You will not be able to serve the Lord, for He is a holy God. He is a jealous God; He will not forgive your wrongdoing or your sins.
• Matthew 8:20And Jesus said to him, “The foxes have holes and the birds of the sky have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head.”
• Matthew 10:22And you will be hated by all because of My name, but it is the one who has endured to the end who will be saved.
• Matthew 20:22But Jesus replied, “You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I am about to drink?” They said to Him, “We are able.”
• Acts 21:13Then Paul replied, “What are you doing, weeping and breaking my heart? For I am ready not only to be bound, but even to die in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.”
• 1 Thessalonians 3:4For even when we were with you, we kept telling you in advance that we were going to suffer affliction; and so it happened, as you know.
• 2 Peter 1:13I consider it right, as long as I am in this earthly dwelling, to stir you up by way of reminder,

Commentaries on Luke 14:28

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 28To build a tower - Probably this means no more than a dwelling house, on the top of which, according to the Asiatic manner, battlements were built, both to take the fresh air on, and to serve for refuge from and defense against an enemy. It was also used for prayer and meditation. This parable represents the absurdity of those who undertook to be disciples of Christ, without considering what difficulties they were to meet with, and what strength they had…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 28Intending to build a tower - See Matthew 21:33. A tower was a place of defense or observation, erected on high places or in vineyards, to guard against enemies. It was made “high,” so as to enable one to see an enemy when he approached; and “strong,” so that it could not be easily taken. Counteth the cost - Makes a calculation how much it will cost to build it.Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 25-35Verses 25-35 Though the disciples of Christ are not all crucified, yet they all bear their cross, and must bear it in the way of duty. Jesus bids them count upon it, and then consider of it. Our Saviour explains this by two similitudes; the former showing that we must consider the expenses of our religion; the latter, that we must consider the perils of it. Sit down and count the cost; consider it will cost the mortifying of sin, even the most beloved…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 25-35large crowds were traveling with Jesus: Jesus was very popular, but he was about to teach that the cost of following him was also very high.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 28-3328-33. which of you, &c.--Common sense teaches men not to begin any costly work without first seeing that they have wherewithal to finish. And he who does otherwise exposes himself to general ridicule. Nor will any wise potentate enter on a war with any hostile power without first seeing to it that, despite formidable odds (two to one), he be able to stand his ground; and if he has no hope of this, he will feel that nothing remains for him but to make the…Read the comment

Topics related to Luke 14:28

• Jesus, the Christ
• Prudence
• Salvation
• Seekers
• Self-Denial
• Tower

In the dictionaries

• Compel
• Condition
• Consent
• Consult
• Exalt
• Excuse
• Halt
• Hate
• Worship
• Architecture

Commentaries on Luke 14

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Catena Aurea
• Illustrated New Testament
• Burkitt’s Expository Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Family Bible Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• John Lightfoot Commentary
• Luther’s Commentary on Selected Bible Passages
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• The People’s New Testament
• Robertson’s Word Pictures
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• The Fourfold Gospel and Commentary on Acts
• Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings