New Living Translation
Luke 14:28
28“But don’t begin until you count the cost. For who would begin construction of a building without first calculating the cost to see if there is enough money to finish it?
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 you want to be my disciple, you must, by comparison, hate everyone else—your father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters—yes, even your own life. Otherwise, you cannot be my disciple. 27And if you do not carry your own cross and follow me, you cannot be my disciple. “But don’t begin until you count the cost. For who would begin construction of a building without first calculating the cost to see if there is enough money to finish it? 29Otherwise, you might complete only the foundation before running out of money, and then everyone would laugh at you. 30They would say, ‘There’s the person who started that building and couldn’t afford to finish it!’
Read all of Luke 14Luke 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
Words taken from the KJV.
- ·ὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
- Forγάρgar · forG1063
- whichτίςtis · which?G5101
- ofἐκek ex · out fromG1537
- youσύsu · youG4771
- intendingθέλωthelō ethelō · to will/desireG2309
- toπρόςpros · to/withG4314
- buildοἰκοδομέωoikodomeō · to buildG3618
- a towerπύργοςpurgos · towerG4444
- sittethκαθίζωkathizō · to seatG2523
- notοὐχίouchi · not!G3780
- firstπρῶτονprōton · firstG4412
- and countethψηφίζωpsēphizō · to calculateG5585
- the costδαπάνηdapanē · costG1160
- whetherεἰei · ifG1487
- he haveἔχωechō · to have/beG2192
- to finishἀπαρτισμόςapartismos · completionG535
Cross-references for Luke 14:28
- Genesis 11:4Then they said, “Come, let’s build a great city for ourselves with a tower that reaches into the sky. This will make us famous and keep us from being scattered all over the world.”
- Proverbs 24:27Do your planning and prepare your fields before building your house.
- Luke 14:33So you cannot become my disciple without giving up everything you own.
- Joshua 24:19Then Joshua warned the people, “You are not able to serve the Lord, for he is a holy and jealous God. He will not forgive your rebellion and your sins.
- Matthew 8:20But Jesus replied, “Foxes have dens to live in, and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place even to lay his head.”
- Matthew 10:22And all nations will hate you because you are my followers. But everyone who endures to the end will be saved.
- Matthew 20:22But Jesus answered by saying to them, “You don’t know what you are asking! Are you able to drink from the bitter cup of suffering I am about to drink?” “Oh yes,” they replied, “we are able!”
- Acts 21:13But he said, “Why all this weeping? You are breaking my heart! I am ready not only to be jailed at Jerusalem but even to die for the sake of the Lord Jesus.”
- 1 Thessalonians 3:4Even while we were with you, we warned you that troubles would soon come—and they did, as you well know.
- 2 Peter 1:13And it is only right that I should keep on reminding you as long as I live.
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
In the dictionaries
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
New Living Translation — © 1996, 2004, 2015 Tyndale House Foundation
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