Parables Of Jesus Christ: Counting The Cost
by Wayne Blank

See also 1 Year Holy Bible Reading Plan

Jesus Christ commanded His people to put obedience to Him first in their lives. The use of the English word "hate" in the Scriptures below has a different connotation than the original Greek word that Christ actually spoke, which literally meant to love less i.e. Christ's disciples aren't to "hate" their parents (which would violate the Fifth Commandment; see The Two Great Commandments) or children; they are to love Christ more than anyone or anything.

"14:25 And there went great multitudes with him: and he turned, and said unto them, 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." (Luke 14:25-26 KJV) 눅 14:25 허다한 무리가 함께 갈새 예수께서 돌이키사 이르시되 눅 14:26 무릇 내게 오는 자가 자기 부모와 처자와 형제와 자매와 및 자기 목숨까지 미워하지 아니하면 능히 나의 제자가 되지 못하고
Genuine obedience to the Messiah is how Christians "bear his cross" (see the Fact Finder question below).

"14:27 And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple." (Luke 14:27 KJV) 눅 14:27 누구든지 자기 십자가를 지고 나를 좇지 않는 자도 능히 나의 제자가 되지 못하리라
"He that hath ears to hear, let him hear"

The lesson then continued with the Messiah's parable of counting the cost:

"14:28 For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it?
14:29 Lest haply, after he hath laid the foundation, and is not able to finish it, all that behold it begin to mock him, 14:30 Saying, This man began to build, and was not able to finish." (Luke 14:28-30 KJV) 눅 14:28 너희 중에 누가 망대를 세우고자 할진대 자기의 가진 것이 준공하기까지에 족할는지 먼저 앉아 그 비용을 예산하지 아 니하겠느냐 눅 14:29 그렇게 아니하여 그 기초만 쌓고 능히 이루지 못하면 보는 자가 다 비웃어 눅 14:30 가로되 이 사람이 역사를 시작하고 능히 이루지 못하였다 하리라

Another example, as the parable continued:

"14:31 Or what king, going to make war against another king, sitteth not down first, and consulteth whether he be able with ten thousand to meet him that cometh against him with twenty thousand?
14:32 Or else, while the other is yet a great way off, he sendeth an ambassage, and desireth conditions of peace." (Luke 14:31-32 KJV) 눅 14:31 또 어느 임금이 다른 임금과 싸우러 갈 때에 먼저 앉아 일만으로서 저 이만을 가지고 오는 자를 대적할 수 있을까 헤 아리지 아니하겠느냐 눅 14:32 만일 못할터이면 저가 아직 멀리 있을 동안에 사신을 보내어 화친을 청할지니

And so too must true Christians not lose their "salt" (see No U Turns On The Road To Life).

"14:33 So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple.
14:34 Salt is good: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be seasoned? 14:35 It is neither fit for the land, nor yet for the dunghill; but men cast it out.

He that hath ears to hear, let him hear." (Luke 14:33-35 KJV) 눅 14:33 이와 같이 너희 중에 누구든지 자기의 모든 소유를 버리지 아니하면 능히 내 제자가 되지 못하리라 눅 14:34 소금이 좋은 것이나 소금도 만일 그 맛을 잃었으면 무엇으로 짜게 하리요 눅 14:35 땅에도 거름에도 쓸데 없어 내어버리느니라 들을 귀가 있는 자는 들을지어다 하시니라

Fact Finder: Unlike some people of Judah who use physical devices to vainly claim obedience to the LORD (e.g. see Frontlets and Phylacteries and The Fringes Of His Garment) or some Christian-professing people who do the same by wearing idolatrous "crucifixes" (see Fundamentals Of True Christianity: Lesson 2), how do the LORD's people truly "carry the Cross"?
See Carrying The Cross