Yeshua reminds us that being a true disciple is not just something we do when we have time or something we do “on the side”. To be a true disciple, we must put Him first… above all things and all relationships.
If we are to choose to follow Him, let us take time to count the cost to ensure we are prepared to complete the journey.
Discipleship Tested
25Now large crowds 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, 30saying, ‘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 consider 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 for terms of peace. 33“So then, none 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.”
He does not literally mean that you must hate your wife and family. The point is that you must put Christ first, above all relationships and possessions.
Regarding the “salt” reference, I He is considering the following. Disciples of Christ are the salt of the earth (Matthew 5:13). If disciples become tasteless (unable to distinguish from non believers) because of they prioritize other relationships and things above their relationship with Christ, then they are of no value to the kingdom of God.
On the other hand, if we prioritize Christ first, then all other things will be added to us in the proper context and value.
33“But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.
Count the cost of discipleship so you may prepare properly… but choose to follow Yeshua.
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