Luke 14:25-27

Counting the Cost

14:25 Now large crowds ¹  were accompanying Jesus, ²  and turning to them he said, 14:26 “If anyone comes to me and does not hate ³  his own father and mother, and wife and children, and brothers and sisters, and even his own life, ⁴  he cannot be my disciple. 14:27 Whoever does not carry his own cross ⁵  and follow ⁶  me cannot be my disciple.

Luke 14:33

14:33 In the same way therefore not one of you can be my disciple if he does not renounce all his own possessions. ⁷ 

Luke 22:33-34

22:33 But Peter ⁸  said to him, “Lord, I am ready to go with you both to prison and to death!” ⁹  22:34 Jesus replied, ¹⁰  “I tell you, Peter, the rooster will not crow ¹¹  today until you have denied ¹²  three times that you know me.”

John 13:36-38

13:36 Simon Peter said to him, “Lord, where are you going?” Jesus replied, ¹³  “Where I am going, you cannot follow me now, but you will follow later.” 13:37 Peter said to him, “Lord, why can’t I follow you now? I will lay down my life for you!” ¹⁴  13:38 Jesus answered, “Will you lay down your life for me? ¹⁵  I tell you the solemn truth, ¹⁶  the rooster will not crow until you have denied me three times!

[14:25]  ¹ sn It is important to note that the following remarks are not just to disciples, but to the large crowds who were following Jesus.

[14:25]  ² tn Grk “him”; the referent (Jesus) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

[14:26]  ³ tn This figurative use operates on a relative scale. God is to be loved more than family or self.

[14:26]  ⁴ tn Grk “his own soul,” but ψυχή (yuch) is frequently used of one’s physical life. It clearly has that meaning in this context.

[14:27]  ⁵ sn It was customary practice in a Roman crucifixion for the prisoner to be made to carry his own cross. Jesus is speaking figuratively here in the context of rejection. If the priority is not one’s allegiance to Jesus, then one will not follow him in the face of possible rejection; see Luke 9:23.

[14:27]  ⁶ tn Grk “and come after.” In combination with the verb ἔρχομαι (ercomai) the improper preposition ὀπίσω (opisw) means “follow.”

[14:33]  ⁷ tn Grk “Likewise therefore every one of you who does not renounce all his own possessions cannot be my disciple.” The complex double negation is potentially confusing to the modern reader and has been simplified in the translation. See L&N 57.70.

[22:33]  ⁸ tn Grk “he”; the referent (Peter) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

[22:33]  ⁹ sn The confidence Peter has in private (Lord, I am ready…) will wilt under the pressure of the public eye.

[22:34]  ¹⁰ tn Grk “he said”; the referent (Jesus) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

[22:34]  ¹¹ sn That is, Peter’s denials will happen before the sun rises.

[22:34]  ¹² sn Once again, Jesus is quite aware that Peter will deny him. Peter, however, is too nonchalant about the possibility of stumbling.

[13:36]  ¹³ tn Grk “Jesus answered him.”

[13:37]  ¹⁴ tn Or “I will die willingly for you.”

[13:38]  ¹⁵ tn Or “Will you die willingly for me?”

[13:38]  ¹⁶ tn Grk “Truly, truly, I say to you.”