New Testament · Gospel

Luke 14:28

The Great Banquet

Which of you, wishing to build a tower, does not first sit down and count the cost to see if he has the resources to complete it? Luke 14:28 · Berean Standard Bible

What It Means

Luke 14:28, in plain English

Jesus gives a practical example: if you were going to build a tower, wouldn't you first sit down and figure out if you can actually afford to finish it?

Why it's here

He's not discouraging people from following Him — He's saying do it with open eyes. Know what you're signing up for.

Who's speaking

Jesus uses everyday common sense to make a spiritual point about commitment.

Where it sits in the story

It's like starting a home renovation without checking your bank account. Jesus wants followers who've done the math, not ones who'll quit halfway.

A Closer Look

The scholarly reading

The tower-building parable illustrates the necessity of calculating cost (dapanēn) before undertaking discipleship. The verb 'sit down' (kathisas) and 'count' (psēphizei) emphasize deliberate, rational assessment.

Language and setting

This is the first of two parables (tower and king at war) that illustrate the same point: discipleship requires forethought, not impulsive enthusiasm.

Voice

Jesus teaches the crowd using a construction metaphor everyone would understand, emphasizing the wisdom of counting costs before committing.

Significance

Jesus asks a practical question: who starts building a tower without first making sure they can afford to finish it?

In context

Luke 14:26–30

26“If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters—yes, even his own life—he cannot be My disciple.

27And whoever does not carry his cross and follow Me cannot be My disciple.

28Which of you, wishing to build a tower, does not first sit down and count the cost to see if he has the resources to complete it?

29Otherwise, if he lays the foundation and is unable to finish the work, everyone who sees it will ridicule him,

30saying, ‘This man could not finish what he started to build.’

Read all of Luke 14 — The invited guests make excuses, so the host sends servants into the streets and alleys. God's table will be full — just not with who you'd expect.

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