Study Format:
1. Read passage aloud. What did you notice in the reading? What words or phrase caught your attention?
2. Read passage aloud a second time. What questions would you ask the text?
3. Read passage aloud a third time. What do you hear God calling you to do or be in response to this text?
Interesting Ideas to Consider:
• This passage leaves the meal setting and returns to the motif of journeying. These sayings are addressed to the large crowds following Jesus. Rather than softening his message to attract followers, Jesus tried to dissuade followers by telling the truth about the difficulties of discipleship.
• V. 26 is a difficult one to understand, considering Jesus’ commitment to love. However, a literary style of the period was to exaggerate a contrast in order to see it more clearly. So to “hate” is not to create anger or hostility, it is instead to recognize that discipleship must always come before human relationships. Also, early Christianity was a wandering band, so a disciple needed to be willing to leave ones family.
• V. 27 – another reference to Jesus eventual crucifixion as we journey to Jerusalem.
• V. 28-32 – No one would enter into a building (or a war) without being sure they could finish the job (or, ok, let’s be reasonable, no logical person would, certainly plenty of people do). In the same vein, God will not enter into the work of redemption without seeing it through. The parable is not about building stronger armies, it’s about finishing what you started.
• In verse 33, Jesus demands disciples must “give up all your possessions.” The sharing of goods for the betterment of all in Acts probably demonstrates how Luke saw this command to be lived out.
Works Sourced:
Culpepper, R. Alan. “The Gospel of Luke.” The New Interpreter’s Bible Volume IX. Nashville, TN: Abingdon Press, 1995.
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