Counting the Cost

14:25 Now large crowds84 were accompanying Jesus,85 and turning to them he said, 14:26 “If anyone comes to me and does not hate86 his own father and mother, and wife and children, and brothers and sisters, and even his own life,87 he cannot be my disciple. 14:27 Whoever does not carry his own cross88 and follow89 me cannot be my disciple. 14:28 For which of you, wanting to build a tower, doesn’t sit down90 first and compute the cost91 to see if he has enough money to complete it? 14:29 Otherwise,92 when he has laid93 a foundation and is not able to finish the tower,94 all who see it95 will begin to make fun of96 him. 14:30 They will say,97 ‘This man98 began to build and was not able to finish!’99 14:31 Or what king, going out to confront another king in battle, will not sit down100 first and determine whether he is able with ten thousand to oppose101 the one coming against him with twenty thousand? 14:32 If he cannot succeed,102 he will send a representative103 while the other is still a long way off and ask for terms of peace.104 14:33 In the same way therefore not one of you can be my disciple if he does not renounce all his own possessions.105

14:34 “Salt106 is good, but if salt loses its flavor,107 how can its flavor be restored? 14:35 It is of no value108 for the soil or for the manure pile; it is to be thrown out.109 The one who has ears to hear had better listen!”110