1. SCRIPTURE READING: This is divided into two parts:
   1. First part (Luke 14:16-24) is a parable about guests invited to a supper.
      1. The invited guests made excuses for not attending the supper.
      2. They were more interested in their own personal affairs.
      3. They insulted the one extending the invitation to the supper.

         NOTE: This leads into the second part of our Scripture reading:

   2. Second part (Luke 14:25-33) about counting the cost of what we are about to do.

      1. What is involved in accepting or rejecting an invitation.
      2. Am I ready to pay the cost of whatever it takes to accept, or reject the invitation.
2. THE MAIN THOUGHT OF OUR DISCUSSION "COUNTING THE COST":

1. THE INVITATION: (Luke 14:26) = "… come to me…"
   1. The cost: "…and hate not his father, and mother, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, and his own life also, cannot be my disciple."
      1. One unwilling to pay the price will not be one of His disciples.
      2. One willing to pay the price will be one of His disciples.
   2. Consider with me the significance of the phrase "hate not"
      1. We are read in the scriptures that to speak evil of father and mother was punishable by death.
         Leviticus 20:9 = "For every one that curseth his father or his shall surely be put to death: …"
         (Also Exodus 21:17). Proverbs 1:8 = "My son, hear the instruction of thy father, and forsake not the law of thy mother."
      2. We also read that a man is to leave his father and mother and cleave to his wife: Matthew 19:4-6= "Have ye not read, that he who made them from the beginning made them male and female, and said, for this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and the two shall become one flesh…"

         NOTE: This same expression was used in regards to Christ and the church in Ephesians 5:31-32.

   3. Psalms 103:13 = "Like as a father piteth his children, so the Lord piteth them that fear him."

      COMMENT: It would be difficult to harmonize "hate not" with these passages it would seem, but a close look at the Scriptures, and God’s Word gives for the explanation:

      Matthew 6:24 = "No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon."

      Matthew 10:37 = "He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me."

2. THE INVITATION: (Luke 14:27) "…Come after me…"
   1. The cost: "And whosoever doeth not bear his cross, … cannot be my disciple".
      1. One must bear a cross.
      2. One must bear his own cross.
         Romans 12:1 = "I beseech you therefore, brethren, By the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service."
         
         Galatians 2:20 = "I am crucified with Christ: never the less I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me."
         
         Galatians 5:24-25 = "And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit."
   2. Consider the results:
      1. One not willing to bear his own cross of suffering "…cannot be my disciple".
      2. One willing to bear his own cross of suffering can be His disciple. (Read Galatians 6:14-18.)
3. COUNTING THE COST COMPARED TO BUILDING AND GOING TO WAR (Luke 14:28-33.)
   1. Building a tower: (Luke 14:28-30)
      1. The cost: "…Counteth the cost…"
      2. "…Whether he have sufficient (funds or material) to finish it" .
      3. The results: (Luke 14:29-30) = "…Lest haply, after he hath laid the foundation, and is not able to finish it, all that behold it begin to mock him, saying, this man began to build, and was not able to finish."
         Proverbs 18:10 = "The name of the Lord is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe."

   2. King going to war (Luke 14:31-32)

      1. The cost: "…Sitteth not down first, and consulteth whether he be able with ten thousand to meet him that cometh against him with twenty thousand? Or else, while the other is yet a great way off, he sendeth an ambassage, and desireth conditions of peace."
      2. The results depends on what cost am I willing to pay to obtain that which I desire.

CONCLUSION:

1. WE MUST COUNT THE COST GOD REQUIRES OF US FOR SALVATION.

2. HOW MUCH ARE WE WILLING TO FORSAKE TO BE HIS DISCIPLE?

3. IT MUST BE "..ALL THAT WE HAVE.." (Luke 14:33) = "So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple."

4. CONSIDER:

   1. The parable of treasure hid in a field . Matthew 13:44 = "Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto treasure hid in a field; the which when a man hath found, he hideth, and fir joy there of goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field."
   2. The one that in Matthew 19:16-22, asked (Matthew 19:16) = "…Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life?" Jesus said (Matthew 19:21) = "…If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me."

      NOTE: What happened when he heard what the cost was: (Matthew 19:22) = "But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions."

   3. QUESTION:

      1. Have your really counted the cost?
      2. Are you living up to your part of the cost? Remember, Christ has paid his part.
      3. If you are behind in payment, correct it before it is too late. And hear it said, "and cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth." = (Matthew 25:30).

    

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