46 lines
2.4 KiB
Markdown
46 lines
2.4 KiB
Markdown
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title = "Luke 14:25–35"
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date = "2022-12-30"
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### [Read the passage.](https://biblia.com/bible/esv/Lk14.25-35)
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When Jesus addresses the crowds here, He reiterates and expands on what He
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taught in [Luke 9:57–62](../luke-9-57-62). If you really want to follow
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Jesus, you must be prepared to give up _everything_ you have. Not only physical
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comforts and familial duties, but now even your entire family or your life.
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"Hate" is often used in the Bible as a contrast to what is or has been loved,
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not as a terrible, "I must destroy it!" rage. It might be closer to Elie
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Wiesel's definition of the opposite of love: indifference. Even that isn't
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quite right, because we shouldn't really be indifferent, or hate, our family.
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Jesus is exaggerating to make a point, and setting an order of priorities.
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To carry your own cross means to take your own torture device to your
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execution. Crucifixions were reserved for the worst criminals, and was even
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illegal to perform on Roman citizens. To the Empire at large, it was already a
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shameful way to die, but to the Jews it was worse because it carried the curse
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from being hung upon a tree. (_Duet. 21:23_) Jesus says a person should be
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willing to go through all that in order to follow Him.
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Jesus then gives a couple of examples of how it is important to carefully plan
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and count up the cost of a great endeavor, such as building a tower or going to
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war. One needs to consider carefully that the cost is worth it and that it can
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be paid. Of course, Jesus's point is that everything you have is worth giving
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up in order to follow Him. Not everyone actually has to give up their family,
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their wealth, or their life for the sake of Jesus, but some certainly have.
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They will stand with Christ on the Last Day and say with boldness that they
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made the right choice.
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In the first century, salt was valued, but it wasn't very pure. It contained
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gypsum, which is a mineral that looks a lot like salt, but doesn't dissolve in
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water. Unsalty salt was actually just gypsum that is left behind after the salt
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has been leached away by moisture, and no one had any use for it after that.
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Jesus is comparing His disciples to salt, but those who become apostate and
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turn away from their faith have lost their saltiness, and are therefore
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worthless.
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* * *
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Preserve our saltiness so that we may be useful for Your kingdom. Show us Your
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beauty and Your value that is greater than anything else that we have.
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