28
Forγὰρwhichτίςofἐξyou,ὑμῶνwantingθέλωνto buildοἰκοδομῆσαιa tower,πύργονdoes notοὐχὶfirstπρῶτονsit downκαθίσαςandcalculateψηφίζειthe cost,τὴν δαπάνηνto seewhetherεἰhe hasἔχειenoughforεἰςcompletion?ἀπαρτισμόν
Luke 14:28
Study it in the app“For which of you, wanting to build a tower, does not first sit down and calculate the cost, to see whether he has enough for completion?”
Jesus says to sit down and count the cost, with a tower and a king as examplesFollowing Jesus
With the Greek beneath
Luke 14:28, word by word
- wantingθέλωνthelōn
want
To have the desire or the resolve for something.
Where else “thelōn” appears- to buildοἰκοδομῆσαιoikodomēsai
build
To raise a house, a tower or another structure, stone upon stone.
Where else “oikodomēsai” appears- a towerπύργονpyrgon
tower
Tower, watchtower.
Where else “pyrgon” appears- does notοὐχὶouchi
not
Not (in questions that expect "yes").
Where else “ouchi” appears- firstπρῶτονprōton
first
The one who comes before all others, in time or in order.
Where else “prōton” appears- sit downκαθίσαςkathisas
sit down
To take a seat, often to teach, judge or reign.
Where else “kathisas” appears- calculateψηφίζειpsēphizei
calculate
Calculate, count, figure out.
Where else “psēphizei” appears- the costδαπάνηνdapanēn
cost
Cost, expense.
Where else “dapanēn” appears- he hasἔχειechei
have
To count something or someone as one's own: goods, family, faith, power.
Where else “echei” appears- completionἀπαρτισμόνapartismon
completion
Completion, finishing.
Where else “apartismon” appears
The context
27Whoever does not carry his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple.
28 · This verse (above)
29Otherwise, when he has laid a foundation and is not able to finish, all who see it will begin to mock him,
To study Luke 14 in a group
1. What it says
What excuses do the guests give for not coming to the great banquet, and whom does the master of the house invite afterward? (vv. 16-24)
2. What it means
Jesus says that whoever exalts himself will be humbled and whoever humbles himself will be exalted. How does he illustrate this at the table? (vv. 7-11)
3. How I live it
Jesus suggests inviting those who cannot repay you. Whom could you invite or help without expecting anything in return? (vv. 12-14)