29
Otherwise,ἵνα μήποτεwhen heαὐτοῦhas laidθέντοςa foundationθεμέλιονandκαὶis notμὴableἰσχύοντοςto finish,ἐκτελέσαιallπάντεςwho see itοἱ θεωροῦντεςwill beginἄρξωνταιto mockἐμπαίζεινhim,αὐτῷ
Luke 14:29
Study it in the app“Otherwise, when he has laid a foundation and is not able to finish, all who see it will begin to mock him,”
Jesus says to sit down and count the cost, with a tower and a king as examplesFollowing Jesus
With the Greek beneath
Luke 14:29, word by word
- Otherwiseμήποτεmēpote
lest
Expresses fear that something bad may happen, so as to avoid it.
Where else “mēpote” appears- has laidθέντοςthentos
put
To put something somewhere.
Where else “thentos” appears- a foundationθεμέλιονthemelion
foundation
Foundation, a foundation stone.
Where else “themelion” appears- ableἰσχύοντοςischyontos
be able
To have the strength or the capacity to do something.
Where else “ischyontos” appears- to finishἐκτελέσαιektelesai
finish
Finish, complete, bring to an end.
Where else “ektelesai” appears- who see itθεωροῦντεςtheōrountes
watch
To observe something closely.
Where else “theōrountes” appears- will beginἄρξωνταιarxōntai
begin
To start doing something.
Where else “arxōntai” appears- to mockἐμπαίζεινempaizein
mock
Mock, make fun of someone.
Where else “empaizein” appears
The context
28For 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?
29 · This verse (above)
30saying, ‘This man began to build and was not able to finish.’
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)