Jesus is here being surrounded by large crowds. He wants to put a challenge to these people to see if they were just intrigued by who he is, what he is doing or saying, or if they really want to be disciples.

He starts by over-emphasising his point, to get their attention. He uses an extreme word like ‘hate’ but actually means commitment to such an extent that involves a change of priority such as growing up and leaving home.

There needs to be a weighing up of the costs before a decision is made. Discipleship involves a complete change that affects every part of life. It is not something that can be dipped into and then out. His hearers would risk their lives by being seen as disciples.

Jesus repeats his words first given to his disciples.

There needs to be an understanding of the ending, the purpose, the goal. Jesus gives some examples including going to win a war. The difficulties of a task need to be understood before embarking on it. The aim will be lost in the difficulties unless it remains clear.

He uses two end time themes to underline this. Unless the life of the disciple remains like salt, flavouring food, giving life, it becomes of no use.

He then uses the phrase “He who has an ear, let him hear”. This is a reference to the Holy Spirit, a phrase regularly used in the Book of Revelation. Jesus wants his hearers to hear physically but also spiritually. We need to hear the Holy Spirit. He is the one who also gives spiritual vision and purpose, the goals He wants us to aim for, and those He wants us to achieve for Him.

He will prepare us for every eventuality.

Background

Luke chapter 14 verses 25 to 35 - Now large crowds were going along with him (Jesus); and he turned and said to them, "If anyone comes to me, and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple. Whoever does not carry his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple. For which one of you, when he wants to build a tower, does not first sit down and calculate the cost to see if he has enough to complete it? Otherwise, when he has laid a foundation and is not able to finish, all who observe it begin to ridicule him, saying, 'This man began to build and was not able to finish.' "Or what king, when he sets out to meet another king in battle, will not first sit down and consider whether he is strong enough with ten thousand men to encounter the one coming against him with twenty thousand? Or else, while the other is still far away, he sends a delegation and asks for terms of peace. So then, none of you can be my disciple who does not give up all his own possessions.

Therefore, salt is good; but if even salt has become tasteless, with what will it be seasoned? It is useless either for the soil or for the manure pile; it is thrown out. He who has ears to hear, let him hear."

Jesus is here being surrounded by large crowds. He wants to put a challenge to these people to see if they were just intrigued by who he is, what he is doing or saying, or if they really want to be disciples.

Jesus repeats his words first given to his disciples (Luke chapter 9 verses 23 to 25,57 to 62).

He then uses the phrase “He who has an ear, let him hear”. This is a reference to the Holy Spirit, a phrase regularly used in the Book of Revelation (e.g. chapter 2 verses 17; 3 verses 6,13,22). Jesus wants his hearers to hear physically but also spiritually. We need to hear the Holy Spirit. He is the one who also gives spiritual vision and purpose, the goals He wants us to aim for, and those He wants us to achieve for Him.

He will prepare us for every eventuality.