Large crowds had been following Jesus for quite some time (14:25), but His latest teachings have centered on the high cost of being one of His disciples (Luke 12-14). Jesus was trying to separate those who wanted to live according to God’s ways from those who were only enamored with His miracles. Luke 14:25-35 is probably Jesus’ strongest teaching yet when He says, “If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple. And whoever does not bear his cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple” (14:26-27). When Jesus speaks of hatred, he is seeking to draw a comparison; in other words, the love a person has for his family should look like hate compared to the love he has for Jesus. Not only did Jesus want His followers to love Him more than anything else, but He also desired them to carry their cross. Bearing one’s cross carried the idea of a person’s willingness to continue in the ways of God, even if it meant death. Jesus knew that many were only following Him because of what He could do for them instead of worshipping Him as the Messiah. Using two illustrations concerning the necessity of counting the cost and sacrifice (14:28-32), Jesus challenges those who are listening to His voice to carefully assess whether they are willing to entrust their whole lives to Him, wherever it may lead. He summed up His teaching saying, “…whoever of you does not forsake all that he has cannot be My disciple” (14:33). This forsaking not only involves one’s possessions, but also his goals, dreams, and rights. Jesus was asking for full surrender.
Jesus then says, “Salt is good; but if the salt has lost its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is neither fit for the land nor for the dunghill, but men throw it out” (14:34-35). This same imagery had been used by Jesus before (Matthew 5:13; Mark 9:50) and seems to illustrate the necessity of salt keeping its flavor so that it can do what it is intended to do. In the same way, those who follow Jesus must maintain their faith and obedience so that they can remain usable in the hands of God. When a disciple continually fails to love and obey God he becomes useless and reveals his lack of surrender to the ways of God.
Dear God, may those who claim to follow You maintain their usefulness in Your hands.
