Devine Scripture

Luke 14:27

What does Luke 14:27 mean?

A plain-English look at Luke 14:27 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Luke 14:27 means

Discipleship means bearing one’s own cross and following Jesus. In that culture, the cross signified shame, suffering, and death. Jesus calls His followers to a readiness to die to self, to embrace loss, and to endure reproach for His sake. This is not morbid, but honest: the path of Christ leads through self-denial before glory. To refuse the cross is to refuse Christ’s way. The phrase ‘his own cross’ personalizes the burden—each disciple has a distinct calling that entails relinquishment. Following Jesus is not about adding religion to comfort, but about reorienting life under His lordship, whatever the cost.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

Whosoever doth not bear his own cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple.

KJV

King James Version · 1611

And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple.

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

Whosoever doth not bear his own cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple.

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

Whoever does not take up his cross and come after me may not be my disciple.

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

and whoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, is not able to be my disciple.

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

And whosoever doth not carry his cross and come after me cannot be my disciple.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

and whoever does not carry his cross and come after me cannot be my disciple.

Context

This verse intensifies the prior demand of supreme allegiance. Together, verses 26–27 define the essence of discipleship in stark terms. Jesus then illustrates the necessity of forethought and resolve with two images: building a tower (verses 28–30) and waging war (verses 31–32). These analogies press hearers to count the cost before committing, so they do not start and then abandon the path in shame. The section will culminate in verse 33 with the call to renounce all, followed by the salt warning.

v.26If any man cometh unto me, and hateth not his own father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple.

v.27This passage

v.28For which of you, desiring to build a tower, doth not first sit down and count the cost, whether he have wherewith to complete it?

Cross references

Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

  • Mark 8:34

    And he called unto him the multitude with his disciples, and said unto them, If any man would come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.

  • Matthew 16:24

    Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man would come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.

  • Matthew 13:21

    yet hath he not root in himself, but endureth for a while; and when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, straightway he stumbleth.

  • 2 Timothy 1:12

    For which cause I suffer also these things: yet I am not ashamed; for I know him whom I have believed, and I am persuaded that he is able to guard that which I have committed unto him against that day.

  • John 19:17

    They took Jesus therefore: and he went out, bearing the cross for himself, unto the place called The place of a skull, which is called in Hebrew Golgotha:

  • Acts 14:22

    confirming the souls of the disciples, exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that through many tribulations we must enter into the kingdom of God.

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