Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Luke 14:27
And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple.
27. doth not bear his cross ] Not only must self be mortified, but even the worst sufferings endured, 1Th 3:4-5. The allusion to the cross must still have been mysterious to the hearers (Mat 10:38), the more so since they were dreaming of Messianic triumphs and festivities.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Luk 14:27
And whosoever doth not bear his cross, etc
On taking up the cross
Christiani sunt cruciani, says Luther, Christians are cross-bearers.
It is in their hearts to bear the cross, whatever it be, whensoever Christ shall require it; and they do actually bear it whenever they are called to it. They do not flinch from it, nor decline it, nor turn from it, by any indirect or unlawful course.
I. WHAT IS MEANT BY THE CROSS.
1. The cross includes loss and damage, the greatest losses as well as the least; the loss of all outward things, as well as the loss of any. When Christ was nailed to the cross, He was bereaved of all, and fastened to it naked; He had not so much as His garments left; they who brought Him to the cross divided these amongst them. He that is not willing to part with all, to follow Christ, when he cannot fully and faithfully follow Him without quitting all, he is not worthy of Him, unworthy the name of a Christian.
2. It speaks shame and reproach. It was serviie supplicium, a base ignominious suffering, to which none were exposed but the vilest of men. It was a suffering proper to slaves and fugitives; there was not the meanest freeman amongst the Romans but was above it. Hence shame and the cross are joined together (Heb 12:2). Hence that expression, bearing His reproach (Heb 13:13), i.e., bearing the cross. No coming to Christ but in this posture, when the Lord calls to it.
3. It imports pain and torture. The cross was a most grievous and painful suffering. Ausonius calls it paenae extremum, the extremity of torture. And Cicero, crudelissimum teterrimumque supplicium, the most cruel and horrid suffering. When Ignatius was going to be exposed to the fury of wild beasts for the name of Christ, he cries, Now I begin to be a disciple.
4. It imports death itself. The cross was ultimum supplicium, the last thing that could be suffered. Cruelty was herein terminated, and could go no further, at least to the sense of the sufferer. It was the worst kind of death.
II. WHAT IT IS TO BEAR THE CROSS.
1. You must make account of it. Calculate what it will cost you.
2. A resolution to bear the cross, whatever it be, how heavy, or grievous, or tedious soever it may prove; a firm, and hearty, and settled resolution to bear it, is a virtual bearing of it beforehand (verse 33).
3. You must be always ready for the cross, always preparing for it, whether it seem near, or whether it seem further off. One paraphraseth the words thus, Whosoever doth not come to Me with a preparation of mind to suffer anything rather than part with Me, he is not for My turn. This is to bear the cross daily, as Christ requires (Luk 9:1-62.). Though every day do not afford a cross, yet every day we bear the cross by daily preparing for it 1Co 15:31). Even when the cross seems far off, much more when it is in view, you must be preparing for it, if you be Christians indeed; and the Lord will take your readiness to bear it for a bearing of it, when He sees good to prevent it.
4. It speaks actual undergoing it when it is laid on us. But when the Lord brings it to us, we must actually take it up. He is no disciple for Christ that will not do it.
III. THE MANNER OF BEARING THE CROSS.
1. A Christian endeavours to bear the cross patiently. That while the cross oppresses his outward man, he may possess his soul in patience. Not the patience of the Stoics, a senseless stupidness; nor the patience of the heathen, a mere yielding to necessity; but a due sense of the pressure, with a quiet submission to the hand of God, whoever be the instrument, without murmuring, repining, disquietment, or despondency.
2. He endeavours to bear it cheerfully. That which is bearing the cross here is taking up the cross (chap. 9.). Christ bore His cross willingly; Simon of Cyrene was compelled to bear that cross. Christ would have us come after Him, bear it as He did. It should not be a forced, but a voluntary act.
3. He endeavours to bear it fruitfully. The cross is dry wood, and so was Aarons rod; but as that blossomed, so does this bring forth fruit, when improved (Heb 12:11). This puts the followers of Christ upon seeking the sweet fruits of peace and holiness in the bowels of devouring calamities; to get spiritual gain and advantage by outward loss; to grow richer unto God by worldly impoverishment; to converse more with God when separated from friends and relations; to value more the love of Christ when they smart by the worlds hatred; to partake more of holiness when he partakes less of the ease, peace, plenty of the world; to make use of the cross for the crucifying of the flesh; to make sin more hateful and dreadful, the conscience more tender, the world less tempting, more contemptible, grace more active and lively, the word more sweet and effectual, prayer more fervent and affectionate, the appearing of Christ more lovely and desirable, the conversation more heavenly. To hear the cross as a disciple of Christ, is to bring forth more fruit in bearing of it. (D. Clarkson, B. D.)
The Christians cross
I. THE CROSS IS ORDINARILY THE LOT OF CHRISTIANS. Persecution and troubles have always attended the people of God. And the reasons of it are evident.
1. The malice of Satan, who knowing himself to be cast off by God, he hates God with an implacable hatred; and since the Lord is above the reach of his malice, he falls upon those who are dearest to Him, the people of God.
2. The enmity of the world. The world would be sure to cross, to afflict and persecute what it hates; and the disciples of Christ are hated by the Joh 15:19). Not only that part of the world which evidently lies in wickedness, but the more refined part of it which dresseth up itself in a form of godliness. Those who have no more but the form, hate those that haw the power, because this is a real reproof and conviction of the vanity and insufficiency of outward forms, how specious soever; and that which detects them is hated by them (1Jn 5:19).
3. There is a necessity of the cross upon a manifold account.
(1) To distinguish true disciples from hypocrites and pretenders. When Christ may be professed and followed with ease, and safety, and credit, multitudes will follow Him, every man will profess Him whose hearts are not with Him. But when the cross comes, that makes a distinction.
(2) To try His disciples, that He may have an experiment of their affection and faithfulness to Him: Who is on my side? Who? says Jehu (2Ki 9:33). So says Christ, when He brings out the cross; let Me now see who is for Me, let Me see who it is that will bear the cross for Me.
(3) For the advantage of grace. A Christian is not complete unless he have on his whole armour; and it is the cross puts us upon putting of it on; it would lie rusting by us, if we were not roused to the use of it by the frequent approaches of the cross.
(4) To take us off from the world. The cross embitters the world to us, and confutes those vain conceits which make us fond of it. The vizard falls off by which it had deluded us, and now we may perceive what aa impostor it was, when, for all its fair promises, we meet with nothing but vanity, and enmity, and vexation, and hard usage. And will it not seem lovely? Or can we doat on it any longer? The cross lets us not only see, but feel what the world is.
(5) To tame the flesh, and keep it under, which otherwise would grow headstrong, and bear down all the restraints of grace, and hurry us into carnal excess–Every branch that beareth fruit He purgeth it (Joh 15:1-27.). He lops off the luxuriances of natural corruption. And how is this done? Why, a sharp cross will be effectual to do it, when the Lord takes it into His hand and useth it for this purpose!
(6) To endear heaven to us. The ark was more acceptable to Noahs dove when she found no rest to the soles of her feet on the face of the earth.
II. A CHRISTIAN CANNOT ORDINARILY AVOID THE CROSS WITHOUT SINNING AGAINST CHRIST.
III. HE THAT WILL ORDINARILY SIN AGAINST CHRIST TO AVOID THE CROSS, CANNOT BE A CHRISTIAN. This being proved, it will appear an evident truth, that he that doth not, will not, bear the cross, is not, cannot be a Christian. (D. Clarkson, B. D.)
Fuente: Biblical Illustrator Edited by Joseph S. Exell
Verse 27. Doth not bear his cross] See on Mt 10:38; Mt 16:24.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
Whosoever doth not bear his cross,…. All reproach, afflictions, persecutions, and death itself, cheerfully and patiently; the Ethiopic version renders it, “of his death the cross”; it signifies whatever is trying and disagreeable to flesh and blood:
and come after me; bearing his cross; as Christ himself was about to do, and which doubtless he had in view;
cannot be my disciple; he is not so in reality, nor does he deserve the name.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
His own cross ( ). This familiar figure we have had already (Luke 9:23; Mark 8:34; Matt 10:38; Matt 16:24). Each follower has a cross which he must bear as Jesus did his. is used of cross bearing in the N.T. only here (figuratively) and Joh 19:17 literally of Jesus. Crucifixion was common enough in Palestine since the days of Antiochus Epiphanes and Alexander Jannaeus.
Fuente: Robertson’s Word Pictures in the New Testament
His cross. More correctly, his own. An important charge. All must bear the cross, but not all the same cross : each one his own.
Fuente: Vincent’s Word Studies in the New Testament
1) “And whosoever doth not bear his cross,” (hostis ou bastazei ton saturon heauton) “Whoever does not bear his (own) cross,” assume a willingness to suffer severe exposure for the name of Jesus Christ, personally, to be crucified with Him, Gal 2:20; Gal 6:14.
2) “And come after me,” (kai erchetai opiso mou) “And does not come after me,” follow me in service, as a free, yet voluntary servant, Joh 8:32; Joh 8:36; Luk 9:23; Mat 16:24. Self must be dethroned, mortified, and sufferings endured, 1Th 3:4-5; 2Ti 3:12.
3) “Cannot be my disciple.” (ou dunatai einai mou mathetes) “He cannot come to be (exist as) my disciple,” one of my kind of choosing to compose my church company, as witnesses for me, Mar 8:34-35; 2Ti 3:12; To break family ties to follow Jesus meant exclusion from membership in the synagogue with its social, religious, and educational privileges, Joh 9:22; Joh 9:34; Joh 16:2.
Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary
(27) Whosoever doth not bear his cross . . .See Note on Mat. 10:38. As now uttered, however, the words had a fresh significance as interpreted by what the disciples had heard from their Masters lips between Peters confession and the Transfiguration (Luk. 9:22-23). That bearing of the cross was becoming every day more clear and terrible in its growing nearness.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
27. Bear his cross See note on Mat 10:38.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
“Whoever does not bear his own cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple.”
The second cost is with regard to manner of life. The idea here has already been dealt with in Luk 10:23-27. A man who would follow Jesus must be like a man who bears his cross on the way to execution. He leaves his past behind never to be enjoyed again. He follows Jesus wherever it may lead, even in the pathway of suffering and, if necessary, death. He renounces all his past life. He dies to himself. He is totally committed to Jesus no matter what lies ahead. All those present of mature age would have seen what happened to men who took up their crosses, and many were seen as having been patriots. They had chosen the way of the cross once they had become insurgents, whether they eventually ended up there or not. Jesus’ disciples must be willing to take it too.
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
Luk 14:27 . Comp. Mat 10:38 ; Mat 16:24 ; Mar 8:34 ; Mar 10:21 ; Luk 9:23 . He who does not as the bearer of his own cross follow me , etc.
Fuente: Heinrich August Wilhelm Meyer’s New Testament Commentary
And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple. For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it? Lest haply, after he hath laid the foundation, and is not able to finish it, all that behold it begin to mock him, Saying, This man began to build, and was not able to finish. Or what king, going to make war against another king, sitteth not down first, and consulteth whether he be able with ten thousand to meet him that cometh against him with twenty thousand? Or else, while the other is yet a great way off, he sendeth an ambassage, and desireth conditions of peace. So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple. Salt is good: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be seasoned? It is neither fit for the land, nor yet for the dunghill; but men cast it out. He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.
All these are so many beautiful illustrations of one and the same thing; namely, of the wisdom and safety of counting the cost, in every undertaking, before we enter upon any. The builder and the warrior are strong figures to explain: and what builder, like the
Christian, who is building for eternity? What warrior like him that contends for everlasting life? And unless the Lord Jesus Christ be the Founder of the one, and the General of the other, what success can follow? And in application to what went before, they both are beautiful. See on Luk 14:34 ; Mar 9:49-50 .
REFLECTI0NS
Reader! let us not turn away too hastily from this beautiful chapter, and those soul-teaching, and soul-refreshing discourses of Christ, While the Pharisees watched Jesus, to find somewhat offensive, as according to their corrupt hearts they would have made it, let you and I listen to his heavenly doctrine, and behold, with delight and joy, his mercies to the body in healing the man with the dropsy, while mingling sweet words for consolation to the soul, and oh! for grace in contemplating Christ thus discoursing at the Pharisee’s table! to be earnest to discourse of Jesus at our own! What can be more suited, more grateful, more blessed than, while partaking of the Lord’s bounties, to speak or the Lord’s love? and while sitting with our family at our supper, to mingle with our food gracious conversation of the Lord’s?
Reader! do not overlook the very wonderful condescension of Jesus in the various methods the Lord was pleased to adopt in setting forth the plentiful provisions of his Gospel. What a feast indeed of fat things it is! What bowels of mercy and grace in the Great Provider’! And what company are the guests invited? such as the great ones of the earth would not look at, much less consort with. Oh! how utterly lost, how utterly inexcusable must those be who refuse such great salvation! Hasten, my soul! hasten, Reader! for it is the poor and the maimed, the most sensibly wretched and miserable, that are most welcome.
And doth my Lord say that his followers must be self-haters, must bear a cross, must hate all which would stop the way? Oh! for grace to be of that happy number! Lord! help me to pluck out an eye, cut off an arm, leave all for Jesus and his great salvation, so that I may be found the true disciple of the Lord! Amen.
Fuente: Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
27 And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple.
Ver. 27. See Mat 10:38 ; Mat 16:24 .
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Luk 14:27 = Mat 10:38 , with the idea of ability substituted for the idea of worth.
Fuente: The Expositors Greek Testament by Robertson
his = his own.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
Luk 14:27. ) whosoever doth not bear his cross, and yet (not, and does not come) comes, and walks after me, as ye do, as though he was wishing to be my disciple. [But Engl. Ver. takes it in the way which Beng. rejects, Whosoever doth not bear his cross and come after me, etc.] Comp. note, Mat 16:24.[149]
[149] , to come after Me, denotes mere status and profession: But , to follow, denotes actual obedience.-E. and T.
Fuente: Gnomon of the New Testament
doth: Luk 9:23-25, Mat 10:38, Mat 16:24-26, Mar 8:34-37, Mar 10:21, Mar 15:21, Joh 19:17, 2Ti 3:12
cannot: Mat 13:21, Act 14:22, 2Ti 1:12
Reciprocal: Exo 13:17 – the people repent Deu 21:13 – and bewail Mat 18:8 – if Luk 23:26 – that Act 15:38 – who 2Ti 4:10 – having 1Pe 2:21 – even Rev 2:3 – hast borne Rev 3:15 – thou
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
7
This is explained at Mat 10:38; Mat 16:24.
Fuente: Combined Bible Commentary
Luk 14:27. See on Mat 10:38; Mat 16:24; Mar 8:34; Luk 9:23. While our Lord had foretold His death, He had not announced that He would be crucified; so that this saying must have sounded strangely to the multitude. Notice that both verses speak of being a disciple, not simply becoming one. The permanent requirement of discipleship is stated.
Fuente: A Popular Commentary on the New Testament
14:27 {6} And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple.
(6) The true followers of Christ must at once build and fight, and therefore be ready and prepared to endure all types of miseries.