Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Luke 14:29
Lest haply, after he hath laid the foundation, and is not able to finish [it,] all that behold [it] begin to mock him,
29. all that behold it begin to mock him ] Very possibly this might have actually happened in some well-known instance, since the Herodian family had a passion for great buildings and probably found many imitators. First failure, then shame awaits renegade professions and extinguished enthusiasms.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Haply – Perhaps.
To mock him – To ridicule him. To laugh at him.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Lest haply after he hath laid the foundation,…. Has begun to build, has taken up a profession, has submitted to ordinances, and got into a church state:
and is not able to finish it; a foundation may be laid, and the building may never be finished, because the foundation is not laid right; was it, it would continue, and the building go on, and at last be finished; though no man is able to finish it of himself, yet those hands which have laid the foundation, will raise up the superstructure, and complete the whole building, through the power and efficacy of divine grace: but where there is a beginning, and which at first looks well, and there is no progress, but the work is dropped and left unfinished,
all that behold it, begin to mock; as follows;
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
Lest haply ( ). Double final particles (positive and negative with addition of ). Used here with aorist middle subjunctive in (begin).
When he hath laid … and was not able ( … )
to finish (). First aorist active infinitive. Note perfective use of , to finish out to the end. Two genitive absolutes, first, second aorist active participle ; second, present active participle .
To mock him ( ). An old verb, –, to play like a child (), at or with, to mock, scoff at, to trifle with like Latin illudere.
Fuente: Robertson’s Word Pictures in the New Testament
To finish [] . Lit., “to finish out” [] .
Behold [] . Attentively watching the progress of the building. See on ch. Luk 10:18.
Begin to mock. As his resources come to an end.
Fuente: Vincent’s Word Studies in the New Testament
1) “Lest haply, after he hath laid the foundation,” (hina me pote thentos autou themelion) “Lest at the point when he has already laid a foundation,” begun construction, made a visible, public commitment to himself and before his family and the public.
2) “And is not able to finish It,” (kai me ischuontos ektelesai) “And not being able to complete it,” to finish the building, or proceed to complete the tower, Mat 20:22; 1Th 3:4-5; Pro 24:27. Unfinished buildings tell many a tale of sin and failure, as they stand by roadsides, witnessing that someone did not count the cost, in time to avoid shame.
3) “All that behold it begin to mock him.” (pantes hoi theorountes arksontai auto empaizein) “All those observing (the failure) begin to mock him,” to speak in derision concerning him, his hay-stack-vision, and his needle judgment, his foolish judgment and half-planned start of the tower. For “things half planned are usually half done,” Luk 9:62; Jas 4:14-17.
Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary
29. Begin to mock him Just as the world always does when a Christian, especially a young convert, gives out. There are three possible ways in the case. One is to make a hasty profession without the capital. The second is to decline to attempt to become a disciple. The third is to obtain, what always may be obtained, the strength from God to prosecute and persevere. The third the Lord has specified in Luk 14:26. The two other alternatives he is describing now.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
29 Lest haply, after he hath laid the foundation, and is not able to finish it , all that behold it begin to mock him,
Ver. 29. Begin to mock him, saying, &c. ] Of all things, men love not to be jeered; for there is none but thinks himself worthy of some regard, and is therefore impatient of reproaches. If neither fear of God nor shame of men prevail with us, actum est.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Luk 14:29 . , to mock; an unfinished tower is specially ridiculous: height is essential. , etc., this man, contemptuously; “this” stands for a proper name. “Vulgo ponunt N. N.,” Bengel. Jesus here appeals with characteristic tact to one of the most sensitive feelings of human nature shrinking from ridicule. Who would care to be spoken of all his days as the man who commenced a tower and could not finish it?
Fuente: The Expositors Greek Testament by Robertson
the foundation = its foundation.
able = strong enough.
finish it finish it off. Greek. ekteleo. Only here and Luk 14:30.
behold. Greek. theoreo. App-133.
begin. As they see him nearing the end of his resources.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
Luk 14:29. , begin to) No one laughs at the man, whose attempts are not abortive.[150]
[150] It is only when they prove failures, men then begin to laugh.-E. and T.
Fuente: Gnomon of the New Testament
Reciprocal: Jer 22:14 – I will Mat 27:40 – that destroyest Eph 6:11 – able
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
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In temporal matters a man usually manifests the good judgment expressed in the preceding verse. That is not only because it is good business, but to avoid the belittling remarks that might be made by the observers. They would criticize a man for starting something before he learned whether he would be able to finish it.
Fuente: Combined Bible Commentary
Luk 14:29-30. Lest haply, etc. The probable consequence of any other way of proceeding is described: first, failure to finish; second, the mockery of others at the failure. The leading thought here enforced is: entire self-renunciation is necessary to be a disciple of Christ. The building the tower represents the purpose and wish to be such a disciple; the counting the cost, the careful consideration of the requirements of discipleship (self-renunciation); then comes the question of ability to meet them. Our Lord does not say that if the means are insufficient the design should be given up, since He invites all to become His disciples. In one sense the means will always be insufficient, since no one is able of himself to meet these requirements; in another, they will always be sufficient, since we can ever look to Christ for strength. Our Lord here presses the one point of the great necessity for earnest consideration of the requirements He had announced and proper self-examination, in view of the folly of any other course, both then and now. The world has not laughed without reason at the half-Christianity which has resulted from such spasms of piety.
Fuente: A Popular Commentary on the New Testament
Verse 29
Mock him; ridicule him.