Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Luke 14:32
Or else, while the other is yet a great way off, he sendeth ambassadors, and desireth conditions of peace.
32. desireth conditions 0f peace ] This is sufficient to overthrow the interpretation which sees Man and Satan in the warring kings. Another view is that it implies the hostility of man to God, and the urgent need of being reconciled to Him (e.g. Bengel says on the word ‘king,’ “Christiana militia regale quiddam”). That however is never a calculated hostility which deliberately sits down and expects to win the victory; otherwise it would be a good inference that “a Christian’s weakness is his strength.” It is a mistake, and one which often leads to serious errors, to press unduly the details of parables; as when for instance some would see in the 10,000 soldiers a reference to the Ten Commandments. The general lesson is Do not undertake what you have neither the strength nor will to achieve, nor that in which you are not prepared, if need be, to sacrifice life itself.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Or else – If he is not able. If he is satisfied that he would be defeated.
An ambassage – Persons to treat with an enemy and propose terms of peace. These expressions are not to be improperly pressed in order to obtain from them a spiritual signification. The general scope of the parable is to be learned from the connection, and may be thus expressed:
1. Every man who becomes a follower of Jesus should calmly and deliberately look at all the consequences of such an act and be prepared to meet them.
2. Men in other things act with prudence and forethought. They do not begin to build without a reasonable prospect of being able to finish. They do not go to war when there is every prospect that they will be defeated.
3. Religion is a work of soberness, of thought, of calm and fixed purpose, and no man can properly enter on it who does not resolve by the grace of God to fulfil all its requirements and make it the business of his life.
4. We are to expect difficulties in religion. It will cost us the mortification of our sins, and a life of self-denial, and a conflict with our lusts, and the enmity and ridicule of the world. Perhaps it may cost us our reputation, or possibly our lives and liberties, and all that is dear to us; but we must cheerfully undertake all this, and be prepared for it all.
5. If we do not deliberately resolve to leave all things, to suffer all things that may be laid on us, and to persevere to the end of our days in the service of Christ, we cannot be his disciples. No man can be a Christian who, when he makes a profession, is resolved after a while to turn back to the world; nor can he be a true Christian if he expects that he will turn back. If he comes not with a full purpose always to be a Christian; if he means not to persevere, by the grace of God, through all hazards, and trials, and temptations; if he is not willing to bear his cross, and meet contempt, and poverty, and pain, and death, without turning back, he cannot be a disciple of the Lord Jesus.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Or else, while the other is a great way off,…. Upon his march, with resolution to come up and give battle, though as yet at a distance:
he sendeth an ambassage; or men, with an embassy to him:
and desireth conditions of peace; greatly to his disadvantage and reproach: so to give out, and leave off fighting with sin, Satan, and the world, and make peace with them, is shameful and scandalous; but on the other hand, such who have engaged in this war, should pursue it with rigour and courage; considering that God is on their side; that Christ is the captain of their salvation; that the Spirit of God that is in them, is greater than he that is in the world; that angels encamp around them; that it is a good cause they are engaged in; that they have good weapons, the whole armour of God provided for them; are sure of victory, and shall at last enjoy the crown of life, righteousness and glory.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
Or else ( ). Same idiom in 5:36. Luke is fond of this formula.
An ambassage (). Old and common word for the office of ambassador, composed of old men () like Japanese Elder Statesmen who are supposed to possess wisdom. In the N.T. only here and Lu 19:14.
Asketh conditions of peace ( ). The use of in this sense of beg or petition is common in the papyri and Koine generally. The original use of asking a question survives also. The text is uncertain concerning which means with , to ask negotiations for peace. In B we have instead of like verse 28. Most MSS. have before or , but not in Aleph and B. It is possible that the was omitted because of preceding (), but the sense is the same. See Ro 14:19 , the things of peace, which concern or look towards peace, the preliminaries of peace.
Fuente: Robertson’s Word Pictures in the New Testament
Asketh [] . On a footing of equality : king treating with king. See on ch. Luk 11:9.
Conditions of peace [ ] . Lit., things looking toward peace : preliminaries. Compare Rom 14:19, things which make for peace (ta thv eijrhnhv, the things of peace).
Fuente: Vincent’s Word Studies in the New Testament
1) “Or else, while the other is a great way off,” (ei de me eti autou porro ontos) “Otherwise while he is yet at a distance,” upon realizing, before it is too late, the danger of the course on which he had begun, if he is a wise king or lives very long.
2) “He sendeth an ambassage,” (presbeian aposteilas) “He sends a delegation,” on a mission mandate, with some specific instructions, appeasing considerations, toward avoiding combat; He seeks reconciliation, Isa 55:6.
3) “And desireth conditions of peace.” (erota ta pros eirenen) “And asks what are conditions that may be accepted for peace,” asks alternatives that are desired by the king of the larger army for peace, while himself making overtures toward a negotiated peace, Isa 57:19-20; Rom 5:1.
Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary
(32) Desireth conditions of peace.Literally, the things that make for peace. The phrase is the same as that in Luk. 19:42, the things that belong unto thy peace. Are we to see any special significance in this addition to the general teaching of the previous verse, and if so, what is it? The answer seems to be that what our Lord teaches is the necessity of thoroughness in what we do. If we cannot make up our minds to the cost involved in warring against the world and its evil, we had better come to terms with it, and live in such peace as we can thus gain. If we shrink from the thought of fighting against God, we had better accept His conditions of peace. The worst folly of all is to enter into the conflict with a wavering will, not caring to know what the things belonging to our peace actually are, or to endeavour to stand apart in an impossible neutrality. Taking the highest application of the parable, He who spoke it had counted the cost, and therefore carried on the war with evil to the last, and would make no terms with it.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
32. Great way off The sinner had better make no start at all in the service of Christ than to make a false start. He may as well give up to the devil first as last. For a false start is in itself no start at all; it being only a fit of self-deception, terminating in a self-disgrace, and, what is worse, a disgrace to the cause of religion.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
32 Or else, while the other is yet a great way off, he sendeth an ambassage, and desireth conditions of peace.
Ver. 32. He sendeth an embassage ] Mittamus preces et lachrymas cordis legatos, Let us send envoys the prays and tears of our heart, saith Cyprian. Currat poenitentia, ne praecurrat sententia, saith Chrysologus. Repent, ere it be too late.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
32. . ] So , Xen. Anab. iv. 3. 10, but there, ‘the resources of war;’ here, conditions, preliminaries, of peace.
Greek.else = If not.
ambassage = embassy. Only here and Luk 19:14.
desireth = asketh, or seeketh. App-134.
conditions = the [terms].
of = for. Greek. pros. App-104.
32. .] So , Xen. Anab. iv. 3. 10, but there, the resources of war;-here, conditions, preliminaries, of peace.
Luk 14:32. , he beggeth) The king finds it an easier matter to prevail on himself to expend [to expose to the risks of war] an army, than to beg a peace. This begging of peace, therefore, expresses the hatred of ones own soul, wherewith one, having utterly denied self, gives himself up to dependence on pure and unmixed grace. We may also, by changing the figure, understand peace as the avoidance of hatred on the part of his own people, which is a bad kind of peace.[152]
[152] In this view faith will constitute the good fight, which ought to be persevered in, and no false compromise be made with the spiritual enemy without for the sake of escaping hatred at home, i.e. among ones friends, or for the sake of indulging self, in the indulgence of the indolence as to the spiritual fight, so natural to us: this would be saying, Peace, peace, where there is no peace, Jer 6:14; Isa 57:21.-E. and T.
and desireth: Luk 12:58, 1Ki 20:31-34, 2Ki 10:4, 2Ki 10:5, Job 40:9, Mat 5:25, Act 12:20, Jam 4:6-10
Reciprocal: Gen 32:3 – sent Jdg 20:3 – the children of Benjamin 2Sa 2:27 – unless 2Ki 14:10 – why shouldest 2Ki 18:14 – I have offended 1Ch 5:22 – the war was of God Job 41:8 – General Pro 25:8 – hastily Isa 27:5 – let him Amo 4:12 – prepare
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Even after hostilities have started, if he realizes that the outcome may be doubtful, he will not rashly proceed without first trying to make a settlement with the opposing forces.
Verse 33. We need not speculate on all the details of the story. Jesus gives us his own interpretation of the parable by repeating what he had previously taught, namely, that one who proposes to follow Him must sacrifice everything that would hinder.
Luk 14:32. Asketh conditions of peace. This represents our throwing ourselves upon Gods mercy in view of our own insufficiency. A Christians weakness is his strength. Thus the previous illustration is supplemented.This making of peace opposes the view that the conflict is with Satan or with sin. We are naturally at peace with these. When we feel that Satan is too powerful an adversary, we do not make peace, or ask for an armistice, but ask God to help us, and until we turn to Him, we never feel that Satan is an adversary. Another reason for preferring the other interpretation is that it alone brings in a gospel thought of mercy, which would scarcely be wanting even in so severe a discourse.
Fuente: Henry Alford’s Greek Testament
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
Fuente: The Greek Testament
Fuente: Gnomon of the New Testament
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Fuente: Combined Bible Commentary
Fuente: A Popular Commentary on the New Testament