Luke 14:32 - Printer Friendly

ESV: And if not, while the other is yet a great way off, he sends a delegation and asks for terms of peace.

NIV: If he is not able, he will send a delegation while the other is still a long way off and will ask for terms of peace.

NASB: Otherwise, while the other is still far away, he sends a delegation and requests terms of peace.

CSB: If not, while the other is still far off, he sends a delegation and asks for terms of peace.

NLT: And if he can’t, he will send a delegation to discuss terms of peace while the enemy is still far away.

KJV: Or else, while the other is yet a great way off, he sendeth an ambassage, and desireth conditions of peace.

NKJV: Or else, while the other is still a great way off, he sends a delegation and asks conditions of peace.

Jesus finishes His warning about the sacrifices His followers must make. Great crowds of thousands of people regularly surround Him. Some listen to His teaching and want to follow Him. Others are primarily interested in the healing and food He can provide (John 6:26). Considering that the Pharisees and Herodians want to kill Him (Mark 3:6), Jesus encourages the crowd to seriously consider whether they are ready to be known as His disciple (Luke 14:25–31).

First, they will have to be so devoted to Him that they're willing to give up their parents, spouses, and children (Luke 12:51–53). Love for their family must look like disinterest compared to their love for Him (Luke 14:26). Second, they need to be willing to give up their lives rather than deny Jesus (Luke 12:4–9; 14:27). Finally, they need to be willing to lose every worldly treasure, honor, or control they have (Luke 14:33).

To drive the point home, Jesus gives two illustrations. In the first, a man builds the foundation of a tower before realizing he doesn't have the money to finish it. Because he didn't count the cost beforehand, the people ridicule his foolishness (Luke 14:28–30).

Second, Jesus talks about a king who is leading his army into battle against a military twice as large. Before the first attack is called, he considers whether he can win with a far inferior force. If victory looks doubtful, he will seek terms of peace, instead (Luke 14:31).

Next, Jesus compares His followers to salt. Salt is good, but mineral that has lost its salt is useless. In the same way, receiving salvation from Jesus is good. Refusing to obey and follow Him afterward results in a useless Christian (Luke 14:34–35).

Luke 14:25–33 continues Jesus' lessons on who will experience the kingdom of God. Humble, generous, and responsive people will receive God's blessings (Luke 14:1–24). Those who would be Jesus' disciples must count the cost of dedicating their lives to Him and make sure they're willing to pay it. Entering God's kingdom is free, but being a useful citizen takes sacrifice. This section on the cost of discipleship resembles Matthew 10:37–38.

A Pharisee invites Jesus to a formal dinner. There, Jesus teaches lessons using invitations and feasts as a theme. These emphasize humility and the importance of not making excuses. After the dinner, Jesus warns that those who seek to follow Him will experience hardship. Believers should "count the cost" and understand what aspects of this world they may have to give up.

Luke 14 continues Jesus' doctrinal march to Jerusalem and the cross. Luke 14 and 15 contain the second grouping of one miracle and a series of discussions about the kingdom of God and salvation; Luke 13:10–35 is the first. Next will be a collection of warnings about rejecting God's kingdom (Luke 16:1—17:10) and two more sets of lessons about the kingdom and salvation, each beginning with a single miracle (Luke 17:11—18:34; 18:35—19:27). After this comes Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem.

Luke was a traveling companion of Paul (Acts 16:10) and a physician (Colossians 4:14). Unlike Matthew, Mark, and John, Luke writes his gospel as an historian, rather than as a first-hand eyewitness. His extensive writings also include the book of Acts (Acts 1:1–3). These are deliberately organized, carefully researched accounts of those events. The gospel of Luke focuses on the earthly ministry of Jesus Christ. Luke's Gentile perspective presents Christ as a Savior for all people, offering both forgiveness and direction to those who follow Him.