Luke 14 25

Luke 14:25 kjv

And there went great multitudes with him: and he turned, and said unto them,

Luke 14:25 nkjv

Now great multitudes went with Him. And He turned and said to them,

Luke 14:25 niv

Large crowds were traveling with Jesus, and turning to them he said:

Luke 14:25 esv

Now great crowds accompanied him, and he turned and said to them,

Luke 14:25 nlt

A large crowd was following Jesus. He turned around and said to them,

Luke 14 verses

Luke 14 25 Meaning

Luke 14:25 describes a scene where a very large gathering of people was journeying alongside Jesus. This verse acts as a pivotal introduction to a series of stringent teachings on the nature of discipleship that Jesus is about to deliver. It establishes the immediate context: Jesus is addressing not merely a few close followers but a vast crowd, indicating the universal call of His message while simultaneously underscoring the radical, counter-cultural demands He places on those who truly wish to follow Him. It highlights that following Jesus is not a casual or light commitment, setting the stage for the serious call to sacrifice and complete surrender that immediately follows.

Luke 14 25 Context

Luke chapter 14 begins with Jesus at a Pharisee's house for a Sabbath meal, where He heals a man and then teaches parables about humility (vv. 7-11) and inviting the poor to banquets (vv. 12-14). This leads into the Parable of the Great Banquet (vv. 15-24), illustrating how many who are initially invited—representing the religiously elite of Israel—make excuses and ultimately refuse God's invitation, while the marginalized and outcasts (the poor, crippled, blind, lame) are brought in. This parable underscores a major theme in Luke's Gospel: the inversion of social order in God's kingdom and the open invitation extended to all, especially the humble and despised.

Luke 14:25 serves as a dramatic transition. Following the exclusive dinner with Pharisees and the parable highlighting their rejection, Jesus is now out in public, facing a "great multitude." This shift in audience is crucial: Jesus moves from indirect rebuke and invitation to His opponents and acquaintances, to direct, demanding statements to those who claim to follow Him or are merely curious onlookers. The large crowd might have held varying motivations for following—curiosity, hope for miracles, expectation of an earthly kingdom, or genuine spiritual hunger. Jesus immediately addresses these motivations, clarifying the profound and often costly nature of genuine discipleship, ensuring that any commitment made is understood in its full, challenging scope. Historically and culturally, in that era, following a rabbi or teacher often involved living by their teachings and potentially traveling with them, but Jesus' demands exceeded typical rabbinic requirements, challenging allegiance to family, possessions, and even life itself. This radical redefinition of discipleship served as a polemic against superficial religious adherence or nationalist expectations of a Messiah who would merely fulfill worldly desires without demanding personal transformation.

Luke 14 25 Word analysis

• And (δὲ, de): A common Greek conjunction, acting as a connector. Here, it marks a transition, signaling a shift in location (from a private home to an open road) and context (from parables at a meal to direct, demanding teachings for the public). It introduces a new phase of Jesus' ministry.
• great (πολλαὶ, pollai): Adjective modifying "multitudes." Denotes a significant, large quantity or number. It emphasizes the sheer volume of people accompanying Jesus, suggesting widespread interest and potential enthusiasm. This intensifies the subsequent teachings as they are addressed to many, not just a select few.
• multitudes (ὄχλοι, ochloi): Noun, plural of ὄχλος (ochlos). Refers to an unorganized crowd or populace. Often used in the Gospels to distinguish the common people from the disciples or religious leaders. It suggests a diverse group, possibly motivated by various reasons, not all of them pure spiritual longing.
• went with (συνεπορεύοντο, suneporeuonto): Verb, imperfect tense, from συνεπορεύομαι (suneporeuomai). "Went along with," "traveled together with."
  • The prefix συν- (syn-) indicates "with" or "together," emphasizing companionship and participation in the journey. They were not merely watching but were moving alongside Jesus.
  • The imperfect tense denotes continuous or repeated action in the past. It suggests an ongoing state of traveling with Jesus, not just a one-time encounter. This highlights that their "following" was an active, prolonged act, making Jesus' immediate subsequent words directly pertinent to their continued journey.
• Him (αὐτῷ, autō): Dative pronoun referring to Jesus. Indicates the specific person with whom the multitudes were journeying. Their focus was physically on Him.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• And great multitudes: The opening phrase immediately paints a picture of Jesus' popularity and the vast audience he commanded. The word "great" is critical, indicating the widespread appeal of His teaching and healing ministry up to this point. It implies a sense of momentum and public fascination, making the coming demands even more jarring for many. This group is likely composed of various types: some genuine seekers, others curious onlookers, some perhaps hoping for a political messiah or just another miraculous healing.
• went with Him: This phrase emphasizes the physical accompaniment. These were not static listeners but active participants in His itinerant ministry. They were literally "on the road" with Him, sharing His journey. This physical closeness would seem to imply a level of commitment, yet the ensuing verses reveal that true spiritual following demands far more than mere physical proximity. It sets up a strong contrast between apparent closeness and actual discipleship. Their physical following made the upcoming spiritual challenge personal and direct.

Luke 14 25 Bonus section

The positioning of Luke 14:25, immediately after the parable of the Great Banquet, is highly significant. In that parable, many excuses are given for not attending the banquet (God's invitation). Jesus' immediate address to the "great multitudes" transitions to revealing the requirements for those who do choose to accept His invitation to discipleship. This connection highlights that mere willingness to be present, or physical proximity to Jesus, is not enough. True commitment demands radical self-denial. This verse serves to purify the crowd, distinguishing genuine followers from casual admirers, and emphasizing that the path of Christ is a road of deliberate, conscious decision and unwavering dedication. It foreshadows the parables of the tower builder and the king going to war (Lk 14:28-32), which explicitly call for 'counting the cost' before embarking on the journey of discipleship. The presence of "great multitudes" further amplifies the challenge in the following verses; it indicates that Jesus is not setting a high bar only for an elite few, but for anyone and everyone who desires to genuinely follow Him.

Luke 14 25 Commentary

Luke 14:25 serves as a crucial hinge in Jesus' teachings on discipleship. Having demonstrated the radical nature of the Kingdom through parables about humble invitations, Jesus turns His attention to the "great multitudes" who are actively "going with Him." This large following could easily be misunderstood as full commitment, but Jesus, seeing beyond superficial interest, immediately clarifies the profound, non-negotiable cost of true discipleship. He knows that many follow for superficial reasons (e.g., healing, free food, curiosity, political aspirations), and this verse sets the stage for a litmus test that exposes superficiality and demands absolute surrender. The deliberate act of Jesus addressing such harsh terms to a large crowd highlights that the call to follow Him is neither exclusive to a chosen few nor watered down for popular consumption. It's an uncompromising declaration that His claims supersede all other loyalties—family, possessions, personal safety, even life itself—signaling that true adherence to Christ necessitates a profound internal transformation and a singular devotion. It's a call to abandon the comfort zone of cultural norms and personal priorities, daring them to count the real cost.