Luke 14:27 kjv
And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple.
Luke 14:27 nkjv
And whoever does not bear his cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple.
Luke 14:27 niv
And whoever does not carry their cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.
Luke 14:27 esv
Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple.
Luke 14:27 nlt
And if you do not carry your own cross and follow me, you cannot be my disciple.
Luke 14 27 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Direct Connections to Carrying the Cross/Cost of Discipleship: | ||
| Lk 9:23 | Then He said to them all, "If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily..." | Daily cross, self-denial |
| Mt 16:24 | Then Jesus said to His disciples, "If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross..." | Self-denial, take up cross, follow Jesus |
| Mk 8:34 | When He had called the people to Himself, with His disciples also, He said to them, "Whoever desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross..." | Self-denial, take up cross, follow Jesus |
| Mt 10:38 | And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me. | Unworthiness without cross-bearing |
| Lk 14:26 | "If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and his own life also..." | Absolute preference for Christ, even over family/life |
| Lk 14:33 | "So likewise, whoever of you does not forsake all that he has cannot be My disciple." | Forsaking possessions for discipleship |
| Implications of Suffering for Christ/Perseverance: | ||
| Php 1:29 | For to you it has been granted on behalf of Christ, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake. | Suffering as a gift |
| 2 Ti 3:12 | Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution. | Inevitable persecution for godliness |
| Ro 8:17 | ...and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together. | Suffering with Christ leads to glory |
| 1 Pe 4:13 | But rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ’s sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy. | Rejoicing in Christ's sufferings |
| Col 1:24 | I now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up in my flesh what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ... | Apostle Paul's joy in suffering |
| Ac 14:22 | ...saying, "We must through many tribulations enter the kingdom of God." | Entry into kingdom through tribulation |
| Jn 12:25 | "He who loves his life will lose it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life." | Losing life to gain eternal life |
| Self-Denial/Crucifixion of Flesh: | ||
| Ro 6:6 | knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with... | Old self crucified with Christ |
| Ga 2:20 | I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me... | Crucified with Christ, Christ lives in me |
| Ga 5:24 | And those who are Christ's have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. | Crucifying flesh, passions, desires |
| 1 Co 9:27 | But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified. | Disciplining body, self-control |
| Jesus as the Example: | ||
| Heb 12:2 | looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross... | Jesus endured the cross as our example |
| Php 2:8 | And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. | Christ's obedience to the cross |
| Loving God Supremely: | ||
| Mt 22:37-38 | Jesus said to him, "'You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.' This is the first and great commandment." | Supreme love for God |
| Deut 6:5 | You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your might. | Total love for God (OT principle) |
Luke 14 verses
Luke 14 27 Meaning
This verse declares a fundamental requirement for discipleship: one must willingly embrace suffering, hardship, and rejection—symbolized by "carrying his own cross"—and continuously follow Jesus. It signifies a complete surrender of self-will and personal comfort, prioritizing absolute allegiance to Christ above all else, even life itself. Without this radical commitment, true discipleship to Jesus is impossible.
Luke 14 27 Context
Luke Chapter 14 presents a series of teachings by Jesus regarding true humility, the nature of a Heavenly banquet, and importantly, the profound cost of discipleship. Verses 25-35 particularly focus on this theme. Jesus is speaking to "great multitudes" (v. 25) who were likely following Him out of curiosity or a desire for physical benefits, not necessarily deep commitment. To clarify the true demands of His calling, Jesus utters these challenging words.
Verse 27 follows directly after Jesus states one must "hate" father, mother, wife, children, siblings, and even one's own life to be His disciple (v. 26), using hyperbole to emphasize absolute prioritization. The concept of "carrying one's cross" immediately after this intensified declaration of love for Christ over all human attachments underscores the radical sacrifice required. The parables of the tower builder and the king going to war (Lk 14:28-33) further illustrate the necessity of carefully counting the cost and being fully committed before embarking on the journey of discipleship. The chapter concludes by likening disciples without salt (true commitment) to worthless salt that is cast out, emphasizing the barrenness of nominal discipleship. Historically, crucifixion was a common, brutal form of Roman execution, thus "carrying one's cross" was a vivid and terrifying image, instantly conveying self-condemnation to death, public shame, and immense suffering.
Luke 14 27 Word analysis
- "Whoever" (Greek: Hos tis): This phrase emphasizes universality. The requirement applies to any and every individual who wishes to follow Jesus, irrespective of their background or status. It underlines that this is a prerequisite for all who desire to be called His disciple.
- "does not carry" (Greek: ou bastazei): "Does not" (ou) expresses a strong, objective negation. "Carry" (bastazō) implies taking up and continuously bearing a burden. It is not a one-time act but an ongoing process of enduring, sustaining, or supporting something. Unlike "taking up" (airō) in some parallel passages, bastazō often conveys the idea of the burden already being upon one and continuously being borne.
- "his own cross" (Greek: ton stauron heautou): This is a powerful metaphor rooted in Roman execution. The stauros was an instrument of torture and public execution, signifying death, suffering, shame, and rejection. To "carry one's own cross" meant walking the death march, often carrying the horizontal beam, indicating self-condemnation to a horrific public death. In the context of Jesus' teaching, prior to His own crucifixion, it prophetically points to embracing identification with His rejection, suffering, and the complete mortification of one's own desires and ego that oppose God's will. The phrase "his own" emphasizes that each individual has a specific call to suffering or self-denial particular to their path as a disciple.
- "and come after Me" (Greek: kai elthei opisō mou): "Come after Me" signifies more than merely walking behind Jesus. It means to be a follower, an imitator, an adherent to His way of life, His teachings, and His example. It implies a continuous movement of obedience and loyalty, making Jesus the central guide and authority for one's life. This is the active, lived out commitment that stems from bearing the cross.
- "cannot be" (Greek: ou dunatai einai): This expresses an absolute impossibility. It's not that it would be difficult or unlikely, but fundamentally impossible to be His disciple without this condition. This emphasizes the essential nature of carrying one's cross as a non-negotiable prerequisite.
- "My disciple" (Greek: mou mathētēs): Mathētēs means a learner, pupil, or apprentice who completely adheres to the master's teachings and way of life. It implies full commitment to Jesus' authority, submission to His will, and dedication to becoming like Him in every aspect, even if it entails great personal cost.
Luke 14 27 Bonus section
The strong imagery of the cross served as a counter-cultural shock. To suggest bearing a stauros as a path to life and honor would have seemed absurd and repellent to both Roman and Jewish audiences. It redefined honor and victory not in terms of worldly power or comfort, but through radical identification with the crucified Christ. This statement underscores that authentic Christian life is not about prosperity or ease, but a commitment to Christ that often involves rejection by the world, following the very path He walked. It highlights the significant distinction between being a "crowd follower" and a genuine "disciple." The requirement for discipleship is holistic: it touches one's relationships, possessions, ambitions, and even the natural inclination for self-preservation.
Luke 14 27 Commentary
Luke 14:27 delivers a stark and unequivocal statement on the demanding nature of discipleship, far beyond superficial adherence. The call to "carry his own cross" precedes Jesus's own crucifixion, making it a profound prophetic image. It doesn't primarily refer to mundane difficulties or mere annoyances but signifies a willing embrace of shame, suffering, rejection, and potential death that results from following Christ in a hostile world. It embodies absolute self-denial and the setting aside of all personal comfort, ambition, and safety in favor of allegiance to Christ. This call means placing Jesus above all earthly relationships, possessions, and even one's own life, as highlighted in the preceding verses. The inability to be His disciple without this commitment reveals that Jesus seeks not just adherents, but fully devoted followers whose lives are centered on His mission and who are prepared to pay the ultimate price. This cross-bearing is a daily posture of submission and identification with Christ's suffering, echoing His journey of obedience to the Father's will even unto death.