Discipleship, cost of

The denial of self-interests and desires, and a total commitment to do the will of God, even to the point of death.

The cost of discipleship involves a denial of self-interests and desires

The cost involves self-denial

Matthew 16:24 parallels Mark 8:34, Luke 9:23 See also Matthew 10:38; Luke 14:27

Then Jesus told His disciples, “If anyone wants to come after Me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow Me.

Self-denial means not living for oneself

Romans 14:7 See also 2 Corinthians 5:15; Galatians 2:20; 1 Peter 4:2

For none of us lives to himself alone, and none of us dies to himself alone.

The cost of discipleship is to be carefully considered

Luke 14:28–32

Which of you, wishing to build a tower, does not first sit down and count the cost to see if he has the resources to complete it? Otherwise, if he lays the foundation and is unable to finish the work, everyone who sees it will ridicule him, saying, ‘This man could not finish what he started to build.’ Or what king on his way to war with another king will not first sit down and consider whether he can engage with ten thousand men the one coming against him with twenty thousand? And if he is unable, he will send a delegation while the other king is still far off, to ask for terms of peace.

The cost of discipleship means total commitment to the will of God

Total surrender is required

Luke 14:33 See also Philippians 3:7–8

In the same way, any one of you who does not give up everything he has cannot be My disciple.

The security of the world is to be resisted

Matthew 8:19–20 parallel Luke 9:57–58

And one of the scribes came to Him and said, “Teacher, I will follow You wherever You go.” Jesus replied, “Foxes have dens and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay His head.”

Jesus Christ must have first priority

Luke 9:59–60 parallel Matthew 8:21–22 See also Matthew 19:16–21 parallels Mark 10:17–21, Luke 18:18–22; Colossians 1:18

Then He said to another man, “Follow Me.” The man replied, “Lord, first let me go and bury my father.” But Jesus told him, “Let the dead bury their own dead. You, however, go and proclaim the kingdom of God.”

Jesus Christ must come before family ties

Luke 9:61–62 See also Matthew 10:37; Luke 14:26

Still another said, “I will follow You, Lord; but first let me bid farewell to my family.” Then Jesus declared, “No one who puts his hand to the plow and then looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.”

The cost of discipleship is constant

Luke 9:23

Then Jesus said to all of them, “If anyone wants to come after Me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow Me.

The cost of discipleship includes persecution

John 15:20 See also Acts 14:22; 2 Timothy 3:12

Remember the word that I spoke to you: ‘No servant is greater than his master.’ If they persecuted Me, they will persecute you as well; if they kept My word, they will keep yours as well.

The cost of discipleship includes willingess to suffer and die for Jesus Christ's sake

Matthew 10:38–39 See also Matthew 16:24–25 parallels Mark 8:34–35, Luke 9:23–24; John 12:25

and anyone who does not take up his cross and follow Me is not worthy of Me. Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.