25 And there went ^eat multitudes with him : and he turned, and said unto them,
26 If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sigters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple.
27 And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, he can- not be my disciple.
28 For which of you, intending to build a tower, sittetn not down first, and oounteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish itt
29 Lest haply, after he hath laid the foundation, and is not able to fin- ish Uy all that behold it begin to mock him,
30 Saying, This man began to build,
and was not able to finish.
31 Or what king, going to make war against another king, sitteth not down first, and consulteth whether he be able with ten thousand to meet him that cometh against him with twenty thousand }
32 Or else, while the other is yet a great way off, he sendeth an ambas- sage, and desireth conditions of peace.
33 So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple.
34 Salt i» good : but if the salt have lost hifl savour, wherewith shall it be seasoned }
35 It is neither fit for the land, nor yet for the dunghill ; but men cast it out. He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.
We learn, firstly, from this passage, that true Christians must be ready, if need be, to give up everything Jbr Christ's sake. This is a lesson which is taught in very remarka- ble language. Our Lord says, ''If any man come to me, and hate not his father and mother, and wife and child- ren, and brethren and sisters, yea and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple."
This expression must doubtless be interpreted with some qualification. We must never explaim any text