The Pulpit Commentary — Luke — Volume 2 — Section 33

T ers. 25-33.-The ti= and the room for calculation in religion. What room is there in the religion of Jesus Christ for calculation? What amount of reckoning before acting is permissible to the disciple of our Lord ? When and in what way should he ask of himself-Can I afford to do this ? Have I strength enough to undertake it? I. THE cmCUMSTANCE WHICH SUGGESTED THE IDEA. It was the temporary popu- larity of Christ that led him to the strain of remark we have in the text. "'£here went great multitudes with him" (ver. 25), fascinated by his presence and bearing, or struck by his teaching, or marvelling at his mighty works. And these men and women were far from entering into his spirit or sharing his high purpose; it was necessary that they should understand what discipleship to Jesus meant, what absolute self-surrender it involved. So the Master gave utterance to the strong and trenchant words recorded in the context (vers. 26, 27). And the words of the text itself are explanatory of this utterance. Their import is this : " I say this because it is much better you should know what you are doing by following me than that you should enter upon a coune which you will find yourselves obliged to abandon, than that you should undertake a duty to which you will find yourselves unequal. All wise people, before they definitely commit themselves to any policy carefully consider whether they can carry it through. Every wise builder calculates the cost before he begins to build ; every wise king estimates his military strength before he declares war. So do you consider whether you are prepared to make a. full surrender of your will to my will, of your life to my service, before you attach yourselves to my side; for whoever js not able to 'forsake all that he bath' at my bidding, 'cannot be my disciple.' Ponder the matter, therefore; weigh everything before you act, count the cost, decide deliberately and with a full understanding of what it is you are doicg." II. THE PLACE THERE IS FOB 0A.LCULA.TI0N m PERSONAL RELIGION. 1. At the entrance upon a Christian life. It would seem as if there could be no room for reckon- ing here. We may well ask-When God calls us to himself, when Christ invites us to come unto him, what time should we allow ourselves before responding to his sumlllons? Should not our response be immediate, instantaneous? We reply-Time enough to understand what we are undertaking to be and to do; time enough to take the Divine message into our full and intelligent consideration; so that our choice may be not the impulBe of an hour, but the fixed and :final purpose of our soul. God would not have us act in ignorance, in misconception. In malice we may well be children, but in understanding we should be men. There is no step any man can take which is comparable in importance with that which is taken when a human soul enters the kingdo!n of God : 011 that h.aca; everlasting is11ue11, Let men, therefore, diligently and cm. xiv. 1-35.] THE GOSPEL ACCORDING '£0 ST. LUKE. 35