Conditions of Discipleship
Luke 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, he cannot be My disciple."
Luke 14:27: "And whoever does not bear his cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple."
Luke 14:33: "So likewise, whoever of you does not forsake all that he has cannot be My disciple."
Romans 12:1: "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service."
Luke 5:28: "So he left all, rose up, and followed Him."
Luke 5:29: "Then Levi gave Him a great feast in his own house. And there were a great number of tax collectors and others who sat down with them."
DiscipleshipDiscipleship is a commandment of the Lord Jesus for His own (Mk 2:14). In discipleship, we follow the Lord Jesus in obedience; He is our authority. It means sharing His... More is not a walk in the park. It requires the complete dedication of the one who wants to follow the Lord.
When the Lord Jesus saw many people following Him, He turned around and taught them about the three "conditions" of discipleshipDiscipleship is a commandment of the Lord Jesus for His own (Mk 2:14). In discipleship, we follow the Lord Jesus in obedience; He is our authority. It means sharing His... More. In doing so, He made it clear that He wanted unreserved devotion. He knew that many people followed Him with half-heartedness and only in search of miracles – hence this exhortation: "Don't do things half-heartedly! Be fully devoted!"
What are the three conditions of discipleshipDiscipleship is a commandment of the Lord Jesus for His own (Mk 2:14). In discipleship, we follow the Lord Jesus in obedience; He is our authority. It means sharing His... More?
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Clear priorities:
"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, he cannot be My discipleDisciples are students and followers. Examples are disciples of the Lord (Mt 8:23), of John (Mt 11:2), and of the Pharisees (Mt 22:16). A disciple learns from his teacher, abides... More" (Luke 14:26). The parallel verse from Mt. 10:37 makes it clear that it is about giving the Lord first place. He is not satisfied with second place in my heart. So the moment anything in my life (relationships, possessions, abilities, goals, desires, etc.) is more important to me than the Lord, I am not a disciple. Elijah called out to the people: "How long will you falter between two opinions?" (1 Kings 18:21) – and elsewhere, the Lord says: "No one can serve two masters" (Matthew 6:24).
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The fellowship of His sufferings:
"And whoever does not bear his cross and come after Me cannot be My discipleDisciples are students and followers. Examples are disciples of the Lord (Mt 8:23), of John (Mt 11:2), and of the Pharisees (Mt 22:16). A disciple learns from his teacher, abides... More" (Luke 14:27). Someone who carried a cross at that time was practically already dead to the people. He no longer had any standing in this worldThe word is used with different meanings. It can mean the whole of humanity (Gen 41:57) or the created world (Rom 1:20), but also a moral system that is opposed... More. Disciples of Jesus on the side of their Master are therefore naturally rejected. As the Lord Himself makes clear to us (John 15:18-20; cf. 2 Timothy 3:12). So if I am a friend of the worldThe word is used with different meanings. It can mean the whole of humanity (Gen 41:57) or the created world (Rom 1:20), but also a moral system that is opposed... More, do not live a life separate from the worldThe word is used with different meanings. It can mean the whole of humanity (Gen 41:57) or the created world (Rom 1:20), but also a moral system that is opposed... More, behave like the worldThe word is used with different meanings. It can mean the whole of humanity (Gen 41:57) or the created world (Rom 1:20), but also a moral system that is opposed... More, and receive its applause, I am not a discipleDisciples are students and followers. Examples are disciples of the Lord (Mt 8:23), of John (Mt 11:2), and of the Pharisees (Mt 22:16). A disciple learns from his teacher, abides... More in this moment. By the way, we are not alone in our rejection: we share the rejection of our Lord (Phil. 3:10).
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The complete renunciation of everything:
"So likewise, whoever of you does not forsake all that he has cannot be My discipleDisciples are students and followers. Examples are disciples of the Lord (Mt 8:23), of John (Mt 11:2), and of the Pharisees (Mt 22:16). A disciple learns from his teacher, abides... More" (Luke 14:33). Renounce everything – is this to be understood literally? In individual cases – as biblical and church-historical examples show – this can certainly be the case. The calling of Levi helps us here: "So he left all, rose up and followed Him" (Luke 5:28). The seemingly illogical sequence (first leave, then get up) shows us that it’s about surrender. Levi still kept his house, but he made it available to the Lord (cf. Lk. 5:29). This is about seeing ourselves as stewards. All that we have belongs to the Lord as we conserve it for Him.
High standards. So high, they seem unattainable. But the Lord never lowers His "100%" standards. Instead, He gives us the strength to achieve them.
So, what motivates us to put such radical teachings into practice? Our love for Him. Never compulsion, legalism, or lukewarm involuntariness (cf. Rom. 12:1). Because He has loved us, we are able to love Him back. "Let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and truth" (1 John 3:18).
