Luke 14:33 So likewise, whoever he be of you that forsakes not all that he has, he cannot be my disciple. I. THE POSSESSIONS WHICH JESUS CHRIST REQUIRES US TO FORSAKE IN ORDER TO OUR BECOMING HIS DISCIPLES. In our text Jesus Christ authoritatively asserts the absolute right and the first claim to all that we have and to all that we are. Ourselves and our possessions are to be His. We are to consider ourselves not as proprietors, but only as stewards. 1. Christ requires us to forsake the world and the things of the world. 2. Christ requires us to exercise self-denial, and to bear the cross daily. 3. Jesus Christ requires us to forsake our own relatives, whenever they would hinder us from following Him. 4. Jesus Christ requires you to forsake even life itself rather than renounce Him and His cause. II. THE IMPOSSIBILITY OF OUR BEING HIS DISCIPLES IF WE REFUSE TO COMPLY WITH HIS REQUIREMENT. "He cannot be My disciple." The solemn and authoritative manner in which this decision is pronounced ought very deeply to affect our hearts. Christ, you perceive, does not say that such a man is an inconsistent disciple, or an ungrateful disciple, or a half-hearted disciple; but He says that he is not a disciple at all; nay, says He, "he cannot be My disciple." He may profess to be a disciple, and he may be acknowledged as a disciple by others, but he is not one: and though men and angels should declare, "Behold a disciple indeed!" Christ would reply, "I know him not!" And this decision, be it remembered, my brethren, is not mine, but Christ's. III. THE MEANS AND THE MOTIVES WHICH JESUS CHRIST AFFORDS TO INDUCE AND TO ENABLE US TO COMPLY WITH HIS REQUIREMENT. And here I intend to show that we ought to forsake all for Christ, because it is the most reasonable and advantageous duty that we can discharge. 1. We should forsake all that we have for Christ, because He commands us to do so. 2. We should forsake all that we have for Christ, because He hath loved us and given Himself for us. 3. We should forsake all that we have for Christ, because He has promised to enable us to do so if we ask Him. 4. We should forsake all for Christ, because He can give us infinitely more than we can relinquish for His sake. (J. Alexander.) Parallel Verses KJV: So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple.WEB: So therefore whoever of you who doesn't renounce all that he has, he can't be my disciple. |
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