John Calvin Commentary Luke 14:28

"For which of you, desiring to build a tower, doth not first sit down and count the cost, whether he have [wherewith] to complete it?" — Luke 14:28 (ASV)

For which of you, etc. So that no one may think it hard to follow Christ on the condition of renouncing all his desires, a useful warning is given here. We must consider beforehand what the profession of the gospel demands. The reason why many people yield to very slight temptations is that they have pictured to themselves unmixed enjoyment, as if they were to be always in the shade and at their ease. No one will ever become fit to serve Christ until he has undergone a long preparation for warfare.

Now the comparisons are exceptionally suited for this purpose. Building is a tedious and frustrating matter, and one that gives little satisfaction on account of the expense. War, too, brings with it many inconveniences, and almost threatens destruction to the human race, so that it is never undertaken except with reluctance. And yet the advantages of building are found to be sufficient to induce people to spend their resources on it without hesitation, while necessity drives them to spare no expense in carrying on wars. But a far more valuable reward awaits those who are the builders of the temple of God, and who fight under the banner of Christ, for Christians do not labor for a temporary building or fight for a temporary triumph.

If a king finds himself unable to endure the burden of a war,⁶⁰⁷ he prevents an ignominious defeat by seeking peace with his adversary. The statements that our Lord makes to this effect must not be applied to the present subject as if we were to enter into any compromise with our spiritual enemy when our strength and resources fail. It would be pointless to treat parables as applying in every minute detail⁶⁰⁸ to the matter at hand. But our Lord simply means that we should be so well prepared that we are not taken by surprise due to a lack of proper defense, or cowardly turn our backs. For not every one of us is a king, to carry on war under his direction.

This doctrine rebukes the rashness of those who foolishly proceed beyond their capacity or flatter themselves without thinking of bearing the cross. Yet we must take care that this meditation, to which Christ exhorts us, does not fill us with alarm or hinder our progress.

Many people, not having prepared themselves for suffering from the outset, relax their zeal through cowardice, for they cannot endure to be Christians on any other condition than that of being exempted from the cross. Again, others, when a condition that is harsh and unpleasant to the flesh is proposed to them, do not venture to approach Christ.

But there is no good reason for being discouraged by the knowledge of our poverty, for the Lord grants us timely aid. I readily acknowledge that if we calculate the expense, we are all destitute of the power to lay a single stone or to wield a sword against the enemy. But since the materials, expense, arms, and forces are supplied by the Lord from heaven, no pretext on the grounds of difficulty can be offered by our indifference or sloth. The design of Christ, therefore, is to warn His followers to bear the cross, so that they may prepare themselves with courage.

⁶⁰⁷ “Pour soustenir une guerre, et fournir l'argent qu'il faut“ — “to support a war, and to supply the money that is required.”“ — “to support a war, and to supply the money that is required.”

⁶⁰⁸ “De vouloir esplucher tout par le menu, et rapporter tout jusqu'aux petits mots;” — “to wish to explain every thing minutely, and to make every thing apply down to the smallest words.”;” — “to wish to explain every thing minutely, and to make every thing apply down to the smallest words.”