Counting the cost


Counting the Cost, or in the NIV: The Cost of Being a Disciple or in the NRSV: The Cost of Discipleship or in the NKJV: Leaving All to Follow Christ, are titles given to the Gospel of Luke passage which includes a pair of parables told by Jesus. The first title comes from the phrase "count the cost", which occurs in the King James Version of the passage, as well as some other versions.

Narrative

The two parables are as follows:

Interpretation

suggests that it is unclear what kind of tower is being referred to in the first parable, but notes that the message is that a "thoroughgoing fidelity to God's salvific aim" is required, "manifest in one's identity as a disciple of Jesus." This involves putting family and possessions second, as in and.
This verse is of great importance to Anabaptist groups such as the Hutterites and Bruderhof who interpret it as a call to live without private property or possessions. To them, "to forsake all that he has" is an instruction to give up everything in the service of Jesus.