The Cost of Discipleship

25 Now large crowds were traveling with Jesus, and he turned and said to them, 26 “If anyone comes to me and does not hate his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple. 27 And whoever does not bear his own cross and follow me cannot be my disciple. 28 For which of [fn]you who wants to build a tower does not first sit down and estimate the cost, to see if he has what he needs to complete it? 29 For if he lays the foundation and is not able to finish it, all who are looking on will begin to mock him, 30 saying, ‘This man began to build and was not able to finish.’ 31 Or what king, when he is going out to confront another king in battle, [fn]does not first sit down and consider whether he is able with ten thousand men to face the king who is coming against him with twenty thousand men? 32 If he is not able to do so, he sends a delegation while the other is still far away and asks for terms of peace. 33 So then, any one of you who does not give up all his possessions cannot be my disciple.