Luke 14:28 (WEB)
For which of you, desiring to build a tower, doesn’t first sit down and count the cost, to see if he has enough to complete it?
Fathers and councils · 20
John Cassian
- John Cassian, Conferences I–X IX.2Conference IX
“…first all those things which for its sake must be either rejected or secured, are singly enumerated and discussed, and, as the Parable in the gospel teaches, whatever concerns the building of that spiritual and most lofty tower, is reckoned up and carefully considered beforehand.” — editor's note: Cf. S. Luke xiv. 28.
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Augustine of Hippo
“Thus both of them, being now Thine, were building a tower at the necessary cost,—of forsaking all that they had and following Thee.” — editor's note: Luke xiv. 26–35.
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Jerome
“If you intend to build the tower, first count the cost.” — editor's note: Luke xiv. 28.
Read the whole comment“The warning of the gospel has been all but fulfilled in me, for I did not sufficiently count the cost of the tower I was about to build; accordingly I have been constrained to send my brother Paulinian to Italy to sell some ruinous villas which have escaped the hands of the barbarians, and also…” — editor's note: Luke xiv. 28.
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Basil the Great
“…he hath laid the foundation and is not able to finish it,” the passers-by “begin to mock him saying,” this man laid a foundation “and was not able to finish.”” — editor's note: Luke xiv. 28, 30.
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Tertullian
“For after the similitude of that most prudent builder, who first computes the costs of the work, together with his own means, lest, when he has begun, he afterwards blush to find himself spent, deliberation should have been made before.” — editor's note: See Luke xiv. 28–30.
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Gregory of Nazianzus
“For, as we have heard, it is not seemly for a man to build a tower, unless he has sufficient to finish it.” — editor's note: S. Luke xiv. 28.
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Catena Aurea on Luke
- Gregory the GreatCatena Aurea on Luke
Because He had been giving high and lofty precepts, immediately follows the comparison of building a tower, when it is said, For which of you intending to build a tower does not first count &c. For every thing that…
Read the whole comment - Basil the GreatCatena Aurea on Luke
Or the tower is a lofty watch-tower fitted for the guardianship of the city and the discovery of the enemy’s approach. In like manner was our understanding given us to preserve the good, to guard against the evil.…
Read the whole comment - Gregory of NyssaCatena Aurea on Luke
For we must be ever pressing onward that we may reach the end of each difficult undertaking by successive increases of the commandments of God, and so to the completion of the divine work. For neither is one stone…
Read the whole comment - Theophylact of OhridCatena Aurea on Luke
For we ought not to lay a foundation, i. e. begin to follow Christ, and not bring the work to an end, as those of whom St. John writes, That many of his disciples went backward. (John 6:66.) Or by the foundation…
Read the whole comment - Gregory the GreatCatena Aurea on Luke
For when occupied in good works, unless we watch carefully against the evil spirits, we find those our mockers who are persuading us to evil. But another comparison is added proceeding from the less to the greater,…
Read the whole comment - Cyril of AlexandriaCatena Aurea on Luke
For we fight against spiritual wickedness in high places; (Eph. 6:12.) but there presses upon us a multitude also of other enemies, fleshly lust, the law of sin raging in our members, and various passions, that is, a…
Read the whole comment - Augustine of HippoCatena Aurea on Luke
Or the ten thousand of him who is going to fight with the king who has twenty, signify the simplicity of the Christian about to contend with the subtlety of the devil.
Read the whole comment - Theophylact of OhridCatena Aurea on Luke
The king is sin reigning in our mortal body; (Rom. 6:12.) but our understanding also was created king. If then he wishes to fight against sin, let him consider with his whole mind. For the devils are the satellites…
Read the whole comment - Augustine of HippoCatena Aurea on Luke
But as with respect to the unfinished tower, he alarms us by the reproaches of those who say, The man began to build, and was not able to finish, so with regard to the king with whom the battle was to be, he reproved…
Read the whole comment - Gregory the GreatCatena Aurea on Luke
Or else, in that awful trial we come not to the judgment a match for our king, for ten thousand are against twenty thousand, two against one. He comes with a double army against a single. For while we are scarcely…
Read the whole comment - Augustine of HippoCatena Aurea on Luke
Now to what these comparisons refer, He on the same occasion sufficiently explained, when he said, So likewise whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple. The cost therefore…
Read the whole comment - Basil the GreatCatena Aurea on Luke
But our Lord’s intention in the above-mentioned example is not indeed to afford occasion or give liberty to any one to become His disciple or not, as indeed it is lawful not to begin a foundation, or not to treat of…
Read the whole comment - BedeCatena Aurea on Luke
But there is a difference between renouncing all things and leaving all things. For it is the way of few perfect men to leave all things, that is, to cast behind them the cares of the world, but it is the part of all…
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Cross-references · 10
Cited together in Theophylact of Ohrid on Luke 14:28–33 (Catena Aurea).
Cited together in Theophylact of Ohrid on Luke 14:28–33 (2) (Catena Aurea).
Cited together in Gregory of Nyssa on Luke 14:28–33 (Catena Aurea).
Cited together in Cyril of Alexandria on Luke 14:28–33 (Catena Aurea).
Cited together in Confessions VIII.6.
Cited together in Theophylact of Ohrid on Luke 14:28–33 (Catena Aurea).
Cited together in Confessions VIII.6.
Cited together in Confessions VIII.6.
Cited together in Confessions VIII.6.
Cited together in Conferences I–X IX.2.