(Synoptics: Luke 14:25-33)The Lord Jesus Christ here is receiving a great multitude. He is on the move, but in spite of the fact that he is on the move, an enormous crowd is following him.
How different are some of the preachers in our day, who care little about sifting out those who follow Christ for the wrong reasons. They want numbers, and care very little about whether the people have really understood. The warnings that follow show that there will always be people following Christ who do not really understand what is involved in being a disciple. Unless we want our churches to be filled with wood, hay, and stubble, the preaching of the gospel had better put a barrier in the way of these carnal followers of Christ.