Counting the Cost (Luke 14:28–33)

The texts below are quoted verbatim from public-domain English translations; nothing is paraphrased.

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St. Cyril of Alexandria (c. 376–444)

Commentary on the Gospel of Luke, Sermon 105 (on Luke 14:28–33) Source: trans. R. Payne Smith, Library of Fathers, 1859. Public domain. Full text: https://www.tertullian.org/fathers/cyril_on_luke_10_sermons_99_109.htm

On the two examples by which the Saviour trains His followers in spiritual courage:

And the Saviour of all, imitating the skilfulness of those here mentioned, very clearly shows unto all who would follow Him, the pathway of spiritual manfulness: that advancing with unrestrainable impetuosity unto every triumph of piety, and exerting a stern and irresistible earnestness, they may win by a just decree the right of being with Him, and following Him.

On the tower, and the zeal that must be reckoned up before the work is begun:

And next He uses two examples, to encourage unto an invincible fortitude those who are His friends, and to establish in an unwavering zeal those whose desire it is to attain to honours by patience and endurance.

Applying the parable to the soul that would build a blameless life:

For those whose choice it is to lead a glorious and blameless life ought to store up beforehand in their mind a zeal sufficient thereunto ... But those who have no such zeal, how will they be able to reach the mark that is set before them?

On the king going to make war, read as the soul's warfare against the passions:

"Our wrestle is not against blood and flesh, but against governments; against empires; against the worldholders of this darkness; against wicked spirits in the heavenly regions." We have too a crowd, as it were, of other enemies, the carnal mind, the law that rages in our members, passions of many kinds, the lust of pleasure, the lust of the flesh, the lust of wealth, and others: with these we must wrestle; this is our savage troop of enemies.

St. Basil the Great (c. 330–379)

On the tower as the watch-tower of the understanding (on Luke 14:28) As preserved in the Catena Aurea on Luke. Public domain. Full text: https://isidore.co/aquinas/english/CALuke.htm

On the tower as a watch-tower given for the guarding of the soul:

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. For the building up whereof the Lord bids us sit down and count our means if we have sufficient to finish.

St. Gregory of Nyssa (c. 335–395)

On building by the commandments of God (on Luke 14:28–29) As preserved in the Catena Aurea on Luke. Public domain. Full text: https://isidore.co/aquinas/english/CALuke.htm

On the tower raised stone by stone through the successive commandments, upon the one foundation:

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 the whole fabric of the tower, nor does a single command lead to the perfection of the soul. But we must lay the foundation, and according to the Apostle, thereupon must be placed store of gold, silver, and precious stones.

Theophylact of Ohrid (c. 1055–1107)

Explanation of the Gospel of Luke (on Luke 14:29–31) As preserved in the Catena Aurea on Luke. Public domain. Full text: https://isidore.co/aquinas/english/CALuke.htm

On not laying the foundation of discipleship and then failing to finish the work:

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 back. ... There is need therefore of the above-mentioned foundation, that the building up of our works be established, a tower of strength from the face of the enemy.

On the two kings read as the understanding warring against reigning sin:

The king is sin reigning in our mortal body; 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 of sin, which being twenty thousand, seem to surpass in number our ten thousand, because that being spiritual compared to us who are corporeal, they are come to have much greater strength.

St. Gregory the Great (c. 540–604)

On counting the cost before the work is begun (on Luke 14:28) As preserved in the Catena Aurea on Luke. Public domain. Full text: https://isidore.co/aquinas/english/CALuke.htm

On the deliberate consideration that must precede every good work:

Because He had been giving high and lofty precepts, immediately follows the comparison of building a tower ... For every thing that we do should be preceded by anxious consideration. If then we desire to build a tower of humility, we ought first to brace ourselves against the ills of this world.

On the mockers who beset the unfinished work:

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.

Blessed Augustine of Hippo (354–430)

On what the two comparisons signify (on Luke 14:33) As preserved in the Catena Aurea on Luke. Public domain. Full text: https://isidore.co/aquinas/english/CALuke.htm

On both parables gathered up into the one demand, that a man forsake all that he has:

Now to what these comparisons refer, He on the same occasion sufficiently explained, when he said, So likewise whosoever he be of you that forsakes not all that he has, he cannot be my disciple. The cost therefore of building the tower, and the strength of the ten thousand against the king who has twenty thousand, mean nothing else than that each one should forsake all that he has.

On how the forsaking of all things includes the household ties named earlier in the passage:

For in the saying that a man forsakes all that he has, is contained also that he hates his father and mother, his wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes and his own wife also. For all these things are a man's own, which entangle him, and hinder him from obtaining not those particular possessions which will pass away with time, but those common blessings which will abide for ever.