Luke described a setting different from the preceding meal. Jesus was on the road again heading toward Jerusalem. It was evidently the great size of the multitude that accompanied Him that led Him to say what He did. [source][source][source]
Context Summary
Luke 14:25-35 - The Cost Of Discipleship
Here we have our Lord's use of the winnowing-fan. Amid the teeming crowds He knew that there were many light and superficial souls who had not realized the cost involved in discipleship. Mark the thrice-repeated words-cannot be my disciple.
Our love must be greater than the ties of family affection, Luke 14:26; must be greater than our love for our own way, which must be nailed to the Cross, Luke 14:27; must be greater than our love of possessions and property, Luke 14:33. Christ has done more than any other teacher to cement the relationships of human love, but He always asks that they should be subordinated to the claims of God. Oh, for the love that Paul had! See Philippians 3:8.
What a comfort it is to realize that God counted the cost before He set about the task of redemption, whether of a world or of us as individuals. He knew all that it would cost, and surely He did not begin what He cannot complete! [source]
Chapter Summary: Luke 14
1Jesus heals the dropsy on the Sabbath; 7teaches humility; 12to feast the poor; 15under the parable of the great supper, 23shows how worldly minded men shall be shut out of heaven 25Those who will be his disciples, to bear their cross must make their accounts beforehand, 31lest with shame they revolt from him afterward; 34and become altogether unprofitable, like salt that has lost its flavor
Greek Commentary for Luke 14:25
And he turned [και στραπεις] Second aorist passive participle of στρεπω strephō common verb. It is a dramatic act on the part of Jesus, a deliberate effort to check the wild and unthinking enthusiasm of the crowds who followed just to be following. Note “many multitudes” (οχλοι πολλοι ochloi polloi) and the imperfect tense συνεπορευοντο suneporeuonto were going along with him. [source]
Reverse Greek Commentary Search for Luke 14:25
Mark 13:13But he that endureth to the end [ο δε υπομεινας εις τελος] Note this aorist participle with the future verb. The idea here is true to the etymology of the word, remaining under (υπομενω hupomenō) until the end. The divisions in families Jesus had predicted before (Luke 12:52.; Luke 14:25.). [source]
What do the individual words in Luke 14:25 mean?
Were going withthenHimcrowdsgreatandhaving turnedHe saidtothem
Greek Commentary for Luke 14:25
Second aorist passive participle of στρεπω strephō common verb. It is a dramatic act on the part of Jesus, a deliberate effort to check the wild and unthinking enthusiasm of the crowds who followed just to be following. Note “many multitudes” (οχλοι πολλοι ochloi polloi) and the imperfect tense συνεπορευοντο suneporeuonto were going along with him. [source]
Reverse Greek Commentary Search for Luke 14:25
Note this aorist participle with the future verb. The idea here is true to the etymology of the word, remaining under (υπομενω hupomenō) until the end. The divisions in families Jesus had predicted before (Luke 12:52.; Luke 14:25.). [source]