[25] Now large crowds were traveling with Jesus; and he turned and said to them, [26] "Whoever comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and even life itself, cannot be my disciple. [27] Whoever does not carry the cross and follow me cannot be my disciple. [28] For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not first sit down and estimate the cost, to see whether he has enough to complete it? [29] Otherwise, when he has laid a foundation and is not able to finish, all who see it will begin to ridicule him, [30] saying, `This fellow began to build and was not able to finish.' [31] Or what king, going out to wage war against another king, will not sit down first and consider whether he is able with ten thousand to oppose the one who comes against him with twenty thousand? [32] If he cannot, then, while the other is still far away, he sends a delegation and asks for the terms of peace. [33] So therefore, none of you can become my disciple if you do not give up all your possessions."
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This reading is one that is confusing to many. It is that way because this is a poor translation that does not represent the truth it contains. For that reason, I will literally translate the text written by Luke into English, using permissible words of translation. I will then explain that stated in each verse.
Verse 25: “they were Journeying Together (or they were Assembling) now to his soul multitudes many ; kai having changed direction [in their lives] , he brought word to their souls .”
The capitalized Greek word “Syneporeuonto” is the third-person plural Imperfect form of “sumporeuomai,” which is a divinely elevated statement of a spiritual nature, relative to Yahweh. The root word means “to journey together, to come together,” implying in usage “I journey together with; I come together, assemble.” The capitalized form then states “they were Coming Together” at the time of this event (“now”), more than following a man of fame and reputation, as “they were Assembling now to his soul.” This translation comes from the Greek word “autō” being the third-person Dative pronoun that ordinarily translates as “self” or “the same.” In cases where pronouns assume “self” in translation, a “self” must be read as a “soul.” So, the “many multitudes” who were “they” who “were spiritually “Journeying Together” were lost souls following a “soul” they could sense was most holy.
Following a semi-colon mark, which indicates a separate statement that is relative to this following, Luke wrote the word “kai,” which always denotes importance to follow. Here, that importance is knowing that the “many multitudes” that had come close to Jesus were impacted by his soul’s presence, more than physically witnessing a man speaking and doing the occasional miracles. It was their souls that Jesus knew “had changed direction” or “turned” from waywardness to religious obedience. It was then when Jesus knew they were ready to receive another lesson from the Father, Jesus spoke” the word of the Father, which would not make sense to their fleshy brains, but their souls could be led to understand through divine inspiration. In that, the Greek word “autous” is the third-person plural possessive pronoun that is “themselves,” therefore “their souls.”
Verse 26: “If a certain one (he or she) comes to my soul , kai not (he or she) hates (or loves less, detests) this father of himself , kai this mother , kai this wife , kai those children , kai those brothers , kia those sisters , still , both kai this breath of his or her soul , not (he or she) is empowered to exist of my soul disciple .”
This verse begins with a capitalized “Ei,” which basically is a big “IF.” It is a divinely elevated word that is on a spiritual level of mean, as Yahweh dwells in that realm. It becomes a conditional word that acts in agreement with the statement made by Yahweh in the accompanying Philemon reading, which says no souls are forced to marry Yahweh. The “If” then is Yahweh speaking through the Son, saying the choice for divine marriage (and the subsequent resurrection of His Son’s soul with a wife-soul) is up to each individual soul. Because there were “multitudes many” or “common Jews much” then following Jesus around (like some groupies going to every music star’s concerts), the “If” states there is nothing assured by physically walking the same roads as Jesus walked. The Greek word “tis” should always be read in the Gospels as indicating Jews, as they are “certain ones” thinking they are God’s chosen people, simply by birthright. Thus, the big “IF” is relative to those souls born into the flesh of Jewish bloodline, where the conditional scenario is not so simple as being born into the world as a special breed of mankind. While Jesus was sent by Yahweh only to tell the Jews of Yahweh’s marriage proposal, “many multitudes” would reject him outright and “much common Jews” would be too timid to fully commit to an unseen God, while standing a chance to lose all the material comforts gains by being Jewish. While wealth was had by many, the greatest material comfort that was harder to give away was family; and, that becomes the focus of what Jesus said the conditional “If” includes.
When the first segment of words says, “If a certain one comes to me,” the Greek word “me” is the first-person singular possessive pronoun, derived from “egó,” which is better stated as “mine.” When verse twenty-five is read where possessive pronouns imply “souls,” then “mine” implies “my soul.” This is not only a statement about the spiritual attraction that Jesus in the flesh had upon Jews – due to his most sacred soul animating his flesh – it also speaks of the future, after Jesus’ death and the release of his soul to join with other souls that have married Yahweh. The “If” scenario is now the condition that says the “multitudes many” that would become the bridesmaids awaiting their bridegroom, each told to maintain oil in their lamps, in order to remain vigilant (the parable of the Ten Virgins). Because those ten bridesmaids reflect the souls of both male and female human flesh (all humanity is souls imprisoned in the femininity of the worldly realm), they also reflect a totality of souls expecting to gain the inheritance of eternal life. The foolish bridesmaids were the Jews who saw this as a birthright of bloodline. The wise and vigilant bridesmaids saw maintaining the fuel for their lamps that produced the light of truth as the seriousness of their commitment to marry Yahweh. Thus, the big “If” is relative to that seriousness of commitment, where keeping oil in one’s lamp means doing without some of the comforts of Jewish life.
For a soul to “come to Jesus,” this is placing the cart before the horse. To “come to his soul” means a soul that has already married Yahweh. In the bridesmaids analogy, they were the ones who kept the oil in their lamps filled – they listened to divine insight and did as influenced. Thus, for the wise bridesmaids to hear the call of their bridegroom and leave to become married to Him, they had met the challenge set before them – to prove their commitment – while the foolish bridesmaids had done little to show Yahweh they had any true faith in marrying the unseen. This is now why Luke indicated Jesus’ soul spoke seven important aspects that must be checked off, in order to hear the call that the bridegroom has arrived (in the middle of darkness, when the foolish have fallen into sleep). The first use of “kai” then says “not hates the father of himself.” In this, Luke placed an asterisk at the end of “heautou,” which is the Genitive case form of the reflexive pronoun (in the third-person masculine singular), saying “of himself.” The asterisk then becomes a signal not to read “himself” as “his soul,” because the reference to “the father of himself” is physical, not spiritual; so, a soul should not be read into this use of “self.”
The Greek word “misei” clearly places focus on “hate,” which is a harsh word for most church-going Christians to hear coming from Jesus. The same word can also be stated as “love less” or “detest.” Still, the focus placed on “hate” must be seen as the difficulty souls imprisoned in human flesh have, due to the spiritual effects of Satan on their souls. Satan lures the souls away from a commitment to Yahweh by increasing physical urges through the flesh. It is this physicality that makes one’s “father” be a soul trapped in flesh’s claim to fame, depending on how well-respected a “father of himself” is in the community. In the days that Jesus walked the earth in ministry, the most well-respected Jews were the Pharisees, Sadducees, scribes, high priests, and the leaders of the assemblies in each Jewish settlement throughout Judea and Galilee. When those “fathers” (the word “patera” can also imply “ancestor, elder, senior”) are more on their knees worshiping wealth, power, and influence over other Jews than Yahweh; with none of those “fathers” able to understand the truth written into Scripture, no child of a human “father” can stand between its soul and the Father Yahweh. “If” that scenario occurs, then there will be no divine union between a Jewish soul and Yahweh. That failed condition means the only closeness those souls can find, as they “come to Jesus,” is physical. Without their souls being reborn by the soul of Jesus merging with theirs, they cannot be his “disciples.”
The importance of a “father” is then followed by the equal importance of “mother,” “wife,” “children,” “brothers” and “sisters,” all of whom are physical relationships that could serve Satan by becoming influences over a soul in the flesh. influencing a soul to reject a commitment to Yahweh, choosing instead physical relationships that satisfy the flesh, not the soul. In this rundown, it is not Jesus speaking only to males who were in the “multitudes many” that followed him, when he mentioned “wives,” while not saying ‘husbands.’ This not being stated makes all of these six physical relationships have connection to spiritual matters, which are contrasted with the divine or gods of the universe (the “elohim” of Creation).
This means the “father” is not simply one’s biological parent, but the potential of oneself (a male or a female) seeing it as the generator of legacy and inheritance. This pits one’s self-importance as a hindrance to the all-importance of Yahweh, the Father of all that possesses a soul. While the call is for a soul to be married to Yahweh and then receive a purifying cleansing by His Spirit, so one’s soul can become the “mother” of Jesus’ soul reborn into flesh, the “mother” that keeps a soul from marrying Yahweh is the Earth, who provides the dust, clay and dirt that is molded in a womb, so it can become animated by Yahweh’s breath of life at birth. To serve the offerings of the Earth “mother” is to “hate” self-sacrifice and a commitment to Yahweh. Because all human beings are feminine in essence, as imprisoned eternal soul in feminine bodies of flesh (both male and female), all are potential bridesmaids of Yahweh, so all are called to become his wives spiritually. This means Jesus referred to “a wife” (rather than also including ‘a husband’) because souls in the flesh will choose to deny Yahweh’s proposal and become “a wife” to a demon spirit and become possessed by a god that is unclean.
With the first three listed by Jesus being singular representations of one soul, the next three are written in the plural number, which reflects upon how one soul becomes submissive to multiple influences on the material realm. The first of these is “children.” Because one’s “children” are seen as productions of one’s flesh, as a “father,” “children” become a parent’s most valuable possession. The “children” will take over the business and work the farm, so the parents can enjoy retirement and enjoy the fruits of their labors. Here, it is important to realize that Jacob has “children,” most of whom sinned greatly. Eli lost his favor from Yahweh by choosing to protect his “children,” who had become priests who did wicked things in the sight of Yahweh. Even Samuel had “children” that were equally led to sin, thinking their bloodline to a prophet made them free to do as they wished. Thus, “children” are a strong influence upon the parents to sin, when it should be the parents that teach their “children” to marry their souls to Yahweh and be saved. Here, it is most important to realize that absolutely no human being – neither “father” nor “mother” – can generate a soul. Each soul is breathed out from Yahweh, into a body of flesh that is kept alive within the womb like a growth that is part of the mother’s flesh, living off her soul while developing. When each soul is seen as separate and fully from Yahweh, with only its mortal flesh the creation of cells from the mother (designed and crafted by the hand of Yahweh), each soul (once breathed into a separate body of flesh, is set upon its own course to find Yahweh and return to Him. Still, parents think (a Big Brain flaw) they are the creators of their “children,” making them more likely to sin and ruin their soul’s Judgment, in protection of “children” who must be taught to be self-sufficient by their parents.
When we read “brothers,” this is opposed to the marriage of all souls to Yahweh that makes each related as “mother,” while being a soul receiving the soul of Jesus that makes all become spiritual “brothers” (souls possessing bodies of flesh that are physically males and females alike). When the state of “brothers” is reduced to only those made of flesh, this is not simply siblings born of the same parents, but all males who become influential over a soul born into a male body of flesh. This rejects all souls that are born into female bodies of flesh, where only certain exceptions are allowed into one’s select group – a “wife” and a “mother.” When “sisters” is seen as a separate grouping of souls born into female bodies of flesh, the role is not the same. Due to the misinterpretation of the divine text of the Holy Bible, “sisters” reflect women that are submissive to those who are in the group “brothers.” This influence leads “sisters” to become “wives” and “mothers,” while always accepting domination by those souls born into male bodies of flesh. This makes “sisters” more inclined to see parables about bridesmaids referring to their submissive training, while “brothers” neglect submission and self-sacrifice, because that is ‘what girls do.’ Both of these groups must be rejected as the influence of Satan, as his ploy to steal souls from Yahweh.
It is after Jesus telling of “hatred of sisters” that Luke had him speak separately, “in addition” or “still” or “yet,” these “hates” of others is not all. Jesus said, “in addition , both,” where “both” precedes the seventh use of “kai.” The meaning of “both” says not only must your soul “hate” all those related to your soul, as all are prisoners in bodies of flesh, often serving Satan more than Yahweh, that one group of six must be paired with the most important group, which is one’s own soul. It is important to “hate this breath” that possesses “his own soul.” In this, the same Greek word “heautou” is written, but without the asterisk. That indicates a need to see “self” and translate that as “soul,” turning “of himself” into “his own soul” or “of his same soul.” To “hate” one’s own soul in the flesh means one understands that being imprisoned in the mortality that always leads to death is punishment, unless one’s soul has married Yahweh and returned to Him through the wholeness that the soul of Jesus brings to each soul.
The final segment of words in verse twenty-six then says, “not he has the power” or “not he is capable,” where a soul alone is powerless to save his or her own soul. If any soul sacrifices his or her own soul for either some relative of blood or a selfish state of exclusivity from having material gains, none of those soul is “able to exist of me,” where the Genitive Greek word “mou” is like the prior use of “me,” as the possessive pronoun that says, “of mine” or “of my own soul.” This possession is Jesus stating that each and every soul that follows him physically must reject all other physical and material distractions, in order to be empowered by the Spirit of Yahweh to receive the possessing soul of Jesus. Once the soul of Jesus has resurrected within a soul of a prisoner in human flesh, the soul of Jesus will become that soul’s Lord, with the submissive soul becoming the “disciple, student, pupil, learner” who the soul of Jesus will lead into ministry in his name.
Verse 27: “whoever not he or she takes up this upright stake of his own soul kai he comes behind of my soul , not is empowered to exist of my soul a disciple .”
Here, the traditional ‘Christian’ thought reads this as “pick up your cross” and thinks (that Big Brain again) of Jesus carrying his crucifix to Golgotha, as if being married to Yahweh and being reborn as His Son is hard work, which normal people choose not to do. The reality is the Greek written more readily states “take up,” which is a simple statement of elevation, from a lowered position. When a soul is involved, that “taken up” is one’s soul. When the soul is understood as that in need of raising, in order to be a disciple of Jesus and gain salvation (the name “Jesus” means “YAH Saves”), then it is not a crucifix being set up in a hole for one’s execution, but the inner presence of the soul of Jesus making one’s soul be “taken up” by his presence being “an upright stake.” An “upright stake” is what is seen in rows in a vineyard, keeping the grapevines from falling to the ground and turning into wild grapes. The presence of Jesus’ soul raising one’s soul to a divine level of existence – becoming capable of bearing good fruit – the host soul then takes a submissive position “behind the soul of Jesus,” as his soul leads as one’s Lord. If this does not happen, then a soul is “unable to be a disciple of Jesus’ soul.”
Verse 28: “Who indeed from out of of your soul , intending a tower to build , not at the beginning having sat down , calculates this expense , forasmuch as he possesses unto perfection ?”
Here, again, when the Greek second-person plural possessive pronoun “hymōn” is seen translatable into English as “yourselves,” then the element of “self” must be understood as a “soul.” Without a soul, the body of flesh is just dead matter, without any identification as a “self.” This means “from out of,” where the Genitive case “hymōn” states a possession “of your souls, this must be seen as an inner inspiration that each of the “multitudes many” felt, when they “assembled” around the physical Jesus. Because it was the soul of Jesus that spoke to the souls of those followers, it was that divine inspiration that would lead many to consider “building a tower,” such that the Tower of Babel was a human plan to reach heaven.
In the element of “intending a tower to build,” this must be understood as Jesus furthering his prior statement about “taking up this upright state of his soul.” The implication is everyone of those individuals in the “multitudes many” were laying on the ground, all covered with past sins. Just as the Jews who physically followed Jesus around were born to sin, they were no different than was Cain, when he laid on the ground, prompting Yahweh to tell him to “raise up” or be influenced by the serpent to do evil deeds.
In the same way, all who profess to be Christians today (at all times beyond the death and resurrection of Jesus’ soul) are just as debased and in need of hearing Yahweh speak through the Son, saying “rise up” or be taken into sin by Satan. Thus, all well-intentioned soul plan on doing as Jesus said; but those good intentions are like the ten bridesmaids, half of which were lazy lowlifes, unwilling to do what it took to rise up and maintain the light of truth as their elevated beacon. The Greek word “pyrgom” means “tower,” but also implies in usage a “fortified structure,” as a fortress has watch “towers.” In the same way, Jesus offers that preparedness of vigilance, where evil can be seen coming well before it arrives, so it can be defended against. The soul of Jesus being the “upright stake within one’s soul” then not only allows one to see dangers beforehand, the presence of Jesus becomes the “fortress” of strength that keeps evil from overtaking one’s soul.
As far as the “costs” of “raising this tower” are concerned, the saying in life aptly applies: Nothing is free. In order to become a soul married to Yahweh, it is not as simple as being a baby placed in a large bowl of water on a pedestal (a baptismal font) and sprinkled with some water (called holy by a soul unmarried to Yahweh), calling himself or herself a priest. There is the “expense” of taking time seriously studying Scripture. This is the waiting period the bridesmaids (remember, these are souls in both human genders, not just “sisters”) must maintain oil in their lamps. Their vigilance for when the bridegroom comes is due to them having “taken up this upright stake” and found love as their willingness to sacrifice everything for that divine union to take place. Self-sacrifice is the “cost” one’s soul must pay, in order to “raise this tower as planned.” It is not a question as to how much material wealth and possessions I will have left over, after this “tower” is completed. It is a question that asks, “Am I willing to put everything I own into this building project that will afford my soul salvation?” That is the question Jesus asked those who followed him, such that the Greek word written by Luke is “apartismon,” which means “completion, perfection.” The question then asks, “Does your soul seek the wholeness that will return it to being one with Yahweh?” That “wholeness” is then not only the “completion” of a planned “tower,” but the “perfection” that comes from having a spiritual “tower” that ascends into the spiritual realm.
Verse 29: “in order that not at what time of having laid of his soul a foundation (or cornerstone) , kai not of having strength to complete , all those experiencing they might have begun to his soul to ridicule ,”
In this verse, the Greek word “themelion” means “of or for a foundation,” implying in usage “a foundation stone.” This becomes the “cornerstone” that Jesus referred to the “cornerstone:” “Jesus saith unto them, Did ye never read in the scriptures, The stone which the builders rejected, The same was made the head of the corner; This was from the Lord, And it is marvelous in our eyes?” (American Standard Bible, Matthew 21:42, referencing Psalm 118:22) In this recall, the rejection of a “cornerstone” by the “builders” was due to the “cornerstone” not being squared on eight corners. The true “cornerstone” that Jesus represents is round, such as is the stone that seals a tomb, into which a body of flesh has returned to its natural death state. For a soul to access the “tower” to the spiritual realm, the round “cornerstone” can then be rolled away from the opening of the tomb, allowing the soul the freedom to exit the material realm. This round “foundation” must be seen as that needed, “at what time of having laid of his soul” into the tomb prepared for the flesh.
When the second segment of words is then begun by the word “kai,” this signals the importance that a soul alone does “not possess the strength” – it is “not empowered” and “not capable of” – rolling the “cornerstone” away, freeing the soul. This is another statement about the necessity of having married Yahweh and then have His Son’s soul be resurrected within one’s soul, which become the “tower” of strength required for this “completion” to take place. While the last segment gives the impression of other souls in bodies of flesh watching someone “lay the foundation for his soul” to resurrect to heaven,” it is not a statement of physical eyes being able to “see” this. Those who know the “experience” of having “begun to build the tower for their souls,” who failed, will be “mocking” all souls who try to be better than them, so their “ridicule” is from personal “experience” of likewise being too weak to “complete” this required self-sacrifice. Since no soul alone has the “ability” to bring the “completion” of salvation to their souls, all must surrender their selves to Yahweh, becoming His wife-souls, so Jesus can be sent as the “cornerstone” that has the “strength” to bring that goal to fruition.
Verse 30: “saying because , This this man he began to build up kai not he was empowered to complete fully .”
Here, Luke again writes of Jesus “saying” to the “multitudes many,” in the same way he wrote after those following him found their souls “having changed direction.” Now, Jesus is “saying the cause” for the “ridicule” or “mocking” that comes from souls who have personally “experienced” an “inability” to make a total commitment to Yahweh and “complete” the “cornerstone” within their souls that allows them to ascend to the spiritual realm. The “cause” is then a capitalized “Houtos,” which is a divinely elevated “This,” referring back to that stated in verse twenty-nine. The “cause” of “This” lack of strength to “complete” salvation is “this man,” who was the only Son of Yahweh – Adam (Hebrew for “Man”). Adam was not the first of mankind, but the one made by the hand of Yahweh on the seventh day (mankind, as males and females, was created on the sixth day), making Adam “begin” knowledge of Yahweh, which would descend from Eden to the ordinary world, where he would become the first priest of Yahweh, created to “build up” their souls, into a “tower” of vigilance and strength.
At that point in the text, Luke added the Greek word “kai,” which denotes importantly that Adam himself “was not empowered to fully complete” the salvation of humanity. Adam fell to the earth and “began” a most holy soul that would be released upon his mortal death, so it could return time and again in the patriarchs, prophets and saints that would “begin” a spiritual lineage in the name of Abram. This would then lead to Yahweh resending His Son into flesh that would be born of a virgin woman, which would be Jesus. Jesus, as the reincarnated soul of Adam, placed in a different body of flesh, would then “complete” the process towards soul salvation (the name of “Jesus” means “YAH Saves”), upon his death and the release of his soul for that purpose. Still, each individual soul has to willingly welcome Yahweh as the Husband, whose Spirit cleanses their soul as a virgin womb, whose flesh will again be utilized by the Lord Jesus within, in ministry in his name. When the “foundation” of one’s soul is this cornerstone, then a “full completion” has been established.
Verse 31: “Or what ruler , journeying to a second king to meet with for battle , by no means , having sat down , at the beginning he will deliberate if empowered he exists within ten thousand to meet to this with twenty thousand to be coming against his soul ?”
In this follow-up question, Jesus is making a statement that even “kings” will die and release their souls, able to take nothing of the worldly realm with them to Judgment. The last word of this verse – “auton” – is where the question is coming from Jesus’ soul to the souls of the “common people much,” where they are each the “king” of their own flesh, making “Himself” become “his soul.” The same scenario is stated, where even those soul with the highest ranks on earth have to weight the “cost” of going up “against another” of superior power. While the numbers ten thousand” and twenty thousand” are supposed to represent the numbers of soldiers each “king” commands, those numbers are meaningless spiritually, The implication is a soul alone reflects upon “ten thousand,” while a soul with an additional soul – the soul of Yahweh’s Son added to it – is not only twice more powerful, but “raised up with the upright stake” that is the All-powerful Yahweh, which is empowered to defeat death. It is this question that each soul must ask itself; so, each soul can come to the realization that only a fool (like the foolish bridesmaids who did nothing to stay vigilant for the coming bridegroom) would think of one’s soul as a god that can gain salvation alone.
Verse 32: “if now otherwise , still of his soul at a distance of existing , a delegation having sent , he questions these advantageous for wholeness .”
In this, Jesus is recognizing that his followers are common people, not souls with many possessions to lose. He also sees those whose “age” (“presbeian” means “age, seniority,” implying in usage “an embassy, delegation, eldership”) still sees one’s natural death as “far away” or “distant.” This makes decisions for saving one’s soul less necessary to “sit down” and “deliberate” such things as self-sacrifice for salvation now. It seems it can wait. Still, the presence of Jesus, whose soul is speaking loudly to their souls is “a delegation sent” from Yahweh to make a proposal for marriage. Yahweh sees the weaker ‘king’ and has pity for his or her foreseen loss; so, it is the stronger that sues for “peace,” where the Greek word “eirēnēn” properly means “to join, tie together into a whole” – as “wholeness.” [HELPS Word-studies] This influence of Jesus then raises these “questions” that Jesus posed to the souls of those who followed him to hear his message.
Verse 33: “In this way therefore all from out of of your souls who not he renounces to all to those of his soul to exist in possession , not he is empowered to exist of my soul a disciple .”
In this final verse, the first segment places focus on the self-sacrifice that has one be “from out of of you souls.” In that, the Genitive case, second-person plural possessive pronoun “hymōn” translates as “of your souls” (from “of yourselves”). This states the host soul has left control over its flesh to the “possessing soul” of Jesus. The same soul of Jesus will possess “all of those of his soul to exist” as him reborn. The above translation by the NRSV makes it seem that the main point is the surrender “of all your possession,” in order to be a “disciple” of Jesus. Yahweh is not desiring to profit from material gains, from His wives letting go of what they “possess.” The only thing of value they possess is their flesh, which is the bane of their existence, because the flesh leads a soul to approve transgressions.. Thus, the truth of the translation for the Greek word “hyparchousin” is “to exist in possession.” That says one’s soul is given away at the altar of divine marriage to Yahweh, so it becomes His “possession” once again. This is a return to the source; and, the resurrection of Jesus’ soul within a wife-soul ensures that soul stays in Yahweh’s “possession.”