Luke 14:29

Study note

Setting — Jesus addresses a crowd of disciples during a meal at a Pharisee’s house, concluding the architectural analogy He introduced in Luke 14:28. The statement describes the immediate social outcome of abandoning a construction project mid-way.

The words — θεμέλιον (themelion) means “a foundation,” and ἰσχύοντος (ischuontos) means “being able.” Paired with μὴποτε (mēpote) for “otherwise,” they establish the conditional scenario that triggers the warning.

The thread — The consequence of an unfinished project appears directly in the supplied context at Luke 14:30, where bystanders declare the builder incapable of completion. The foundation motif anchors later New Testament warnings about structural integrity in faith.

Why it lands — The text states that observers will ridicule anyone who lays a foundation but cannot finish the work, demanding a realistic inventory of resources before committing to a task. It requires a reader to verify personal capacity rather than rely on initial enthusiasm.

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.