Lukas 14:30-32

14:30 They will say, ¹  ‘This man ²  began to build and was not able to finish!’ ³  14:31 Or what king, going out to confront another king in battle, will not sit down ⁴  first and determine whether he is able with ten thousand to oppose ⁵  the one coming against him with twenty thousand? 14:32 If he cannot succeed, ⁶  he will send a representative ⁷  while the other is still a long way off and ask for terms of peace. ⁸ 

[14:30]  ¹ tn Grk “make fun of him, saying.”

[14:30]  ² sn The phrase this man is often used in Luke in a derogatory sense; see “this one” and expressions like it in Luke 5:21; 7:39; 13:32; 23:4, 14, 22, 35.

[14:30]  ³ sn The failure to finish the building project leads to embarrassment (in a culture where avoiding public shame was extremely important). The half completed tower testified to poor preparation and planning.

[14:31]  ⁴ tn The participle καθίσας (kaqisa") has been translated as a finite verb due to requirements of contemporary English style.

[14:31]  ⁵ tn On the meaning of this verb see also L&N 55.3, “to meet in battle, to face in battle.”

[14:32]  ⁶ tn Grk “And if not.” Here δέ (de) has not been translated; “succeed” is implied and has been supplied in the translation for clarity.

[14:32]  ⁷ tn Grk “a messenger.”

[14:32]  ⁸ sn This image is slightly different from the former one about the tower (vv. 28-30). The first part of the illustration (sit down first and determine) deals with preparation. The second part of the illustration (ask for terms of peace) has to do with recognizing who is stronger. This could well suggest thinking about what refusing the “stronger one” (God) might mean, and thus constitutes a warning. Achieving peace with God, the more powerful king, is the point of the illustration.