John Dominic Crossan considers Luke 14:31-32 to be an independent parable. I am not so sure that I can fathom this. Consider:
"Or suppose a king is about to go to war against another king. Will he not first sit down and consider whether he is able with ten thousand men to oppose the one coming against him with twenty thousand? If he is not able, he will send a delegation while the other is still a long way off and will ask for terms of peace."
This simply seems to be a call for prudence and planning. Nothing remarkable there.
But when the next verse is read, a different meaning emerges: "So likewise, whoseover he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple."
So what is the message? Prudence or abandon. Or is abadonment the prudence recommended?
