55 pages • 1 hour read
Dietrich BonhoefferThe Cost of Discipleship
Nonfiction | Book | Adult | Published in 1937A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Part 2, Chapters 18-20Chapter Summaries & Analyses
Part 2: “The Sermon on the Mount”
Part 2, Chapter 18 Summary: “The Disciple and Unbelievers”
Discipleship in Christianity is a complex role that carries the potential for self-righteous judgment and misunderstanding of one’s responsibilities. Disciples do not have inherent power or the authority to judge others; their influence is solely through God. While they might be tempted to judge or impose their beliefs on others, they are warned that such actions could backfire, severing their relationship with Christ. Instead, they are encouraged to focus on their relationship with Jesus Christ, the true source of their righteousness and influence. This fellowship should be characterized by an unconditional offer of love and understanding, extended even to those who don’t share their faith. Prayer is emphasized as a powerful tool for disciples, helping them navigate life’s challenges while recognizing that judgment and forgiveness are God’s domain. Disciples are also guided to practice empathy and love toward others, living by the principle of treating others as they themselves would wish to be treated. This dissolves any perceived moral high ground and compels an equitable confrontation with evil in themselves and others. Ultimately, disciples are called to view all individuals as forgiven sinners, living under the same judgment, law, and grace, with the overriding command to love God and neighbor.
Part 2, Chapter 19 Summary: “The Great Divide”
The notion of discipleship is intricately linked to walking a narrow path in life, a path that many fail to find. It’s essential to recognize that mere affiliation with a religious or spiritual group doesn’t guarantee passage to eternal life; it’s one’s actions that count. This tenet echoes the idea that “[n]ot everyone that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven” (189). Genuine discipleship involves humility, a deep and continuous connection with Jesus Christ, and the grace to obey God’s will. It moves beyond mere verbal confessions to active, humble obedience.
Discernment is crucial for a genuine disciple, especially as false prophets often present themselves as authentic believers. While it may be tempting to judge these individuals, it’s more useful to focus on the “fruits” they produce: “By their fruits ye shall know them” (189). Time will reveal the true nature of their intentions, distinguishing between those who genuinely follow the path of discipleship and those who only appear to follow. Even among those who identify as disciples, there can be divisions. The ultimate criterion for acceptance by Jesus is whether He has “known” the individual or not, implying a deep, personal relationship rather than a superficial one. Ultimately, it’s not about church affiliations, confessions, or even seemingly good deeds; it’s about a deep, abiding relationship with Jesus and humble obedience to God’s will.
Part 2, Chapter 20 Summary: “The Conclusion”
Discipleship is not a matter of merely hearing or interpreting the teachings of Jesus but of living them out in simple surrender and obedience: “Jesus knows only one possibility: simple surrender and obedience, not interpreting it or applying it, but doing and obeying it” (196). Jesus’s teachings, such as those in the Sermon on the Mount, are not open for selective application or debate; they must be accepted and enacted in their entirety: “The only proper response to this word which Jesus brings with him from eternity is simply to do it” (198). Failure to fully embody these teachings results in a shaky foundation that won’t withstand life’s challenges, just like a house built on sand. The sole way to honor the teachings is to actualize them and, in doing so, create an unbreakable bond with Jesus, becoming a “wise man, which built his house upon the rock” (196).
Part 2, Chapters 18-20 Analysis
A strong emphasis is placed on living a life genuinely committed to one’s beliefs, specifically within Christian ethics and Lutheran traditions. The essence of this commitment is broken down into several facets: how one relates to others, how one authenticates their belief through actions, and how one remains steadfast when faced with life’s challenges. A nuanced approach to interacting with others is advocated for, especially with those who do not share the same beliefs. It warns against the temptation to impose judgments or wield one’s belief system as a tool of superiority. Instead, the focus should be on self-improvement and extending kindness and understanding to all, which reflects the Christian ethics of treating everyone with love and empathy, thereby avoiding self-righteous judgment. It’s a reminder of the pitfalls of “cheap grace,” the idea of wanting the benefits of faith without the cost of true discipleship, which involves personal humility and a life lived in adherence to higher principles. The advocacy for a nuanced approach to interacting with others, especially those who do not share the same beliefs, rests on an ontological assumption about all individuals' inherent dignity and worth. This stems from the belief in “Imago Dei,” the idea that every human is created in the image of God and, therefore, worthy of love and respect.
Similarly, the work underscores that proclaiming one’s affiliation with a virtuous cause or religious group is insufficient for authentic discipleship. The emphasis is on living out the espoused principles and ethics in daily life. Any disparity between words and actions undermines the individual’s commitment and the cause they claim to support. Discernment is key, as is the focus on the quality of “fruits” one produces as a measure of authentic commitment. Talk, the book argues, is cheap. True commitment requires living out your beliefs consistently and fully without cherry-picking or open-ended debate about the principles themselves. Failure to fully embody these principles is equated to the metaphor of building a house on sand rather than rock, setting oneself up for failure when adversity strikes. This exemplifies the concept of “costly grace,” where one must fully enact their beliefs, even when it’s challenging or inconvenient.
Symbols within the chapters are less obvious but could include the “Narrow Path,” symbolizing the difficult journey of true discipleship. This narrow path is contrasted with the wide and easy roads that lead to destruction, emphasizing the concept of discernment and making the right ethical choices. These metaphors implicitly argue for a form of spiritual dualism, where the material and spiritual worlds intersect and interact in complex ways, guiding the individual’s journey through life.
Tying these threads together, it’s evident that issues of grace, Christian ethics, and the commitment required for genuine discipleship are at the forefront. The central argument across these chapters is the necessity for genuine, committed discipleship that moves beyond mere verbal confession to active, humble obedience. The book continues to argue for a Christianity lived out loud, in day-to-day actions, rather than merely professed, an allusion to Imago Dei and Ethical Imperatives and Jesus as the Model for Radical Love and Social Activism.
