In the biblical context, the concept of "cost" often transcends mere financial or material value, encompassing spiritual, moral, and relational dimensions. The Bible addresses the cost of discipleship, the cost of sin, and the cost of redemption, among other themes.

Cost of Discipleship

One of the most profound teachings on cost is found in the words of Jesus regarding the cost of following Him. In Luke 14:28-33, Jesus uses the analogy of building a tower and going to war to illustrate the importance of counting the cost of discipleship: "For which of you, wishing to build a tower, does not first sit down and count the cost to see if he has the resources to complete it?" (Luke 14:28). Jesus emphasizes that true discipleship requires a willingness to forsake all else, including familial ties and personal ambitions, to follow Him fully.

Cost of Sin

The Bible also speaks to the cost of sin, which is ultimately death and separation from God. Romans 6:23 states, "For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord" . This verse highlights the grave consequence of sin, contrasting it with the free gift of salvation offered through Jesus Christ. The cost of sin is not only physical death but also spiritual death, which necessitates redemption.

Cost of Redemption

The cost of redemption is a central theme in Scripture, underscoring the sacrificial love of God. The Apostle Peter writes, "For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life you inherited from your forefathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or spot" (1 Peter 1:18-19). This passage emphasizes that the cost of humanity's redemption was the blood of Jesus, a price far beyond any earthly measure.

Cost in Offerings and Sacrifices

In the Old Testament, the cost of offerings and sacrifices was a tangible expression of worship and atonement. The Israelites were instructed to bring offerings that were without blemish, signifying the value and purity required in their relationship with God. King David exemplifies this principle in 2 Samuel 24:24, where he insists on paying for the threshing floor to offer sacrifices to God, saying, "I will not offer to the LORD my God burnt offerings that cost me nothing" . This reflects the understanding that true worship involves personal sacrifice and cost.

Cost in Stewardship

The Bible also addresses the cost associated with stewardship and the wise management of resources. In the Parable of the Talents (Matthew 25:14-30), Jesus teaches about the responsibility of using God-given resources wisely and the cost of neglecting this duty. The servants who invested their talents were rewarded, while the one who buried his talent faced severe consequences, illustrating the cost of unfaithfulness in stewardship.

Cost of Following Christ

The New Testament further elaborates on the cost of following Christ, which includes enduring persecution and suffering for His sake. The Apostle Paul writes in Philippians 3:8, "More than that, I count all things as loss compared to the surpassing excellence of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ" . Paul acknowledges the personal cost of his commitment to Christ, yet he regards it as insignificant compared to the eternal gain of knowing Jesus.

In summary, the biblical concept of cost encompasses a wide range of spiritual truths, from the sacrificial demands of discipleship to the immeasurable price of redemption. The Bible calls believers to consider the cost of their choices and to prioritize their relationship with God above all else.1. (n.) A rib; a side; a region or coast.

2. (n.) See Cottise.

3. (imp. & p. p.) of Cost.

4. (v. t.) To require to be given, expended, or laid out therefor, as in barter, purchase, acquisition, etc.; to cause the cost, expenditure, relinquishment, or loss of; as, the ticket cost a dollar; the effort cost his life.

5. (v. t.) To require to be borne or suffered; to cause.

6. (n.) The amount paid, charged, or engaged to be paid, for anything bought or taken in barter; charge; expense; hence, whatever, as labor, self-denial, suffering, etc., is requisite to secure benefit.

7. (v. t.) Loss of any kind; detriment; pain; suffering.

8. (v. t.) Expenses incurred in litigation.

1160. dapane -- expense, cost
... expense, cost. Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine Transliteration: dapane Phonetic Spelling:
(dap-an'-ay) Short Definition: cost, expense Definition: cost, expense. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1160.htm - 5k

1160a. dapane -- expense, cost
... expense, cost. Transliteration: dapane Short Definition: cost. Word Origin from
dapto (to devour) Definition expense, cost NASB Word Usage cost (1). ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1160a.htm - 5k

5524. choregeo -- to lead a chorus (ie a group of performers), to ...
... to lead a chorus (ie a group of performers), to defray the cost of a chorus. Part
of Speech: Verb Transliteration: choregeo Phonetic Spelling: (khor-ayg-eh'-o ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/5524.htm - 7k

1431. dorea -- a gift
... Origin from didomi Definition a gift NASB Word Usage freely (1), gift (12), needlessly
(1), without a cause (1), without charge (1), without cost (2), without ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1431.htm - 7k

1159. dapanao -- to spend, spend freely
... consume, spend. From dapane; to expend, ie (in a good sense) to incur cost, or
(in a bad one) to waste -- be at charges, consume, spend. see GREEK dapane. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1159.htm - 7k

1432. dorean -- as a gift, to no purpose
... Cognate: 1432 (the adverbial form of 1431/) -- something done (as ), ie ""; unearned
(undeserved); freely given (without cost) hence not done out of mere ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1432.htm - 7k

2600. chinnam -- out of favor
... Word Origin from chanan Definition out of favor NASB Word Usage free (1), nothing
(4), useless (1), uselessly (1), vain (2), which cost (1), which cost me ...
/hebrew/2600.htm - 6k

5313. niphqah -- an outlay
... 5312, 5313. niphqah. 5314 . an outlay. Transliteration: niphqah Phonetic
Spelling: (nif-kaw') Short Definition: cost. Word Origin ...
/hebrew/5313.htm - 6k

4242. mechir -- price, hire
... Word Origin from the same as machar Definition price, hire NASB Word Usage
cost (2), payment (1), price (10), sale (1), wages (1). ...
/hebrew/4242.htm - 6k

Counting the Cost.
... RENEWED MINISTRY IN PEREA COUNTING THE COST. Now there went with him great
multitudes: and he turned, and said unto them, "If any ...
//christianbookshelf.org/barton/his life/counting the cost.htm

The Cost of a Lie
... THE OLD TESTAMENT THE COST OF A LIE. Then David went to Nob, to Ahimelech
the priest who came trembling to meet David and said to ...
//christianbookshelf.org/sherman/the childrens bible/the cost of a lie.htm

The Cost of Being Cruel and Stubborn
... THE OLD TESTAMENT THE COST OF BEING CRUEL AND STUBBORN. Then Jehovah said to
Moses, "Pharaoh is stubborn; he will not let the people go. ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/sherman/the childrens bible/the cost of being cruel.htm

Cost of Discipleship must be Counted.
... From the Third Passover Until Our Lord's Arrival at Bethany. (Time: One Year Less
One Week.) XCI. Cost of Discipleship Must Be Counted. (Probably Per??a.) ...
/.../mcgarvey/the four-fold gospel/xci cost of discipleship must.htm

Building for Community Service
... When a business man plans to put up an expensive building he does not seek the cheapest
land but the best location regardless of the cost of the land. ...
/.../vogt/church cooperation in community life/chapter v building for community.htm

Who are the Wise?
... He is likened to a man who was foolish enough to build his house upon the sand.
This man would better not have built at all, for the cost of building was lost. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/orr/how to live a holy life/who are the wise.htm

The Foundlings
... themselves. The result was a resolve to rescue the little victims at any cost. ...
hands. But the cost of maintenance was a more serious matter. ...
/.../forbes/life of st vincent de paul/chapter 7 the foundlings.htm

Costly and Fatal Help
... II. So notice again how this story teaches the heavy cost of these helpers' help. ...
Here is a man that 'succeeds in life,' as we call it. What does it cost him? ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture g/costly and fatal help.htm

"The Glad Giver"
... And all that He hath done for us, and doeth, and ever shall, was never cost nor
charge to Him, nor might be, but only that [which] He did in our manhood ...
/.../julian/revelations of divine love/chapter xxiii the glad giver.htm

Sin's Healing Shadow.
... sacrifice. Every good thing done cost somebody his life. ... did. The nations that
are freest cost most in the making, in the lives of men. ...
/.../gordon/quiet talks with world winners/sins healing shadow.htm

Cost (28 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (n.) A rib; a side; a region or coast. 2.
(n.) See Cottise. 3. (imp. & pp) of Cost. 4. (vt) To require ...
/c/cost.htm - 15k

Expense (7 Occurrences)
... 1. (n.) Cost; use of money, resources or time; spending or consuming; disbursement;
expenditure. ... Have we eaten at all at the king's cost? ...
/e/expense.htm - 8k

Estimate (6 Occurrences)
... to amount,, number, etc., from imperfect data, comparison, or experience; to make
an estimate of; to calculate roughly; to rate; as, to estimate the cost of a ...
/e/estimate.htm - 9k

Araunah (14 Occurrences)
... it at its full price (2 Samuel 24:24; 1 Chronicles 21:24, 25), for, according to
the law of sacrifices, he could not offer to God what cost him nothing. ...
/a/araunah.htm - 13k

Insist (7 Occurrences)
... I will not offer burnt offerings to Yahweh my God which cost me nothing." So David
bought the threshing floor and the oxen for fifty shekels of silver. ...
/i/insist.htm - 8k

Redeemed (78 Occurrences)
... (KJV WBS). 1 Corinthians 6:20 And you are not your own, for you have been redeemed
at infinite cost. Therefore glorify God in your bodies. (WEY). ...
/r/redeemed.htm - 31k

Sacrifice (300 Occurrences)
... 4. (n.) A sale at a price less than the cost or the actual value. ... 8. (n.)
To sell at a price less than the cost or the actual value. ...
/s/sacrifice.htm - 101k

Ephod (45 Occurrences)
... Israel (Judges 8:27). It has been argued that a vestment would not cost
seventeen hundred shekels of gold. Possibly Gideon set up ...
/e/ephod.htm - 27k

Buy (71 Occurrences)
... 2. (vt) To acquire or procure by something given or done in exchange, literally
or figuratively; to get, at a cost or sacrifice; to buy pleasure with pain. ...
/b/buy.htm - 29k

Infinite (8 Occurrences)
... 1 Corinthians 6:20 And you are not your own, for you have been redeemed at
infinite cost. Therefore glorify God in your bodies. (WEY). ...
/i/infinite.htm - 15k

What does it mean to “count the cost” (Luke 14:28)? | GotQuestions.org

If I convert to Christianity, my family will disown me, and I will be persecuted. Should I follow Jesus? | GotQuestions.org

What is cheap grace? | GotQuestions.org

Cost: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus