parable of the King Going to War Luke 14 A companion of the parable of the "builder" and emphasizing the same idea. It is taken from international political life: a ruler engaging in war must know the military strength of the enemy as well as his own. If there be any reasonable fear, that he might be defeated in battle, he better enter peace negotiations. Literal application same as in the "builder." General application is possible by abstracting from the literal meaning and using the parable independently. Then it may teach us that the spiritual warfare which we must wage daily against the prince of this world requires detachment from both se)f and the world.