Question: I am having a little trouble understanding Luke 14:26. Jesus seems to be telling us to hate our families. Is this so?
Jesus' comments in Luke 14:26 are an example of hyperbole, a form of speech that exaggerates for emphasis. Jesus was setting up an extreme contrast to make a point. He was describing to His disciples the total love and commitment they were to have. In the Hebrew mindset of the time to "hate" simply meant to "love less." Jesus was saying that our supreme love must be for Him. Everything (and everyone) else must take second place. Measuring our love for Christ against all lesser loves may make these lesser loves seem like hate by comparison.
Relevent Scripture
"Anyone who loves his father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves his son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me;" Matthew 10:37
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Be blessed,
Wayne
http://www.Capstone-Ministries.org
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4 comments:
On the one hand, many of us tend to be impatient and verbally (at least) cruel to our family members. On the other, we cherish and coddle family members to the neglect of other duties ... or to avoid shame, by enabling and covering for their faults.
There is little doubt that Jesus condoned honoring parents and training children in godly ways after the commandments of Moses. His shocking command to hate cannot be taken as a contradiction to that, but rather as a challenge and warning to would-be disciples of His to count the cost of discipleship.
The first and greatest command is to love God.
Yep... you nailed it Peter. Thanks for the comments.
Be blessed,
Wayne
Hello Wayne, You have a very interesting blog here! You should also appreciate the many testimonies of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ at http://wetestifyofchrist.blogspot.com. God bless.
Thanks. I will check it out.
Wayne
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