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NASB | Luke 14:26 "If anyone comes to Me, and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be My disciple. |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | Luke 14:26 "If anyone comes to Me, and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life [in the sense of indifference to or relative disregard for them in comparison with his attitude toward God]--he cannot be My disciple. |
Bible Question:
Hi, I understand that the NASB is the most accurate word-for-word translation in the English language, so maybe some of you can help me with this question. This verse says that Jesus taught that his followers should hate their father, mother, wife, children, brothers, and sisters. Given that the 10 Commandments said that we are to honor our father and mother, why did Jesus violate the Law here? As I understand it, Jesus came to fulfill the Law. So why the contradiction? I have looked up this question in the archives and have not seen a satisfactory answer. It was mnetioned that "hate" may be used as a comparative value. But having a face-value approach to the Bible, I feel that if Jesus had meant "does not love Me more," then he would have said so. Can anyone help? seeking4truth |
Bible Answer: We need to be clear. Jesus does not teach hate. Quite the contrary. He teaches love. Jesus is God, and God is love. God loved us and sent his son to die for us. Jesus loved us and gave his life for us. Greater love has no man than this. Jesus loved, and he taught love. We must also love him, and show it with our lives. “Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy. But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust. For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same? And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so? Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect. “But I tell everyone who is listening: Love your enemies. Be kind to those who hate you. Bless those who curse you. Pray for those who insult you. If someone strikes you on the cheek, offer the other cheek as well. If someone takes your coat, don't stop him from taking your shirt. Give to everyone who asks you for something. If someone takes what is yours, don't insist on getting it back. Do for other people everything you want them to do for you. If you love those who love you, do you deserve any thanks for that? Even sinners love those who love them. If you help those who help you, do you deserve any thanks for that? Sinners do that too. If you lend anything to those from whom you expect to get something back, do you deserve any thanks for that? Sinners also lend to sinners to get back what they lend. Rather, love your enemies, help them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then you will have a great reward. You will be the children of the Most High God. After all, he is kind to unthankful and evil people. Be merciful as your Father is merciful. “The matter of commitment to the cause is a different matter. Love itelf requires commitment. We the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. Jesus called it taking up the cross, dying to self, and suchlike. We are to lay aside every weight. I myself do not know a word for the attitude we are to have to the things that might hinder us from serving Christ. “Hate” seems to fit OK. I think I understand what Jesus meant. “No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. “If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple”. In other words, "If people come to me and are not ready to abandon their fathers, mothers, wives, children, brothers, and sisters, as well as their own lives, they cannot be my disciples”. I think Paul understood. He said: “The Holy Ghost witnesses in every city, saying that bonds and afflictions abide me. But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God”. I wonder if we modern Christians understand. I heard a radio preacher say recently that we must learn to say No to the church and put our families first. Many people today serve Christ for gain, and have no patience with the idea of sacrifice. That is another mindset. Jesus does not teach us to neglect our families. He reminded the Pharisees that God had said, “Honor thy father and mother: and, He that curses father or mother, let him die the death”. He condemned their tradition that contradicted the spirit of that law. He related in an exemplary manner with his own earthly family. On the cross, as some believe, he directed John to take care of his mother. We are to take care of them, and not be like the infidels. If we find that our families hinder and oppose our commitment to Christ, however, there is a choice to be made. Jesus does not teach hate. But he does require commitment. |