Christians: Can u explain the fact that Jesus tells us that in order to follow him we must hate our family?

Question

Luke 14:26
"If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple.

Answer 1

The word "hate" here is "miseo" in greek. A very accurate translation would be "hate."

I agree that it would be more moral and make more sense if Christ said we should love our family "less" than him. But it doesn't say that. It is clear and accurate - we should HATE them.

Answer 2

There we go again. Taking a book written 2, 000 years ago, in a different language, and then applying a word that meant one thing in those days, giving that same word a meaning that means something different today.

Hate in those days meant "to not worhsip relatives" see Matthew 10:37. In those days just like today in underdeveloped countries some religious sects worshipped their relatives, especially their dead relatives. We have a maxim that still survives today "blood is thicker than water" - Which means right or wrong I will always side with my kenfolk against non family members.

Really the common denominator would be the word "forsake" or Just leave them in order to go with me.

By the way, he was not talking to us, he was talking to his disciples or potential disciples. (in those days)

Jesus was not advocating what we call hatred, he was simply warning that in those days to follow him was going to be tough.

Boot camp drill sergeants often tell the recruits, "Your mothers are not with you anymore, if you want to be a Marine, you must learn to live without your mother taking care of you. Etcetera.

Suggest you check out a King James Bible with Hebrew and Greek key note translations.

Answer 3

I appreciate your respectful challenge to Christians. Peace be to you. The law of Moses says to the Jews not to have pork among others things, we Christians recognize this is the case. The New Testament says that gentiles should not be required to observe the law of Moses. We are not under the law but under grace according to Paul the Apostle. (This is a theme of Paul's letters) Galatians, Romans ect. The Bible says don't get drunk but encourages consumption of alcohol responsibly but most (the ones I come in contact with) Christians don't drink and consider it sinful. I think you have a point about the peace thing. It is not a huge deal but Paul said it a lot in his letters as well. We would do well to say "Peace be to you". But while it is a good custom it is not a law. I have prayed with my forehead to the ground on numerous occasions. Most of the time in response to a realization of the majesty and glory of God and a tangible sense of the presence of His Spirit. I have just felt that kneeling was obedience to the Spirit of God. Most Christians fast too. Fasting is a good practice. Jesus taught us how to fast. Jesus never said worship me but it does seem that Jesus allowed it. If you saw Jesus you would worship Him too. As much as possible I am trying to practically follow Jesus. You showed me some things that I could do better. Thank you.

Answer 4

Jesus is not saying that we should "hate" our family, friends, etc but rather we should be willing to give everything up to follow Him. He should be the source of our joy - but too often we feel that people or possessions are more important. We find it hard to turn away from the material things. We find it hard to commit ourselves to His way because He may ask much from us..so bottom line - whats more important - your eternal salvation or material possessions. Do you give up His blessings for a relationship - If you follow Him your blessings and relationships will only grow. What Jesus asks is so simple but we complicate the situation. Remember his apostles left their families to follow Him - to do His work. The fact that we are not willing to give things up for Him is why there are so few men and women in religious life today. Sacrifice is hard - yet He died for us! Now that's a pretty big sacrifice !

Answer 5

Jesus said many times that we had to follow his example and he put God first in his life. We have to be willing to do that to truly worship God. This is confirmed by the first commandment. But if you read the rest of the Bible instead of just the verse you quoted, you will see that loving your fellowman AND your family is the second greatest commandment and this is confirmed be Jesus own words at Matthew 22:37-39.

Answer 6

Interesting how when people don’t like what their bible clearly says then it’s “taken out of context” or “it doesn’t really mean that” or “you have to be filled with the spirit to understand that”, and they post other scripture which says otherwise (in other words they post contradictions, and then they claim “there are no contradictions in the bible…” And when they like what it says then they leave it as is and no context or interpretation necessary. The word is “hate” and that’s what it says and no amount of apologetics can change it.

So here’s an answer to your question:

In the Gospel of Thomas (not included in the bible), Jesus says you have to hate your mother [because she gave birth to your physical body] but you must love the holy Sophia because she gave birth to your spirit. Why?...

Because Jesus was a gnostic and they believed that matter was created by an evil demiurge (the OT god, who is actually “Satan”). Another indication is where the devil offers the world to Jesus and he does NOT say “the world is not yours to give”, but rather he tells him to stick it up his butt. What’s the devil doing owning the earth? And there’s much more but I just wanted to say that Jesus was a Naassene gnostic (a snake worshiper [Naas means serpent, and later they changed it to Nazarene.]), and they rejected the gnostic scriptures because that’s what it says (also that he loved Mary Magdalene etc.)

Answer 7

Jesus doesn't mean hatred in that sense. The reason for the use of "hate" is most likely because of the troubles experienced translating the Bible. This part of the Bible was written in Greek, so, just as there are eight different words to express love (For example, in Greek you'd have to differentiate between two different kinds of love, such as "I love my wife" and "I love this burger"), there are also different ways to express hate. Jesus doesn't mean it in the sense of fiery hatred, but he means it in the sense of "loving less." In other words, one must love his family LESS than he loves Jesus, but he must not hate them.
There is also the same passage restated in a different way in Matthew 10:31, which clarifies the meaning:

Mat 10:37 He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.

Answer 8

taken out of context:

Luke 14:25-15:1

25 Large crowds were traveling with Jesus, and turning to them he said:

26 "If anyone comes to me and does not hate his father and mother, his wife and children, his brothers and sisters-yes, even his own life-he cannot be my disciple.

27 And anyone who does not carry his cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.

28 "Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Will he not first sit down and estimate the cost to see if he has enough money to complete it?

29 For if he lays the foundation and is not able to finish it, everyone who sees it will ridicule him,

30 saying, 'This fellow began to build and was not able to finish.'

31 "Or suppose a king is about to go to war against another king. Will he not first sit down and consider whether he is able with ten thousand men to oppose the one coming against him with twenty thousand?

32 If he is not able, he will send a delegation while the other is still a long way off and will ask for terms of peace.

33 In the same way, any of you who does not give up everything he has cannot be my disciple.

34 "Salt is good, but if it loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again?

35 It is fit neither for the soil nor for the manure pile; it is thrown out. "He who has ears to hear, let him hear."


NIV

(I prefer the King James Version, but I answered with the version you used).

Answer 9

Check a Greek dictionary. The word translated "hate" there is the Greek word "miseo", like Billy said in the first post. But when I look it up in my Greek dictionary, the first definition listed is "to love less". It comes from a word (misos) which means "to hate or detest". But that is not the definition of the word "miseo".

Answer 10

Jesus used the phrase in comparative terms:
That our love for Him should make all other forms of love seem like hate.

Even among husbands and wives, Paul tells us in 1 Corinthians 7 that married couples should not distract one another from the relationship that each has with Christ. Jesus should remain on the pedestal of each Christian heart.

Answer 11

Wow. shame on people how they like to take things out of context.

What he means is we can't put anyone or anything before Jesus Christ. If we idolize money or our significant other or our children, we won't be able to experience the fullness of knowing Jesus and the life He has to offer us.