I Find This Verse Harsh And Confusing.

[Rainbow.]

14:26 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.

14:27 And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple.

I understand why Jesus would say this, as he wanted total loyalty from his disciples.But, Jesus so often uses beautiful words when speaking, so why was he so harsh this time?
We are taught we must honour our parents, so to say something like this seems to contradict. Is it my understanding which is lacking?
I would be grateful to anyone who can help me with this.Thank you
God bless.

 

[stephen1964]

I look at these verses as removing any excuse we have for not putting Christ first in our lives. It doesn't say, "dishonor your mother and father" but just put God first.

 

[CeCe]

I absolutely agree with stephen1964.

He isn't telling us to "hate" our family. But we should not put what they think or whether they approve of us following Jesus, (even if it means we will suffer rejection or even persecution) as being more important than Him. Christ should always be first place in our lives. We have to be willing to accept rejection or other consequences, even from our own families to follow Him. The Lord should never be place on a "human" level.

So have I made it more confusing yet?

 

[Rainbow.]

OK, thanks for clearing that up.
But i still find it confusing because to honour your parents you must hate to love them and listen to their words.But obvioulsy it must mean that you must put Jesus' words before their own.And love Jesus before you love your family.

The Lord should never be place on a "human" level

I hear what your saying here, but Jesus was born a man with human emotions, so surely on some levels you can place him on a human level?. Yeah, you have confused me now!! Only kidding

 

[Pseud]

*waves to Grace*

I read somewhere that the word for 'hate' can also be translated to 'love less', and it also ties in with God coming first in your life and not putting anything before Him, not even your family.

I can't remember the source though, sorry

 

[Rainbow.]

*waves to Grace*

I read somewhere that the word for 'hate' can also be translated to 'love less', and it also ties in with God coming first in your life and not putting anything before Him, not even your family.

I can't remember the source though, sorry

Awwwww bless you for that Hun. It makes a whole lot more sence to me now. That's the thing with the bible and it's it different translations.

 

[Pseud]

Awwwww bless you for that Hun. It makes a whole lot more sence to me now. That's the thing with the bible and it's it different translations.

*nods* If only we could read/write ancient Hebrew

 

[Rainbow.]

Who says i can't??????????? he he heheh ROFL

 

[mle]

have you heard the Audio Adrenaline song I Get Down?
I think it says: to live your life you've got to loose it and all the loosers get a crown.
I guess what the bible is asking us to do (and what the song is saying) is that we have to make Jesus our fist priority and not the things of this life. We are dead with Christ.
Emily

 

[CeCe]

I've seen that "love less" statement somewhere before too. This is not it, but it's similar. Take a look at this verse and see if it helps:

Matthew 10:37-He who loves his father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me.

It's just putting everything in it's proper place. He should be above all. Everything and everyone.

 

[looksgood]

No one really mentioned the cross verse. So I thought I would. The cross is what crusifies the flesh. If we are not willing to mortify the deeds of the flesh and disiplen it we are not His. To bear your cross is to do that.

 

[mle]

deny yourself pick up your cross and follow Jesus He is the way thruth and life!

 

[Rainbow.]

deny yourself pick up your cross and follow Jesus He is the way thruth and life!

Yay!