"If any man comes unto me, and hates not his own father,
and mother, and wife, and children, and brothers and sisters,
yes. and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple.
Whosoever does not bear his own cross, and come after me,
cannot be my disciple." Luke 14:26-27
These words of Jesus were spoken suddenly to a multitude following him one day. Similar words were spoken to the 12 before sending them out, Matthew 10:34-39. These were startling words to that multitude of peasants, and they are to us too.
The word "hate' is used over 35 times in the New Testament. Its meaning is clear. However, hate was so opposite of what Jesus was like, that saying this was would have been startling to those that saw him live.
Saying this jump-started their thinking, "How can he mean that?"
Probably some concluded that he spoke of hate to get their attention:
to help them see that coming to him means that he must be honored Alone .
That is clearly the intent of what he called, "the great and first commandment."
(Matthew 22:37) There he referred back to the words of Deuteronomy 6:5.
It is interesting to note that the commandment to love the Lord with all our
heart and soul and mind, is essentially the same as the first commandment.
Deuteronomy 6:5 states positively, what Exodus 20:3 states negatively.
In Exodus 20:3, the Hebrew says literally,
"Let there not be to thee, other gods beyond me ."
It was to this ever-present danger, that Jesus spoke that day.
As you read these words now, you are faced with the same temptation
to let those dear to you be, "other gods beyond me."
Jesus knew that the greatest temptation was not making and spending money,
but people who are to us, "gods beyond me." The warning is clear.
For all of our knowledge and sophistication, we are no different than they.
The affections of our flesh are still the same.
The temptation to sin in this way is just as strong for us.
It is subtle because we are commanded to love others.
A second commandment is like the first, to love our neighbor as our self.
Our heart's reaction to Jesus' word is like a litmus test--it tells who is Lord.
Our choices of the past do not have to frame our future.
The Risen Lord can create in us a heart that has-- no gods beyond him .