In Luke 14:26, Jesus lays out one of the most challenging statements in the Bible:
“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.”
At first glance, these words might seem shocking. How could the One who commands us to love others also tell us to “hate” our closest family members? Is this a contradiction? Of course not. The Bible is inerrant, and it never contradicts itself. What Jesus is doing here is using a hyperbole—a rhetorical tool to exaggerate for emphasis.
We use hyperbole to emphasize a point. In this case, Jesus is making it clear that our love for Him must be so great, so consuming, that every other relationship pales in comparison. This isn’t a call to neglect or despise others but to prioritize Christ above all else. After all, the same Scriptures that record this verse also command us to honor and love one another:
- Exodus 20:12 reminds us to honor our parents: “Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee.”
- John 13:34-35 calls us to love each other: “A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.”
- Matthew 22:37-39 teaches the greatest commandments: to love God with all our hearts and to love our neighbors as ourselves.
So, how do we reconcile these teachings with Luke 14:26? Jesus is teaching us about priority. He is not urging us to despise our family, but to love Him so deeply that all other attachments become secondary. This is the cost of discipleship, and it requires total devotion.
Context and Background
Let’s set the scene for this challenging teaching. Earlier in Luke 14, Jesus had been dining with a Pharisee. The Pharisees, for those who may not know, were religious leaders who focused on rigidly following the law and their own traditions. They often missed the heart of God’s commands—love, mercy, and humility—and instead prided themselves on outward displays of piety.
At this dinner, Jesus healed a man on the Sabbath, challenging the Pharisees’ legalistic mindset. He then told several parables, including one about humility. He taught that those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.
Later, Jesus told the parable of the great banquet. A man prepared a feast and invited many guests, but those invited made excuses. One bought a field, another oxen, and another married. Their excuses reflected misplaced priorities—work, possessions, and relationships had taken precedence over the host’s invitation. The host, angered by their rejection, invited the poor, the crippled, and the outcasts—those who recognized their need. This parable reveals a sobering truth: excuses rooted in earthly attachments can cause us to miss God’s invitation to His kingdom.
The Radical Call of Discipleship
From this parable, Jesus transitioned to addressing the crowds directly in Luke 14:25–26. He explained to the crowds that following Him was about commitment, not curiosity or convenience. To be His disciple, one must:
- Love Him so deeply that all other relationships seem secondary (v. 26).
- Bear one’s cross, symbolizing a willingness to endure suffering and sacrifice (v. 27).
- Count the cost of following Him, as one would when building a tower or preparing for war (vv. 28-32).
- Forsake all else for His sake (v. 33).
Jesus wasn’t looking for half-hearted followers. Scripture repeats the theme of radical devotion, which Jesus was calling for. Revelation 3:16 warns against being lukewarm: “So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.” Jesus desires fervent disciples, not those who waver between Him and the world.
Living Under Christ’s Headship
To follow Christ means to acknowledge His headship—His supreme authority in our lives. Colossians 1:18 says, “And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.” This means Christ must have supremacy in every area of our lives: our relationships, our work, our priorities, and even our very selves.
To live under Christ’s headship, we must:
- Deny ourselves and take up our cross daily (Luke 9:23-24).
- Present our bodies as living sacrifices (Romans 12:1-2).
- Be zealous for good works and for the Lord (Titus 2:14; Colossians 3:23).
Examples of Misplaced Priorities
Throughout the Bible, we see believers who failed to prioritize God:
- Martha (Luke 10) was distracted by her tasks and missed the chance to sit at Jesus’ feet.
- The rich young ruler (Matthew 19) clung to his possessions and walked away from Jesus.
- Solomon allowed his foreign wives to lead him into idolatry (1 Kings 11).
Even today, we see misplaced priorities in modern churches that focus on entertainment rather than Christ, in believers who let grief or relationships overshadow their faith, and in the allure of worldly success and comfort.
Encouragement and Invitation
Despite the cost, following Christ is worth everything. As Jesus said in John 10:10, “I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.” The promise of eternal life far outweighs the temporary sacrifices we make.
If you’ve never surrendered your life to Christ, let me invite you to take that step today. The Romans Road shows us the way:
- “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23).
- “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Romans 6:23).
- “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved” (Romans 10:9).
Will you make Christ the head of your life? Will you count the cost and follow Him above all else?
Conclusion
Jesus’ call in Luke 14:26 is not about losing relationships—it’s about redefining them under His Lordship. By placing Christ above all, we gain everything. So, let us examine our priorities, repent of lukewarmness, and pursue Him with zeal, knowing that the cost of discipleship is small compared to the reward of eternal life.
May God’s blessings be upon you and your home, may the truth of the Bible light your path, and may we all be fervent believers of biblical truth.
Believers of Biblical Truth 