| Cost of Discipleship (Luke 14:26) by Dr. Ralph F. Wilson ...In some of my more pride-filled moments I've dreamed of "large crowds" which are a salve to my insecurity and a badge of success to much of the world. But Jesus is different. He is not a slave to either ego or public opinion. In fact, for him, large crowds are cause for concern. The Problem with Large Crowds (14:25a) "Large crowds were traveling with Jesus...." (14:25a) Jesus seems to distrust a large following, aware that for many of them this was just a popular movement, a "happening," rather than any deep commitment. I saw this phenomenon in the 60s in the Charismatic Movement of which I was a part. It did much good, but there was so much fluff, so much superficiality, so much shallowness. I saw this phenomenon again in the late 60s and early 70s in the Jesus Movement in Southern California. I was a youth leader at the time and we had an influx of young converts in our church from the surfer crowd. There was an explosion of Jesus music, Jesus trinkets, Jesus newspapers, Jesus comics. Much good was done -- lasting good -- but much was just surface allegiance. Many of those who came to Christ during the Jesus Movement are mature leaders in our churches today, but many are far from Jesus. Jesus sees the large crowds traveling with him, perhaps setting up a moving tent city as he travels from town to town, and he is concerned. Hating One's Life and Family (14:25b-26) "Large crowds were traveling with Jesus, and turning to them he said: '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.' " (14:25-26) Jesus turns to this crowd and speaks to them in the strongest possible terms: Unless a person "hates" even his close family members, even his own life, he can't be a disciple. The Greek word is miseo, "hate, detest, abhor."[1] If you take this literally, it is shocking. Jesus means it to be shocking, jolting, provoking real listening. Hating, detesting is not neutral. It does not mean ignoring someone. It does not imply disinterest. It means to actively despise. Yes, there is a Semitic sense in the Bible which some translate, "to love less,"[2] but I don't think that is the force of this statement. Jesus word is intended to shock and to challenge. How can Jesus, who teaches us to love our neighbor as ourself, turn around and instruct us to hate our closest family members? This is the question in every heart that hears these words. Jesus is using hyperbole, an overstatement in order to make a point with maximum impact. We've seen this before in Jesus' teaching style. (See the lesson on Love Your Enemies (6:27-36), www.jesuswalk.com/lessons/6_27-36.htm Cutting off one's hand (Matthew 5:29-30) A camel passing through the eye of a needle (Matthew 19:24) Accepting violence and robbery without resistance (6:29) A timber in one's eye (Luke 6:41-42) Jesus states something in a striking, unforgettable way, a way that challenges us and forces us to think. I think that's what he's doing here. What does Jesus mean by telling us that we must hate our closest family members? He is contrasting our allegiance to Jesus in the strongest possible way. No earthly tie, however close, must take precedence over our allegiance to and obedience of Jesus. He is Number One -- by far! No person even comes close! Now this is no excuse to treat family members shabbily or with disrespect. Our responsibilities for our family still remain. Paul once wrote, "If anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for his immediate family, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever" (1 Timothy 5:8; see also Luke 11:11-13; 2 Corinthians 12:14). But it does mean that following Jesus is to take first priority -- even if it is painful, difficult, and misunderstood. Our parent's wishes don't come first; Jesus' direction does. Our spouse's and children's desires don't come first; Jesus' direction does. Yes, there have been a lot of well-meaning but flaky people who have used this as an excuse not to care for their families, but their poor examples do not negate or invalidate Jesus' words. Jesus says to the crowds travelling with him: Unless you place me as the first priority, over every other priority in your life, you can't be my disciples. His words speak to you and to me also. We cannot avoid or weasel out of their impact and force...http://www.jesuswalk.com/lessons/14_25-35.htm |
| "May the words of my mouth, and the meditations of my heart be acceptable to You, Oh Lord, My Rock and Redeemer." Psalms 19:14 Dearest Lord of my being, Thank you for blessing me with all that I need to be the best that I can be. I am so grateful for your love, light, and peace. May I always be aware of your presence and may I love and honor you above all things. I need you in my heart, in my soul, and in my life now and forever. Amen |
| astrologizing.net Sabbath Devotionals The Sabbath; Sat. June 12, 2010 |
| BIBLE READING NEW TESTAMENT Luke 14: 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. |
| BIBLE READINGS OLD TESTAMENT Exodus 20:12. Honor thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee," |
What Did Jesus Say? True, in the Greek translation, Jesus does say "miseo" which means hate, detest, abhor. However, in the Eastern text of Luke 14: 26, it reads: He who comes to me and does not put aside his father and his mother and his brothers and his sisters and his wife and his children and even his own life cannot be a disciple to me. George M. Lamsa's Translation from the Aramaic of the Peshitta. Thank goodness for my Ancient Eastern Text; I could have never accepted the word, "miseo" even though one pastor, James F. Wright writes: To understand this passage we have to understand the world of the Bible. They didn't have lukewarm words back then. There's no word that describes "liking" someone. You have the choice of "love" or "hate". I'm told that even today there is no word in Arabic for "like". Perhaps that's one reason we have so much tension in the Arabic world today. The ancient world talked in absolutes. Genesis 29 (30-31) says that Jacob had two wives, Rachel and Leah. It says Jacob loved Rachel more than Leah. "When the Lord saw that Leah was hated, he allowed her to have a child, but Rachel was without a child." Do you see the comparison between loving something less? Jacob took care of Leah his wife, stayed with her, honored his vows, raised his children. But he had more feeling for Rachel. Being loved less is called being hated, or despised. http://lcmssermons.com/index.php?sn=699 I simply cannot conceive of my Master of Love ever using the word "hate" in any respect. I believe he would hem and haw around it before ever saying it even if there was not an Aramaic word less than love except for hate. Now, hyperbole, as used below, I might accept; but probably not; but he could have tried that one to get their attention; but probably not. I don't think Jesus would ever kid around about hate. There was too much smiting and smoting in the Old Testament that he had to redeem that kind of hate mongering especially concerning one's parents. True, he could have been tired, exhausted even, by the crowds, but not enough to use the word "miseo" concerning one's parents, spouse, and children. That is simply going too far to teach a lesson to those who would be his disciples. He would be going against every principle he had taught for the past three years as well as his Holy Book. Love your enemies, but hate your family? Nope, I don't believe it! I prefer what Matthew reports after quoting Jesus as bringing a sword rather than peace: Anyone who loves his father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves his son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. Matthew 10:37 Respectfully submitted, J. Sue Gagliardi |