Bible Study - Hard (6) - Hate Your Family - Luke 14:25-35 - May 19, 2019

Bible Study – Hard (6) – Hate Your Family – May 19, 2019


This is lesson six (6) in our series entitled “HE Said What? Hard Sayings of JESUS.”


Our focus scripture is Luke 14:25-35.


Loving JESUS should be so intense it makes everything else look like hate.


That is a very strong statement and seems contrary to the teachings of JESUS. Bible scholars consider JESUS was using Semitic hyperbole or using exaggeration to make a point. Defining JESUS’ teaching does not change the intensity of HIS statement. Only the indwelling Holy Spirit can give a Christian that intensity of commitment in a variety of ways. Such intensity comes from the renewing of the minds of Christians as they willingly seek to obediently serve GOD through faith in JESUS.


The key is, as our banner statement makes, in contrast to our love for JESUS all other relationships “look like hate.”


We can think of the words “love and hate,” as “prefer or not prefer” which can be applied to something or someone.” The bottom line “my relationship with those with whom I am the closest must be secondary in comparison to my relationship with CHRIST.” (Copied in part from Advanced Bible Study, spring 2019, LifeWay, Nashville, TN. Dr. Beyer, Associate Provost and Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences at Columbia International University.)


Let’s explore!


Following JESUS is a full-time commitment that requires total devotion.


Let’s read Luke 14:25-27:

The Cost of Following Jesus

25 Now great crowds were traveling with Him. So, He turned and said to them:

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

27 Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple.

We read that “large crowds were traveling with JESUS.” JESUS did not mince words. Why were these people following HIM? Were they mindless and just being part of a groupie, truly interested in learning and applying what HE was teaching, or wasting time or?

JESUS turned to those following HIM and said ”26 "If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his own father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters-yes, and even his own life-he cannot be My disciple.

27 Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple.”

That certainly was an attention getter. How do you think those in the crowd reacted to JESUS’ statement e.g. shocked, pondering what HE stated, waited to hear what else HE had to say, or?

Notice that JESUS began with “father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters-yes, and even his own life-he cannot be My disciple.” HE began with a person’s parents and then to the married child or children of their son’s family, which included the person’s spouse, children and then went back to include the son’s brothers and sisters. HE also included the person “even his own life”. JESUS then stated the degree of commitment a person should have to be a follower of HIM. They needed to be fully committed to HIM to the point of having the mindset to be willing to die, “bear his own cross.” The person coming to JESUS must not allow anything to compromise his or her commitment to obediently serving JESUS.

JESUS wanted those called to serve, to carefully consider the expectations of JESUS and the seriousness of the eternal message that JESUS had for the lost. JESUS used Semitic hyperbole in Matthew 5:27-30:

27 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’

28 But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart.

29 If your right eye causes you to stumble, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell.

30 And if your right hand causes you to stumble, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to go into hell.

In Luke 12:49-53 JESUS stated:

49 “I have come to bring fire on the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled!

50 But I have a baptism to undergo, and what constraint I am under until it is completed!

51 Do you think I came to bring peace on earth? No, I tell you, but division.

52 From now on there will be five in one family divided against each other, three against two and two against three.

53 They will be divided, father against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law.”

In certain families or cultures becoming a true follower of CHRIST means division. In some families, when a person became a Christian the follower was considered dead. This is true today. JESUS wanted whoever made a commitment to follow HIM to count the cost.

Let’s continue ----

Count the cost of following JESUS

Let’s read Luke 14:28-33:

28 "For which of you, wanting to build a tower, doesn't first sit down and calculate the cost to see if he has enough to complete it?

29 Otherwise, after he has laid the foundation and cannot finish it, all the onlookers will begin to make fun of him,

30 saying, 'This man started to build and wasn't able to finish.'

JESUS gave two parables to those considering becoming a true follower.

The scripture we just read was HIS first parable:

JESUS’ desire was for those who are called to serve to consider what they are being called to. JESUS’ mission was critical and vital to all who would place their faith in HIM. Timing was critical. There was no time for partially committed believers. Often, when we are in a crowd we get caught up in the moment and do things we would not normally do. We get caught up in the hype of the moment.

Consider again JESUS’ sense of urgency in: Luke 12:49-53:

49 “I have come to bring fire on the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled!

50 But I have a baptism to undergo, and what constraint I am under until it is completed!

51 Do you think I came to bring peace on earth? No, I tell you, but division.

52 From now on there will be five in one family divided against each other, three against two and two against three.

53 They will be divided, father against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law.”

I worked with a lady who was a devoted fan of Michael Crawford who was the lead in the Phantom of the Opera. She followed him to London and had backstage passes to meet with him. Michael was great and my wife and I enjoyed his performance but not to the extent our friend did. She was a true follower and we were not.

JESUS communicated with the crowd. HE wanted to be clear that they needed to count the cost and not to get caught up in the hype of the crowd. HE wanted those in the crowd to carefully consider what it really meant to be a true disciple. The same is true today.

The second parable: Luke 14:31-33:

31 "Or what king, going to war against another king, will not first sit down and decide if he is able with 10,000 to oppose the one who comes against him with 20,000?

32 If not, while the other is still far off, he sends a delegation and asks for terms of peace.

33 In the same way, therefore, every one of you who does not say good-bye to all his possessions cannot be My disciple.

JESUS was telling those in the crowd to count the cost before making a commitment to become a disciple because doing so could cost them relationships with their family, material possessions and more important they must reconcile themselves with GOD. The parable about the more powerful king coming toward you is depicting GOD Who is greater than you and you must reconcile yourself with GOD because HE is your leader and conqueror.

JESUS knew that HIS followers would face difficulties. HE used another example of facing opposition. When they faced overwhelming forces, what would they do? What are these overwhelming forces? Could it be family, education, career, relationships? The person facing overwhelming situations needed to meet them head-on and work them out. They needed to be on solid ground or else they would become a stumbling block. The greatest force a person had to be reconciled with was GOD because the passion of JESUS had not occurred. However, the passion of JESUS was getting closer and closer. The question was, how did they view JESUS? Was HE the Son of GOD, a son of god or future earthly king? When they placed their faith in HIM and became a disciple, what did that mean?  Even the 12 did not fully understand what the passion of JESUS was all about. Why – consider 1 Corinthians 2: 6 We do, however, speak a message of wisdom among the mature, but not the wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing.

7 No, we declare God’s wisdom, a mystery that has been hidden and that God destined for our glory before time began.

8 None of the rulers of this age understood it, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.  

The main point to these parables was stated in verse 33:

33 In the same way, therefore, every one of you who does not say good-bye to all his possessions cannot be My disciple.

If those in the crowd still did not get the message, JESUS gave them something else to consider as we read on ---

Maintain a pure devotion to CHRIST that makes others thirsty to know HIM.

Let’s read Luke 14:34-35:

34 "Now, salt is good, but if salt should lose its taste, how will it be made salty?

35 It isn't fit for the soil or for the manure pile; they throw it out. Anyone who has ears to hear should listen!"

JESUS stated in Matthew 5: 13 “You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.

Christians are the “salt of the earth.” Why? Christians know the truth of salvation through faith in JESUS. What does salt do? It preserves, it makes food savory, heals, melts ice, enhances freezing to name a few.

In Krakow, Poland there is a salt mine deep underground. It has living quarters for people with various issues, mainly breathing related. They live there for a period of time to benefit from its healing properties of the salt atmosphere. If you are ever in Krakow, it is well worth a visit to see the many carvings the miners crafted and the large rooms where weddings can take place.

Many thanks to our friend Gustaw for taking us to this salt mine. As you may recall Gustaw was President of the Baptist Seminary in Warsaw, Poland and recently retired. Our LORD called him to work with a struggling church in Olsztyn, Poland.  Please pray for Gustaw as our LORD leads him in this ministry.

JESUS wanted HIS disciples to count the cost then and today. The Apostle Paul wrote in Romans 8:16-17:

16 The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children.

17 Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.

JESUS admonished the crowd to pay attention, “listen,” to what HE was telling them. They were to listen and discern what they were hearing. The same is true today. Becoming a Christian is one thing but committing to be a true follower or disciple is deeper. Keep in mind that, as a Christian, it is a calling and empowering by the indwelling Holy Spirit. It can be a process brought about by sanctification through the renewing of your mind. Our LORD does the work as long as we abide in HIM, the One True Vine!

Blessings!!!