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.
LUKE 14:26KJVWhat does Luke 14:26 mean?
Luke 14:26 describes Jesus telling the crowd that anyone who wants to follow Him must "hate" their own family and even their own life, or else they cannot be His disciple. This strong language is meant to show that loyalty to Jesus must come before every other relationship or personal interest.
In this scene, Jesus is speaking to a large group of people traveling with Him. He uses striking words to make clear that following Him is not a casual commitment. The verse does not suggest literal hatred but emphasizes that devotion to Jesus must outweigh all other attachments, even to one's closest family or to oneself.
The Greek behind Luke 14:26
- The word "hate" (μισέω, miseō) in Greek often carries the sense of "to love less" or "to put in second place," rather than emotional hostility. Jesus is using a common figure of speech from that time to highlight the seriousness of choosing Him above all else.
- The word "disciple" (μαθητής, mathētēs) means a committed learner or follower, not just someone who listens casually. Jesus is setting a high bar for what it means to truly be His disciple.
Why Luke 14:26 matters
- This verse clears up the misunderstanding that following Jesus is easy or requires no sacrifice; Jesus is upfront about the cost.
- The strong language draws attention to the total commitment Jesus expects, which is a key theme in Luke 14 as He warns about the demands of discipleship.
- Understanding the cultural use of "hate" in this context helps readers avoid thinking Jesus is promoting family conflict, and instead see the call to put Him first.