We long for clarity about where ultimate loyalty belongs—especially when love for family, comfort, or reputation pulls us every which way. Jesus' words in Matthew 10:37–38 and Luke 14:25–35 crash into that longing with blunt force: following him may require losing what we cherish. That tension is the point: the Gospel promises life, but it asks that nothing stand between us and Christ. How willing are you to let your heart’s first place be rearranged?
In plain terms: in Matthew 10:37–38 Jesus tells his followers that anyone who loves family more than him is not worthy of him and that to follow him means taking up one’s cross. Luke 14:25–35 gives the same call with added detail: large crowds are warned that true discipleship might look like “hating” family ties, carrying one’s cross, and counting the cost—illustrated by a builder and a king—and closes with the image of disciples as salt. These sayings appear in Matthew and Luke; Mark does echo the call to “take up the cross” (Mark 8:34) but does not include the same “hate” language, and this particular cluster of illustrations does not occur in John.
What Jesus is doing here is exposing the idolatries of the heart. He isn’t issuing a family-or-God test designed to create cruelty; he is insisting on a radical ordering of love. The word “hate” is Semitic hyperbole — meant to show that Jesus must occupy the prime affection of our lives. The cross is not merely suffering but the distinctive mark of discipleship: costly, countercultural, yet the path to true life. Luke’s practical images (builder, king, salt) remind us that following Jesus requires foresight, integrity, and flavoring the world with his kingdom. Don’t rush past the weight of this moment; it both strips and frees.
Today, practice one concrete step: pick one strong attachment (a habit, ambition, or relationship where you secretly seek security more than God) and do a small act of surrender. Say no to a comfort you’d normally choose, or perform a humble service for someone who won’t repay you. Begin the day by asking, “Lord, what would it look like for me to love you more than this?” and offer that day—its choices and costs—to him.
In plain terms: in Matthew 10:37–38 Jesus tells his followers that anyone who loves family more than him is not worthy of him and that to follow him means taking up one’s cross. Luke 14:25–35 gives the same call with added detail: large crowds are warned that true discipleship might look like “hating” family ties, carrying one’s cross, and counting the cost—illustrated by a builder and a king—and closes with the image of disciples as salt. These sayings appear in Matthew and Luke; Mark does echo the call to “take up the cross” (Mark 8:34) but does not include the same “hate” language, and this particular cluster of illustrations does not occur in John.
What Jesus is doing here is exposing the idolatries of the heart. He isn’t issuing a family-or-God test designed to create cruelty; he is insisting on a radical ordering of love. The word “hate” is Semitic hyperbole — meant to show that Jesus must occupy the prime affection of our lives. The cross is not merely suffering but the distinctive mark of discipleship: costly, countercultural, yet the path to true life. Luke’s practical images (builder, king, salt) remind us that following Jesus requires foresight, integrity, and flavoring the world with his kingdom. Don’t rush past the weight of this moment; it both strips and frees.
Today, practice one concrete step: pick one strong attachment (a habit, ambition, or relationship where you secretly seek security more than God) and do a small act of surrender. Say no to a comfort you’d normally choose, or perform a humble service for someone who won’t repay you. Begin the day by asking, “Lord, what would it look like for me to love you more than this?” and offer that day—its choices and costs—to him.
Matthew: 10:37-38
Jesus teaches that loyalty to him must come above family ties—those who love father, mother, or children more than him are not worthy of him—and he calls disciples to take up their cross, embracing self-denial, suffering, and sacrifice in order to follow him.
Open VerseLuke: 14:25-35
Jesus tells the crowd that true discipleship requires total commitment — even a willingness to put him above family and one’s own life and to “carry your cross” — and urges people to count the cost like a builder or a king before following him. He closes with the salt metaphor: disciples must keep their saltiness (value/faithfulness) or they become useless.
Open Verse