, Driscoll"]
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Thankfully, scholars are in agreement in their understanding of this passage and its significance. In order to better understand the nature of Jesus’ statement, two things need to be clarified. First, we must look at the word “hate” (μισεω, miseo) and all that it can and does mean in the text. Second, we must understand the context of Jesus’ teaching and the significance his words had to his audience. Exploring these two ideas will help us understand the nature of Jesus’ call to hate all apart from him.
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Thankfully, there is another sense for the word “hate,” as it pertains to this passage. When it’s used in the Old Testament,[2] particularly in the Wisdom Literature, the word loses its psychological force.[3] Instead, it carries a sense of intensified choice. For instance, in Proverbs, the writer often instructs the reader to choose righteousness over evil, often worded in terms of love and hate. The call is to reject (= hate) evil and to embrace (= love) righteousness. In Jesus’ statement here in Luke 14:26, the same principle is at play.
In this passage, Jesus’ call to hate both family and self is a call to rejection, not homicide. Some scholars are content to stop at this point, saying disciples should love Jesus to the neglect of their families—an action that could be interpreted as hate.[4] However, this would stand in contradiction to Jesus’ instructions concerning proper love for both neighbor and family as discussed above.[5]
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The majority of scholars are in agreement that the concept of hate (or “rejection” as we have said) is idiomatic for a subordination of loyalties.[6] “Hate” in this context demands the rejection of loyalty to family and even self for the purpose of following Jesus with a whole heart. All other people or things must come second to your pursuit of relationship with Jesus. Matthew 10:37 brings this concept out in its take on Jesus’ words: “Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me” (emphasis added). As noted New Testament scholar Darrell Bock reminds us, Jesus is to be our “first love” and all others second. We must be prepared to reject family and even self for the sake of discipleship.[7]
The happy result of putting Jesus first will be being a better spouse and parent. By not worshiping the idols of marriage and family, and instead worshiping the Creator that gave them to us as good gifts, we are able to lead better and love better.
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I just pray Driscoll would see that this also applies to Malachi 1:3 & Romans 9:13!
