Matthew 10:37

Matthew 10:37

He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.

a. NLT: “If you love your father or mother more than you love me, you are not worthy of being mine; or if you love your son or daughter more than me, you are not worthy of being mine.

b. NIV: “Anyone who loves their father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves their son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.

c. Young’s Literal Translation: 'He who is loving father or mother above me, is not worthy of me, and he who is loving son or daughter above me, is not worthy of me,

d. Amplified Bible: He who loves [and takes more pleasure in] father or mother more than [in] Me is not worthy of Me; and he who loves [and takes more pleasure in] son or daughter more than [in] Me is not worthy of Me;

e. Worrell Translation: He that loves father or mother more than Me, is not worthy of Me; and he that loves son or daughter more than Me, is not worthy of Me.

1. “He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me…”

a. He that loveth [5368 * phileo] [Strong: from 5384; to be a friend to (fond of (an individual or an object)), i.e. have affection for (denoting personal attachment, as a matter of sentiment or feeling; while 25 is wider, embracing especially the judgment and the deliberate assent of the will as a matter of principle, duty and propriety: the two thus stand related very much as 2309 and 1014, or as 2372 and 3563 respectively; the former being chiefly of the heart and the latter of the head); specially, to kiss (as a mark of tenderness):--kiss, love.]

b. father [3962 * pater] [Strong: apparently a primary word; a "father" (literally or figuratively, near or more remote):--father, parent.]

c. or [2228 * e] [Strong: a primary particle of distinction between two connected terms; disjunctive, or; comparative, than:--and, but (either), (n-)either, except it be, (n-)or (else), rather, save, than, that, what, yea. Often used in connection with other particles.]

d. mother [3384 * meter] [Strong:  apparently a primary word; a "mother" (literally or figuratively, immediate or remote):--mother.]

e. more [5228 * huper] [Strong: a primary preposition; "over", i.e. (with the genitive case) of place, above, beyond, across, or causal, for the sake of, instead, regarding; with the accusative case superior to, more than:--(+ exceeding, abundantly) above, in (on) behalf of, beyond, by, + very chiefest, concerning, exceeding (above, -ly), for, + very highly, more (than), of, over, on the part of, for sake of, in stead, than, to(-ward), very. In the comparative, it retains many of the above applications.]

f. me [1691 * eme] [Strong: a prolonged form of 3165; me:--I, me, my(-self).]

g. is [2076 * esti] [Strong: third person singular present indicative of 1510; he (she or it) is; also (with neuter plural) they are:--are, be(-long), call, X can(-not), come, consisteth, X dure for a while, + follow, X have, (that) is (to say), make, meaneth, X must needs, + profit, + remaineth, + wrestle.]

h. not [3756 * ou] [Strong: third person singular present indicative of 1510; he (she or it) is; also (with neuter plural) they are:--are, be(-long), call, X can(-not), come, consisteth, X dure for a while, + follow, X have, (that) is (to say), make, meaneth, X must needs, + profit, + remaineth, + wrestle.]

i. worthy [514 * axios; ago-to weigh] [Strong: probably from 71; deserving, comparable or suitable (as if drawing praise):--due reward, meet, (un-)worthy.] [Thayer: weighing, having weight, having the weight of another thing of like value, worth as much, befitting, congruous, corresponding to a thing, of one who has merited anything worthy, both in a good and a bad sense.] Zodhiates: An estimate or value. Some believe it to be a set of scales where the weights bring or draw down the beam to a horizontal level when the weights are equal on each side.]

j. of me [3450 * mou] [Strong: the simpler form of 1700; of me:--I, me, mine (own), my.]

2. “…and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.”

a. and [2532 * kai] [Strong: apparently, a primary particle, having a copulative and sometimes also a cumulative force; and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words:--and, also, both, but, even, for, if, or, so, that, then, therefore, when, yet.]

b. he that loveth [5368 * phileo] [Strong: from 5384; to be a friend to (fond of (an individual or an object)), i.e. have affection for (denoting personal attachment, as a matter of sentiment or feeling; while 25 is wider, embracing especially the judgment and the deliberate assent of the will as a matter of principle, duty and propriety: the two thus stand related very much as 2309 and 1014, or as 2372 and 3563 respectively; the former being chiefly of the heart and the latter of the head); specially, to kiss (as a mark of tenderness):--kiss, love.]

c. son [5207 * huios] [Strong:  apparently a primary word; a "son" (sometimes of animals), used very widely of immediate, remote or figuratively, kinship:--child, foal, son.]

d. or [2228 * e] [Strong: a primary particle of distinction between two connected terms; disjunctive, or; comparative, than:--and, but (either), (n-)either, except it be, (n-)or (else), rather, save, than, that, what, yea. Often used in connection with other particles.]

e. daughter [2364 * thugater] [Strong: apparently a primary word (compare "daughter"); a female child, or (by Hebraism) descendant (or inhabitant):--daughter.]

f. more [5228 * huper] Strong: a primary preposition; "over", i.e. (with the genitive case) of place, above, beyond, across, or causal, for the sake of, instead, regarding; with the accusative case superior to, more than:--(+ exceeding, abundantly) above, in (on) behalf of, beyond, by, + very chiefest, concerning, exceeding (above, -ly), for, + very highly, more (than), of, over, on the part of, for sake of, in stead, than, to(-ward), very. In the comparative, it retains many of the above applications.]

g. me [1691 * eme] [Strong: a prolonged form of 3165; me:--I, me, my(-self).]

1). Is Jesus against families? Absolutely not! It was God who ordained the institution of the family, but the main facet of a relationship with God is He is first place in our lives, above all other relationships including family. As the passage in Matthew reveals, when that principle is lived out in obedience, the “sword” of God’s word will divide families. This is not just a New Testament doctrine. Actually, the words Jesus spoke here were from the prophet Micah.

a. Micah 7:5-7 Trust ye not in a friend, put ye not confidence in a guide: keep the doors of thy mouth from her that lieth in thy bosom.

7:6 For the son dishonoureth the father, the daughter in law against her mother in law;

a man’s ememies are the men of his own house.

7:7 Therefore I will look unto the LORD; I will wait for the God of my salvation: my God will hear me.”

2). In order to find the beginning of this doctrine we have to go back to Exodus, when Israel was delivered out of Egypt and brought to Sinai to receive the Mosaic law. In Exodus 19:1 it relates how that within the third month of Israel coming out of Egypt they came to the area of Sinai. While Moses was up on the mountain receiving the law, Israel built the golden calf and started having a worship celebration to it. What eventually happened is the focus of our search.

2). Exodus 32:25-29 And when Moses saw that the people were naked; (for Aaron had made them naked unto their shame among their enemies:)

32:26 Then Moses stood in the gate of the camp, and Said, Who is on the LORD’S side?  Let him come unto me. And all the sons of Levi gathered themselves together unto him.

32:27 And he said unto them, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, Put every man his sword by his Side, and go in and out from gate to gate Throughout the camp, and slay every man his  brother, and every man his companion, and every man his neighbor.

32:28 And the children of Levi did according to the Word of Moses: and there fell of the people that day about three thousand men.

32:29 For Moses had said, Consecrate yourselves to day to the LORD, even every man upon his son, and upon his brother; that he may bestow upon you a blessing this day.

3). It appears from verse 29 that Moses was saying to the Levites, that as they were slaying their sons and brothers that they were consecrating them selves to the Lord. The Amplified Bible translation definitely says it exactly that way.

a). Amplified Bible: Exodus  32:29 And Moses said [to the Levites, By your obedience  to God’s command] you have consecrated yourselves today as priests to the LORD, each man [at the cost of being] against His own brother, that the LORD may restore and bestow His blessing upon you this day.

4). Now don’t think for a minute that I am advocating killing relatives that are not Christians, God forbid! I am saying nothing of the kind. What I am saying is that one of the principal components of a relationship with God is God has to come first. But another nugget of truth within the passage of Exodus is that when we are obeying the word of God, as we obey we are consecrating ourselves to Him. This principle is repeated elsewhere in Scripture.

a). Romans 6:16 Know ye not, that to whom ye yield youselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness.

b). John 14:15 If ye love me, keep my commandments.

5). Jeremiah was warned by God that the message the Lord gave Jeremiah caused his family to turn on him.

a). Jeremiah 12:6 For even thy brethren, and the house of thy father, even they have dealt

Treacherously with thee; yea, they have called a multitude after thee: believe them not, though they speak fair words unto thee.

6). Loving Jesus more than our father, mother, son, or daughter is not a problem for a Christian, but within a family where all members are not Christian, giving Jesus first place in your life will be a cross upon which you will be crucified by non-believing family members. There is a popular proverb that says, “Blood is thicker than water”, and every one knows that means preferring family over friends. Well, the equivalent proverb here in light of this passage in Matthew would be, “Spirit is thicker than blood.”