The Hate Principle

JESUS cared about the family. But he knew that ministry would bring its own strains. One day he was talking to his people and he said, "If anyone comes to me and does not hate his father and mother, his wife and children, his brothers and sisters-yes, even his own life-he cannot be my disciple." This has been called the " hate" principle. Jesus obviously did not mean we are to hate those people in our families who are closest to us. He had already told us to love God with all our hearts and our neighbors as ourselves.

Terms used to define the emotions and affections were frequently comparative. Jesus was saying that "natural affection is to be, as compared with the Christian's devotedness to Christ, as if it were hate". Christ illustrated this principle in his own person when talking of the new relationship of the kingdom: "pointing to his disciples, he said, Here are my mother and brothers. For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother".
Jesus knew the coming of the gospelwould bring division within families-it brought it in his own. But this did not mean that Jesus was not firmly in favor of "family." He cared for his mother from his cross, appeared to his oldest brother James after the resurrection, and united his family in ministry in Jerusalem. The gospel will bring reactions and responses-even from within our families. Disciples must be ready for them.