Luke 14:26, 33

[Jacob_B]

Looking for a Catholic interpretation of these verses. Thanks.

26: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.

33:In the same way, any of you who does not give up everything he has cannot be my disciple.

 

[His_little1]

Here I think Jesus is preparing his disciples for a new life where they would have to turn away from their old life and old ways and embrace fully the new. I don’t think he was telling them to hate, but rather to be prepared to face some radical changes. He also told them the greatest commandment was to love God with your entire self and to love your neighbor as yourself.

He often spoke in a way that would prepare people to face their future. Remember that these were a simpler people and he had to prepare them to take on the greatest challenge to man ever given: to do God’s work and spread the Gospel or “Good News” to all people and even to the ends of the earth. Since we know that the earth is a sphere, we now realize that this task is in itself bigger than we are and we must give it everything we have in order to succeed.

How can we do this if we maintain ties to this world? What would you give up to God to please Him? Would you give up your iPod, your laptop, your car, your house, your family, your life? How about giving up chocolate, eating (warm-blooded) meat on Fridays, alcohol, sex, sports, freedom, the internet, high definition television? We may be called to turn away from something or someone that is important to us (in this world) in order to gain something better in the next. Sons may have to leave their father (remember James and John leaving poor old Zeb in the boat?) Rich men may be asked to sell everything they own and give it to the poor. (Remember the one that couldn’t do it and got away?)

Following Jesus is sometimes a hard path to choose. Oh sure, the benefits outweigh anything we could ever put into it, but at times, we may have to face hard decisions. His call could be a late-night info-mercial. “Come to me all you who are weary and I will give you rest” Operators are standing by. The fine print at the bottom of the screen tells you that satisfaction IS guaranteed, however, the price is beyond FREE and shipping and handling. There are additional costs involved and yes, you may cancel at anytime. (I wouldn’t, but, the good news is that God has an easy return and reactivation policy.)

 

[Nita]

Looking for a Catholic interpretation of these verses. Thanks.

26: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.

33:In the same way, any of you who does not give up everything he has cannot be my disciple.

Here are a few comments from the Navarre Bible footnotes on vs 26:
…*Love for God and for Jesus should have pride of place in our lives and we should keep away from anything which obstructs this Love: …In the last analysis, it is a matter of keeping the proper hierarchy of charity: God must take priority over everything.

…True, ‘hate’ does not exactly just mean “love less”, as some people interpret it in an attempt to tone down the sentence. The force behind these vigorous words does not lie in their implying a negative or pitiless attitude, for the Jesus who is speaking here is none other than that Jesus who commands us to love others as we love ourselves and who gives up His life for mankind. These words indicate simply that we cannot be half-hearted when it comes to loving God. Christ’s words could be translated as ‘love more, love better’, in the sense that a selfish or partial love is not enough: we have to love others with the love of God."(J. Escriva*)

Their footnotes on vs 33:
…*now he equally vigorously requires us to be completely detached from possessions. …and He asks everyone to practise genuine detachment and generosity in the use of material things. If a Christian has to be ready to give up even life itself, with all the more reason should he renounce possessions:…

Besides, for a soul to become filled with God it first must be emptied of everything that could be an obstacle to God’s indwelling*:…"

Keep in mind the “detachment” from persons and things is not necessarily a physical detachment - it is a detachment in our minds and hearts; valuing God more than either.

In the case of priests and religious there is often a corresponding physical detachment also - vows of celibacy and poverty.

Nita

 

[fewnotmany]

Looking for a Catholic interpretation of these verses. Thanks.

26: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.

33:In the same way, any of you who does not give up everything he has cannot be my disciple.

The world hated Jesus and His Disciples for preaching the gospel. If you are a follower of Christ, you too must be hated.

So what do you have to preach to get people to hate you? Tell your father, mother, wife, and children that they must carry a daily cross, suffer for righteousness, don’t hang around unbelievers, pride is a sin, America is spiritual babylon, christmas and easter come out of paganism, God doesn’t love everybody, no freewill, God created evil, predestination is true, can’t accept Christ, hell is real.

There’s enough things to get you started.

 

[fewnotmany]

To be hated for righteousness sake is a blessing.

Luke 6:22 – Blessed are ye, when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you from their company, and shall reproach you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of man’s sake. (for saying truth)

 

[tobinatorstark]

Luke 14:26 from the Haydock Bible Commentary

Ver. 26. Hate not, &c. The law of Christ does not allow us to hate even our enemies, much less our parents: but the meaning of the text is, that we must be in that disposition of soul so as to be willing to renounce and part with every thing, how near or dear soever it may be to us, that would keep us from following Christ. (Challoner) — The word hate is not to be taken in its proper sense, but to be expounded by the words of Christ, (Matthew x. 37.) that no man must love his father more than God, &c. (Witham) — Christ wishes to shew us what dispositions are necessary in him who desires to become his disciple; (Theophylactus) and to teach us that we must not be discouraged, if we meet with many hardships and labours in our journey to our heavenly country. (St. Gregory) — And if for our sakes, Christ even renounced his own mother, saying, Who is my mother, and who are my brethren? why do you wish to be treated more delicately than your Lord? (St. Ambrose) — He wished also to demonstrate to us, that the hatred he here inculcates, is not to proceed from any disaffection towards our parents, but from charity for ourselves; for immediately he adds, and his own life also. From which words it is evident, that in our love we must hate our brethren as we do ourselves.

 

[fewnotmany]

Luke 14:26 from the Haydock Bible Commentary

Ver. 26. Hate not, &c. The law of Christ does not allow us to hate even our enemies, much less our parents:

Please allow me to explain this point in more detail:

Heb 1:9 -
“YOU HAVE LOVED RIGHTEOUSNESS AND HATED LAWLESSNESS; THEREFORE GOD, YOUR GOD, HAS ANOINTED YOU WITH THE OIL OF GLADNESS ABOVE YOUR COMPANIONS .”

The word hated in the original greek text is the same word used in Luke 14:26 – Miseo (mis-eh’-o)

Hebrews 1:9 is linked to Psalms 5:5

Psalms 5:5 The foolish shall not stand in thy sight: thou hatest all workers of iniquity.

The word iniquity is commonly referred to lawlessness.

In addition:

The word love in Matt 5:44 "But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, " does not mean to have affection for.

Love in the Greek is Agapao (ag-ap-ah’-o)

Same word as in

1Jo 5:3 -
For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments;

Therefore, to love ones enemy is to tell them the Truth. In return, they will hate you for it.

To be hated for righteousness sake is a blessing. (Luke 6:22)

To hate for self-righteousness sake is a sin