I used to struggle with this verse, too. No, Christ is not contradicting the Commandments; rather, he is speaking in hyperbole. The NT is wroght with examples of hyperbole which he used to make his point.
Christ was not actually suggesting to people that they should “hate” their parents. Ultimately he was making the point that people needed to die to themselves and leave attachments to the world behind. Read the previous verses and the following for correct context.
Prior to verse 14 Jesus is talking about a banquet put on by a rich man who invited his neighbors and freinds, all of whom turned him down…so he invited the poor, the lame and anyone would would come to share the feast. As does Christ. Who rejects him and his feast in the real world? This is profound.
Look to the verse after…it, which discuss renouncing possessions.
In order to follow Christ, we are to die to the world.
I can’t find the verse, but it goes, “The one who loves his life will lose it…” The point of that verse is that those who are connected to the world and choose worldly riches and connections over the life Christ has to offer (eternal life) will die. Those who choose Christ choose heaven and can live in eternity.
I know someone with more Biblical knowledge can better explain this, and probably use the original Greek words for “hate” in this context. I believe that “hate” here is really a synonym for “shun” or some other like word.
Anyone?
