Does this sound harsh? What does it mean to love father or mother, son or daughter more than to love Jesus? It could also have said, husband or wife, or friend!
The answer isn't in the loving, but in not putting Jesus first. When we put anything or anyone before God, we are breaking the first commandment.
Last Sunday, we looked at how peer pressure can lead us into sin. This can also be true of family members and friends.
If you had a relative who had committed a crime, would you lie for him or her? Would you steal for a friend or relative? Would you stop practicing your faith if your spouse objected to it?
These are the types of questions that come to mind when I hear this passage. It has nothing to do with loving family or friends, or even loving our enemy; it has to do with going against God's laws in favor of the friend or relative no matter how close that friend or relative might be.
In the early days of Christianity, this was a common issue as one member of the family might be converted to Christianity while other members were not. This can still be an issue today when marriages occur between people of different faiths, or when one has no faith at all.
The non-practicing individual may pressure the practicing one to stop, or even plan activities that prevent the spouse from practicing his or her faith. This can also bring pressure that will affect their children.
When we put God first, everything else falls into place. No matter what sacrifices we might need to make to follow Jesus, he will be there to direct us to the best path for our lives.
