Quotation of the Week

“The one who loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; and the one who loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.”

In Matthew’s context, it is clear that Jesus is warning about the division that can come in a home when one person becomes a disciple of Jesus and others do not. In many cases, new believers can feel rejected, or even be expelled from their families. In such cases, Jesus says, one must decide which relationship to keep. In Luke 14 and Matthew 10, Jesus is saying that if you have to choose, choose him. Ideally, we don’t have to choose – our non-believing family members tolerate our faith, or come to also trust in Jesus. But if they force us to make a choice – choose Jesus, every time.

Both passages remind us that the same is true of life itself. In most cases, the non-believing world allows us to keep living if we become Christians. But if it forces a choice upon us of living without Jesus or dying with Jesus – choose Jesus, every time. Easy to say, not so easy to do.

From Gary Manning (our favorite Greek prof!)

3 comments

  1. Perhaps choosing is not the point. Maybe what Jesus is really saying is not to choose. Or, to choose both. Maybe he’s saying to let them choose for you. Example: Jesus said almost nothing when he was accused. He forced his crucifiers to make their own decision. They could not say to Jesus, “We gave you a choice, and you chose it.” They have to say, “We did it.”

    The same in this passage, when the family stood before Adonai they would be fully responsible. If the person expelled had done nothing but tried to love them. Just ‘kept their mouth shut’ and never really made a choice.

    After all, I would argue Jesus came to earth to unite us, not divide us (yes, I know the scripture you’ll use). Sometimes, of course, that division happens. We should aid in it though.

    Anyway, life isn’t black and white. Just my thoughts. Thanks for sharing, and for listening.

  3. Hi Erika,

    Thanks for picking my quote (back in May – and I just noticed it this week!). I am enjoying the rest of your weekly quotes even more.

    Guy Higashi and I were just talking about you and Doug a few days ago. Tell Doug to come see Guy and me at our college if he gets the chance while he is in Hawaii.

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