“Jesus said to them.

‘Whoever comes

To me

And does not hate

Father,

And mother,

Wife,

And children,

Brothers

And sisters,

Yes,

Even life itself,

Cannot be my disciple.’”

 

εἶπεν πρὸς αὐτούς

Εἴ τις ἔρχεται πρός με καὶ οὐ μισεῖ τὸν πατέρα αὐτοῦ καὶ τὴν μητέρα καὶ τὴν γυναῖκα καὶ τὰ τέκνα καὶ τοὺς ἀδελφοὺς καὶ τὰς ἀδελφάς, ἔτι τε καὶ τὴν ψυχὴν ἑαυτοῦ, οὐ δύναται εἶναί μου μαθητής.

 

Luke indicated that Jesus said to them (εἶπεν πρὸς αὐτούς) that whoever came to him (Εἴ τις ἔρχεται πρός με) had to hate or love less (καὶ οὐ μισεῖ), his father (τὸν πατέρα αὐτοῦ), his mother (καὶ τὴν μητέρα), his wife (καὶ τὴν γυναῖκα), his children (καὶ τὰ τέκνα), his brothers (καὶ τοὺς ἀδελφοὺς), his sisters (καὶ τὰς ἀδελφάς), and his own life itself (ἔτι τε καὶ τὴν ψυχὴν ἑαυτοῦ).  Otherwise, they were not able to be his disciples (οὐ δύναται εἶναί μου μαθητής).  This verse is similar to Matthew, chapter 10:37, indicating a Q source.  Matthew indicated that Jesus called for an unconditional love with this harsh saying.  If you loved your mother or father more than Jesus (Ὁ φιλῶν πατέρα ἢ μητέρα ὑπὲρ ἐμὲ), you were not worthy of him (οὐκ ἔστιν μου ἄξιος).  If you loved your son or daughter more than Jesus (καὶ ὁ φιλῶν υἱὸν ἢ θυγατέρα ὑπὲρ ἐμὲ), then you were not worthy of him (οὐκ ἔστιν μου ἄξιος).  There were no halfway measures.  Luke also indicated that Jesus had to come first over all original family members, father, mother, brothers, and sisters, as well new family members like a wife and children.  All had to be esteemed less than Jesus.  Otherwise, they could not be his disciples.  Do you love Jesus more than any of your own family members?