Discipleship-How Serious?

LUKE 14:25-35

* THE COST OF BEING A DISCIPLE

Jesus had taught valuable lessons while having a meal at the house of a leader of the Pharisees. As Jesus continues  his trip toward Jerusalem, large crowds travel with him.  Why? Are they really interested in being his true followers, no matter what that may require of them?

As they travel along the way, Jesus says something to them that may shock some:  "If anyone comes to me and does not hate his father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, even his  own life, he cannot  be my disciple." (Luke 14:26)  But what does he mean in saying this?

Jesus is not saying that all who become his followers must literally hate their relatives. Rather he means that they must hate them in the sense of loving them less than they love Jesus, not being like the man in his illustration of the evening meal that turned down and important invitation because he just got married.  (Luke 14:20)  The Jew's ancestor Jacob  is said to have "hated" Leah and loved Rachel, meaning that he loved Leah less than her sister Rachel. - GENESIS 29:31.

Note that Jesus says that a disciple should hate "even his own life," or soul.  This means that a true disciple must love Jesus more than he does his own life., even being willing to lose his life, if necessary. Clearly, becoming a disciple of Christ is a serious responsibility. It is not to be undertaken casually, without careful thought. 

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