Matthew 10:37

He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.

He that loveth {G5368} father {G3962} or {G2228} mother {G3384} more than {G5228} me {G1691} is {G2076} not {G3756} worthy {G514} of me {G3450}: and {G2532} he that loveth {G5368} son {G5207} or {G2228} daughter {G2364} more than {G5228} me {G1691} is {G2076} not {G3756} worthy {G514} of me {G3450}.

Whoever loves his father or mother more than he loves me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves his son or daughter more than he loves me is not worthy of me.

Anyone who loves his father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me; anyone who loves his son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me;

He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.

In Matthew 10:37, Jesus presents a profound and challenging statement about the ultimate allegiance required of His followers. This verse is part of a larger discourse where Christ prepares His twelve disciples for the realities of their mission, including potential rejection, persecution, and the radical demands of true discipleship.

Context

This verse falls within Jesus' charge to His apostles before sending them out to preach the Kingdom of Heaven (Matthew 10:5-42). He warns them about the opposition they will face and the need for unwavering commitment. The preceding verses discuss the necessity of confessing Him before men, and the following verses emphasize the concept of taking up one's cross, underscoring the demanding nature of His call. Jesus is setting the standard for what it truly means to be His disciple in a world that would oppose His message, even within the closest familial bonds.

Key Themes

  • Supreme Allegiance to Christ: The primary message of this verse is that Jesus demands the highest place in a believer's heart and life. No human relationship, no matter how sacred or intimate (like that with parents or children), should take precedence over one's devotion to Him. This does not negate the importance of family but reorders priorities, placing Christ as the ultimate loyalty.
  • The Cost of Discipleship: Following Jesus is not always easy; it often requires difficult choices and sacrifices. This verse highlights that genuine discipleship can involve a profound re-evaluation of earthly affections and loyalties, sometimes leading to divisions within families, as Jesus also notes in Matthew 10:34-36.
  • Worthiness in Christ: To be "not worthy of me" (οὐκ ἄξιός ἐστιν - ouk axios estin) means to be unfit or unsuitable for the Kingdom of God and for a true relationship with Christ as a devoted disciple. It's not about earning salvation, but about demonstrating a heart fully committed to His lordship and the supreme value of His call.

Linguistic Insights

The Greek word translated "loveth" here is phileō (φιλέω), which denotes affection, friendship, or fondness, often distinguished from agapē (ἀγάπη), which implies a more selfless, divine love. However, the emphasis in this context is not on the *type* of love, but its *priority* and *intensity*. Jesus is challenging the disciples to ensure that their affection for family, while natural and good, does not overshadow or compete with their ultimate loyalty and devotion to Him. The phrase "more than me" establishes a clear hierarchy of love, where Christ must be preeminent in a believer's life.

Practical Application

This verse challenges believers across all generations to examine their deepest loyalties and the priorities that govern their lives. In a world that often prioritizes personal relationships, comfort, or material possessions, Jesus calls for an unwavering, supreme love for Him. This does not mean abandoning family or neglecting responsibilities towards them; rather, it means placing Christ as the ultimate foundation of one's life, from which all other relationships and actions flow. When Christ is first, He guides how we truly love our families, serve our communities, and live out our faith with integrity. It is a call to radical, uncompromised devotion, ensuring that nothing or no one comes between us and our commitment to the Lord and His Kingdom.

Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • Luke 14:26

    If any [man] come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple.

  • Matthew 22:37

    Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.

  • Philippians 3:7

    But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ.

  • Philippians 3:9

    ¶ And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:

  • 2 Corinthians 5:14

    For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead:

  • 2 Corinthians 5:15

    And [that] he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again.

  • Deuteronomy 33:9

    Who said unto his father and to his mother, I have not seen him; neither did he acknowledge his brethren, nor knew his own children: for they have observed thy word, and kept thy covenant.
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