14:26 Does Jesus mean that Christians have to literally hate their parents, wives, and other family members if they want to follow Him?
14:26 Does Jesus mean that Christians have to literally hate their parents, wives, and other family members if they want to follow Him?
No! Jesus uses an idiom of preference here to prove His point. He does not mean that we have to literally hate our parents, wives, and other family members if we want to follow Him, but that we are to love them less than we love Jesus (cp Mt 10:37).
14:27 See comments on
Mt 10:37-38.