Wall relief of Jesus teaching. Image courtesy of http://www.HolyLandPhotos.org.
My friend Lee has asked about Luke 14:25-26. This is a very short incident reported from the ministry of Jesus. Very simply it says:
Once, when hordes of people were traveling with [Jesus], he turned and addressed them: “If any come to me and do not hate their own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters – yes, even their own life – they cannot be my disciples (Funk 353).
While this isn’t a parable, the rules for interpretation should hold: it should work on three levels, it should direct its audience toward inward reflection, and it should have a completeness to it.
The challenge here is a saying that sounds extremely harsh and, on its face, hard to reconcile with “love thy neighbor as thyself.” It is in fact meant to shock and it does that very well. Because in the crowd are both those that follow and those that seek. Jesus did not want followers; these people were looking for a new leader, one who would be the authority for them. He taught any who came to him certainly, but was also looking for disciples (students), and called many to the path. So in a large crowd it was necessary to separate the followers from the seekers. Luke 14:26 is almost a paradox: can one actually hate one’s family, even oneself? Well in rare cases maybe, but not usually. Because a rational interpretation of something so extreme is impossible the crowd is called upon to reflect on what is meant.
The religious hear:
To follow me you must reject all that you are bound to. You must break the covenant that requires you to honor and obey your parents, respect your wife, support your siblings, and value your children. Even your own life is forfeit in the process.
The seeker hears:
If you wish to be my student then you must understand: no relationship can be greater or lesser than that which you hold with All. This extends even to oneself.
And for those at the unity end of things:
No distinction is made within Love.
The result of this shock is immediate. The religious cannot break their covenant with God as that would separate them from the group identity – this is not why they followed. They were looking for someone to reinforce the Law for them, to give up their own authority to, and to protect them. They reject this man and return to their homes where they will continue to look for a leader that fits their needs. The seeker, reflecting inward and hearing in concert with his/her ground of being, resonates to the message, is compelled to hear more and so remains. As for unity individuals — they were probably just hanging out and enjoying the company before heading off on their own.
It is important to note here that Jesus is not excluding anyone from his message of love. Jesus knows he cannot be a substitute authority for those who are religiously inclined. They must be shocked, and in the process returned to their temples. It would be cruel to strip from them those forms and institutions which grant them security. There may come a day that they can listen for the voice within but until that time compassion, tolerance and acceptance insist that they be returned to the place they need to be. The “hate” context of Luke 14:26 must be considered in conjunction with the statement “if you wish to be my disciples.” This is a special condition that requires action in its most radical form; this is tough love on the path to realization. It is fully meant to shake the existential tree of all who listen, whether they can “hear” or not.
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On The Path of the Adept 