Matthew 10:37 - Love For God And Family.
Matthew 10:37: Love For God And Family.
Matthew 10:37 (AMP) He who loves [and takes more pleasure in]
father or mother more than [in] Me is not worthy of Me; and he who
loves [and takes more pleasure in] son or daughter more than [in] Me
is not worthy of Me;
DEVOTIONAL PEARL
Christian commitment may separate friends and loved ones. In
saying this, Jesus was not encouraging disobedience to parents or
conflict at home. Rather, he was showing that his presence demands a
decision. Because some will follow Christ and some won't, conflict will
inevitably arise. As we take our cross and follow him, our different
values, morals, goals, and purposes will set us apart from others. Don't
neglect your family, but remember that your commitment to God is even
more important than they are. God should be your first priority.
[Life Application SB]
Jesus sanctioned the binding claims of the fifth commandment and
rebuked any attempt to escape the obligations of children toward their
parents (see on Matt. 5:17-19; Mark 9-13). Nevertheless, love for one's
parents must never stand in the way of obedience to God in every
particular, should the two be in conflict. Love to God and service for Him
are to be the supreme rule of life, "the first and great
commandment" (see on Matt. 22:36, 37); but "the second" table of the
Decalogue, which contains the fifth commandment, is "like" the first in
nature and importance (see on ch. 22:39). [SDA Commentary]
THE FOLLOWING IS FOR THOSE WHO DESIRE DEEPER STUDY:
CONTENT; What's in the verse; Translations; Paraphrase; Word
Study:
Matthew 10:37 (KJV) 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.
Matthew 10:37 (AMP) He who loves [and takes more pleasure in]
father or mother more than [in] Me is not worthy of Me; and he who
loves [and takes more pleasure in] son or daughter more than [in] Me
is not worthy of Me;
Not worthy of me. That is, not worthy to be called a Christian.
No human obligation is a valid excuse for not taking up the cross
of loyalty, obedience, and service (v. 38) to Christ. [SDA
Commentary]
CONTEXT; What's around the verse; Overview; Topic:
Overview
Jesus commissioned the Twelve (10:1-4). He instructed them on an
immediate preaching mission (vv. 5-16), and spoke of future challenges
(vv. 17-31). Jesus explained what He expects of disciples (vv. 32-39)
and the disciple's reward (vv. 40-42). A demoralized John was
encouraged (11:1-6) and praised (vv. 7-19) by Jesus, who damned the cities
that refused to repent despite His miracles (vv. 20-24). Yet the
weary who come to Jesus will find rest (vv. 25-30). [The 365-Day
Devotional Commentary]
Chapter Topics
1 Christ sendeth out his twelve apostles, enabling them with
power to do miracles, 5 giveth them their charge, teacheth them, 16
comforteth them against persecutions: 40 and promiseth a blessing to those
that receive them. [SDA Commentary]
Chapter Summary
Jesus sends His twelve disciples out to teach and preach. He
equips them for this ministry with power over demons and diseases
(10:1-5). Their powers, however, were not to be used for selfish purposes.
Like Christ, they were to travel in poverty, dependent on the
willingness of those to whom they ministered to meet their basic needs for
food and lodging (vv. 6-15). Jesus warns them to expect hostility as
well as welcome--something believers throughout the ages have known.
Their goal, as ours, is not to be successful or popular, but to live
humbly as Jesus did, taking His trust in the Father as our example, and
refusing to fear man (vv. 16-31). The message the disciples carry is the
most critical in the world. It's not a message intended to bring
earthly peace, for it will stir up opposition. Yet its acceptance or
rejection determines each person's eternal destiny (vv. 32-42). [Victor
Bible Reader's Companion]
Matt. 10:32-42. What are the marks of Jesus' disciples, and
their rewards? We can list the following. A disciple of Jesus
acknowledges Him before men (v. 32). A disciple of Jesus places loyalty to
Christ above even the bonds of family (vv. 34-35). A disciple of Jesus
takes up his cross and follows Jesus, a phrase which means subjecting
one's will to God even as Jesus chose to subject Himself to the cross
(v. 38). A disciple of Jesus surrenders all for the sake of his LORD
(v. 37). (See Matt. 16 for "taking up the cross" and "losing
oneself.")
So far it seems that the disciple's life is all "give up" and no
"gain." But there are rewards! In the world of the New Testament a
person's representative was treated as that person himself. As Jesus'
disciples minister, some will welcome them as Christ's emissaries. Those
who do so will gain rewards in the world to come--and the follower of
Jesus will have the joy of knowing that it was through him or her that
others were thus blessed. The Apostle Paul put it this way in his
Letter to the Thessalonians: "For what is our hope, our joy, or the
crown in which we will glory in the presence of our LORD Jesus when He
comes? Is it not you? Indeed, you are our glory and joy" (1 Thes.
2:19).
You and I, with Paul, have the same joy in discipleship that
Jesus had in fulfilling His mission. Jesus had the joy of knowing that
because of His faithfulness, many would be saved. As others respond to
our witness to Christ, we who share Christ's sufferings in
discipleship will also experience this joy. [The 365-Day Devotional
Commentary]
Section Headings
The Meaning of Discipleship
Jesus prepares the disciples for persecution (10:17-42)
Jesus, the cause of dissension (10:34-36)
Tell People About Your Faith
Not Peace, but a Sword (10:34-39)
CROSS REFERENCES; What's in verses elsewhere.
Matthew 22:37 (KJV) 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.
Luke 14:26 (KJV) 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.
Luke 21:36 (KJV) Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye
may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come
to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.
2 Cor. 5:14-15 (KJV) For the love of Christ constraineth us;
because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead:
[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.
Philip. 3:7-9 (KJV) But what things were gain to me, those I
counted loss for Christ. [8] Yea doubtless, and I count all things but
loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for
whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but
dung, that I may win Christ, [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:
COMMENTARY / APPLICATION: Moving From The Head To The Heart.
What is God teaching here? What does it teach about Jesus?
How can it improve my relationship with Jesus.
The lives of the faithful will be characterized by conflict,
even within families, so that their ultimate devotion must be to
Christ and his way of life which may lead to martyrdom (take up the
cross). [Cambridge Annotated SB]
Christian commitment may separate friends and loved ones. In
saying this, Jesus was not encouraging disobedience to parents or
conflict at home. Rather, he was showing that his presence demands a
decision. Because some will follow Christ and some won't, conflict will
inevitably arise. As we take our cross and follow him, our different
values, morals, goals, and purposes will set us apart from others. Don't
neglect your family, but remember that your commitment to God is even
more important than they are. God should be your first priority.
[Life Application SB]
Jesus sanctioned the binding claims of the fifth commandment and
rebuked any attempt to escape the obligations of children toward their
parents (see on Matt. 5:17-19; Mark 9-13). Nevertheless, love for one's
parents must never stand in the way of obedience to God in every
particular, should the two be in conflict. Love to God and service for Him
are to be the supreme rule of life, "the first and great
commandment" (see on Matt. 22:36, 37); but "the second" table of the
Decalogue, which contains the fifth commandment, is "like" the first in
nature and importance (see on ch. 22:39). [SDA Commentary]
Jesus' message will not be received by everyone, for the gospel
runs at cross purposes with the values and vision of the world. Thus,
in some cases it will cause conflict. Its call reverses worldly
priorities so that God takes first place even before family relationships.
Family members who do not accept Christ's invitation to the cross will
fight against those who do. Jesus did not intend to cause conflict,
but the natural reaction of the unbeliever is to oppose all who live
out Christ's message. [Disciple SB]
The Saviour bade His disciples not to hope that the world's
enmity to the gospel would be overcome, and that after a time its
opposition would cease. He said, "I came not to send peace, but a sword."
This creating of strife is not the effect of the gospel, but the
result of opposition to it. Of all persecution the hardest to bear is
variance in the home, the estrangement of dearest earthly friends. But
Jesus declares, "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. And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after Me,
is not worthy of Me." {DA 357.3}
God gave all for man, and He asks him to place His service above
every earthly and selfish consideration. He cannot accept a divided
heart. The heart that is absorbed in earthly affections cannot be given
up to God. The lesson is for all time. We are to follow the Lamb
of God whithersoever He goeth. His guidance is to be chosen, His
companionship valued above the companionship of earthly friends. Christ says,
"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." Matt. 10:37. {COL 223}
True Christian character is marked by a singleness of purpose,
an indomitable determination, which refuses to yield to worldly
influences, which will aim at nothing short of the Bible standard..... All who
would be soldiers of the cross of Christ, must gird on the armor and
prepare for conflict. They should not be intimidated by threats, or
terrified by dangers. They must be cautious in peril, yet firm and brave
in facing the foe and doing battle for God. The consecration of
Christ's follower must be complete. Father, mother, wife, children,
houses, lands, everything, must be held secondary to the work and cause
of God. He must be willing to bear patiently, cheerfully, joyfully,
whatever in God's providence he may be called to suffer. His final reward
will be to share with Christ the throne of immortal glory. . . . {2BC
1003}
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