And there went great multitudes with him: and he turned, and said unto them,
Great multitudes were going with Jesus when He turned and addressed them directly. The discourse He then gave set forth the supper described in Luke 14. It was a call to decide fully for the Lord and to keep all of God's commandments.
That decision requires loyalty to God above every earthly relationship, with a person's first duty owed to God even when family, friends, or rulers stand opposed to His commandments. The word hate in this teaching does not mean cherishing enmity toward relatives or friends, for God commands honoring of parents and love to neighbors. No tie of kinship or friendship may be used as an excuse for disobedience to God, and to follow a disobedient example set by others is to insult the Spirit of God. People belong to God as His children both by creation and by redemption, and therefore Christ's disciples must bear their cross and follow Him.
Great multitudes were going with Jesus when He turned and addressed them directly. The discourse He then gave set forth the supper described in Luke 14. It was a call to decide fully for the Lord and to keep all of God's commandments.
That decision requires loyalty to God above every earthly relationship, with a person's first duty owed to God even when family, friends, or rulers stand opposed to His commandments. The word hate in this teaching does not mean cherishing enmity toward relatives or friends, for God commands honoring of parents and love to neighbors. No tie of kinship or friendship may be used as an excuse for disobedience to God, and to follow a disobedient example set by others is to insult the Spirit of God. People belong to God as His children both by creation and by redemption, and therefore Christ's disciples must bear their cross and follow Him.