The Strangest Things - Hate your Family

 The Strangest Things - Hate your Family

Of all the key Bible verses you’ve heard since you were a child, there’s one that probably irks young people the most. Ephesians 6:1 . Does anyone know what that particular verse says? 

Anyone want to recite it for us? If not, I have it right here: "Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.” (NIV)

  Boy, talk about annoying! It’s as if a group of parents with unruly kids went to Paul when he was writing this letter and said, “You know what would be great? Could you toss something in to remind our kids that God wants them to honor us?” That’s right. But in all fairness, Paul was just reiterating number five on the Ten Commandments which is in Exodus 20:12 ““Honor your father and mother. Then you will live a long, full life in the land the Lord your God is giving you.” God wrote it in stone, we are to honor our mother and father. Paul even elaborates that those who do honor their parents can look forward to long life. Makes sense in a way. When we learn to look both ways, keep our hands off a hot stove, and wash our hands, our odds of living longer go up significantly! 

  But if honoring our parents is so important to God, why did Jesus say we should hate them? Wait What? You didn’t know that’s in the Bible? It is!

Jesus said we need to hate our families. But as you can probably guess, Jesus wasn’t advocating blind, irrational hate. He was sending a message about how much more we should love God than anything else. 

  Jesus wants us to love our family. He demonstrated that in the way He cared for His own mother. But Jesus wants us to be so devoted to Him, that our devotion to other things pales in comparison. Let’s look at these verses where Jesus says one of the strangest things.    READ THE WORD: Luke 9:57–62

“As they were walking along, someone said to Jesus, “I will follow you wherever you go.” But Jesus replied, “Foxes have dens to live in, and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place even to lay his head.” He said to another person, “Come, follow me.” The man agreed, but he said, “Lord, first let me return home and bury my father.” But Jesus told him, “Let the spiritually dead bury their own dead! Your duty is to go and preach about the Kingdom of God.” Another said, “Yes, Lord, I will follow you, but first let me say good-bye to my family.” But Jesus told him, “Anyone who puts a hand to the plow and then looks back is not fit for the Kingdom of God.””

What do you think this means when the man says hey I ned to go bury my father ? What this guy could have been been waiting to his father to die to due the burial duties or could be waiting on inheritance wanting to do it on his time

Then the other guy stated: Hey I need to go say good bye to my family, Jesus has never said to forsake responsibilities to family, but he knew these people real motives. (do you think the creator of the earth knows what our motives are?)

What were these guys possibly doing? Making Excuses and saying hey I will follow when I feel like it but I need to go get this right.

What does Jesus say to the people who say they want to follow but then say hey they have to take care of this first? Luke 9:62 “But Jesus told him, “Anyone who puts a hand to the plow and then looks back is not fit for the Kingdom of God.””

What does that Mean to you? It means that when you are a follower of Jesus or say that you are going to follow; he wants total dedication he does not want half-hearted commitment. He wants us to realize that you have to be willing to abandon everything else without looking back. Jesus wants all our focus no distractions.

We see people who like us say yes, Jesus I want to follow you and I am going to but hold up. I need to go watch Tik Tok or social media instead of read my bible, I need to go hang out with my friends instead of go to church, I need to sleep instead of getting up early and spending a little time with God. They are just minor excuses and distractions that get in the way of our true following of walking with God. I will tell you its a battle, did Jesus say following him would be easy? No he said the the gift though is eternal life something far greater that you can ever imagine.

  READ THE WORD: Luke 14:25–27

“A large crowd was following Jesus. He turned around and said to them, “If you want to be my disciple, you must, by comparison, hate everyone else—your father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters—yes, even your own life. Otherwise, you cannot be my disciple. And if you do not carry your own cross and follow me, you cannot be my disciple.”

Lets look at this again who is Jesus teaching to? A large Crowd right.

Why do you think he says what he does?

In Large crowds are all the people who were listing wanting to follow Jesus with all there heart? While there were some that did, No there were also people who wanted to follow Jesus half-heartedly and still do there own thing but be “follower of Jesus”

Many of the people following Jesus didn’t take Him very seriously. They were there to see miracles. They liked to watch Him shut down the snooty religious leaders. To them, this was entertaining. Something fun. To Jesus, following him was serious business.

Why did Jesus use the word Hate here (Is not one of the greatest commandments love your neighbor as yourself) Why would he say hate? (What does did he mean) ( He means that we should have lesser love for your father, mother, children, brothers sisters and even your own life) this means that Jesus wanted full dedication with your whole life to him and that means giving up things for him sometimes and have an unwavering Devotion for him. (What does that mean? to be such a loving follower that you are willing to give up anything for Jesus just as he did for us)

then in Luke 14:27 “And if you do not carry your own cross and follow me, you cannot be my disciple.”

It goes on to say Bear your own cross, what does that mean? Back then the romans forced people to carry there cross (Jesus did right) on which they would die. Jesus made this statement to get the crowd to think through there enthusiasm for him. He encouraged people who were superficial or half heart to go deeper, or turn back. Jesus says that totally submitting to him, perhaps sometimes to the point of death. How many of us would truly in the face of death would still be spreading Gods word. That is what he wants.

Jesus is looking for true disciples. He’s looking for people who will put Him first. He’s looking for young men and women who will choose serving Him over everything else in this world. He’s looking for people who will walk in His footsteps even if their best friends won’t. He’s looking for people to take him seriously, even if their own families do not. 

 Following Jesus means we will love others. We will love them no matter who they are or what differences we may have. We will love them through acts of service and kindness and by sharing the good news of Jesus. That includes those friends and loved ones who do not believe as we do. 

Following Jesus also means we will not let the negativity of others take us from our path of following him. If it comes to a choice between pleasing God or pleasing our friends, we will choose God. If it comes to a choice between pleasing God or pleasing family - parents, spouses, siblings, or children - we will choose God. 

  Many people heard this teaching of Jesus and turned away. It’s a hard thing to understand. How can I love God and hate my family? The short answer is we cannot. We must love everyone - family, friends, neighbors, co-workers, even our enemies. But our devotion to God must be even greater. Our love for Him must be so great, that our love for others pales in comparison. Above all, we must choose to follow Jesus even when no one else will. 

  TAG: 

  God wants us to honor our parents. He wants us to love our families. But He wants us to love Him more. Are you willing to take God’s path, even if it means rejecting the advice of your  family? Are you willing to choose God even if it means awkwardness at the dinner table? 

Following Jesus is not easy, but when we choose to put Him first, our lives will be a blessing to everyone (Jesus love the love we are taught about will shine through you) - even to the loved family, and friends who do not understand or believe. 

 CLOSING PRAYER: 

Dear God,

  Thank you for the families you’ve given us, especially those who have encouraged our faith. Teach us to follow you and do your will, choosing you above all others. 

  In Jesus' name, Amen

TRUE OR FALSE QUESTION #1:

Jesus hated His parents.

FALSE

TRUE OR FALSE QUESTION #2:

Jesus telling us to hate our families is in complete contradiction with the fifth

commandment.

FALSE

TRUE OR FALSE QUESTION #3:

Jesus wants us to love everyone.

TRUE

TRUE OR FALSE QUESTION #4:

Jesus wants us to love Him less than our families.

FALSE

TRUE OR FALSE QUESTION #5:

Putting Jesus first means sometimes we go against our families when they do not

share our beliefs.

TRUE

TRUE OR FALSE QUESTION #6:

It’s not that hard or demanding to follow Jesus.

FALSE

  SHARE QUESTION #1: How would you rate your family, on a scale of one to ten, as far as supporting your faith? 

  SHARE QUESTION #2: How do you think God would say you are doing when it comes to putting Him first? 

  SHARE QUESTION #3: What are some simple ways we can put God first this week? 

CROWDSOURCING. Group Game or Lesson Activity: LET’S MAKE A DEAL

  Set up a “Let’s Make a Deal” style game. Pick a prize - a good one or a joke one - and place it in a sealed box. Choose one kid to play for the prize. Offer them 2-3 cool gifts like gift cards in exchange for what’s in the box. Regardless of whether they take the box or make the deal, reveal what the prize was. Ask the other kids how they might have played the game. Then ask them to honesty evaluate how important their relationship with God is for them. 

PEER-TO-PEER. Turning Students into Disciples: PARENT TALK

  Have your students sit down in small groups and honestly, rate their relationships with their parents on a scale of 1-10. Then have them rate their relationship with God on a scale of 1-10. Then ask them, on a scale of 1-10, how their parents are doing at encouraging their relationship with God. Ask them what they could do better not only to grow closer to God but to encourage their parents to do the same.