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<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "//www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="//www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1" /><title>Matthew 10:37 Anyone who loves his father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me; anyone who loves his son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me;</title><link rel="canonical" href="https://biblehub.com/matthew/10-37.htm" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/new9.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><meta property="og:image" content="https://biblehub.com/visuals/1/40_Mat_10_37.jpg" /><meta property="og:title" content="Matthew 10:37 - Take up Your Cross" /><meta property="og:site_name" content="Bible Hub" /><meta property="og:description" content="Anyone who loves his father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me; anyone who loves his son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me;" /><script type="application/javascript" src="https://scripts.webcontentassessor.com/scripts/8a2459b64f9cac8122fc7f2eac4409c8555fac9383016db59c4c26e3d5b8b157"></script><script src='https://qd.admetricspro.com/js/biblehub/biblehub-layout-loader-revcatch.js'></script><script id='HyDgbd_1s' src='https://prebidads.revcatch.com/ads.js' type='text/javascript' async></script><script>(function(w,d,b,s,i){var cts=d.createElement(s);cts.async=true;cts.id='catchscript'; 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anyone who loves their son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. <a href="/nlt/matthew/10.htm">New Living Translation</a> “If you love your father or mother more than you love me, you are not worthy of being mine; or if you love your son or daughter more than me, you are not worthy of being mine. <a href="/esv/matthew/10.htm">English Standard Version</a> Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. <a href="/bsb/matthew/10.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a> Anyone who loves his father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me; anyone who loves his son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me; <a href="/blb/matthew/10.htm">Berean Literal Bible</a> The one loving father or mother above Me is not worthy of Me, and the one loving son or daughter above Me is not worthy of Me. <a href="/kjv/matthew/10.htm">King James Bible</a> 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. <a href="/nkjv/matthew/10.htm">New King James Version</a> He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me. <a href="/nasb_/matthew/10.htm">New American Standard Bible</a> “The one who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me; and the one who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me. <a href="/nasb/matthew/10.htm">NASB 1995</a> &#8220He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me; and he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me. <a href="/nasb77/matthew/10.htm">NASB 1977 </a> “He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me; and he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me. <a href="/lsb/matthew/10.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a> “He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me; and he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me. <a href="/amp/matthew/10.htm">Amplified Bible</a> “He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me; and he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me. <a href="/csb/matthew/10.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a> The one who loves a father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; the one who loves a son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. <a href="/hcsb/matthew/10.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a> The person who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me; the person who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me. <a href="/asv/matthew/10.htm">American Standard Version</a> 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. <a href="/cev/matthew/10.htm">Contemporary English Version</a> If you love your father or mother or even your sons and daughters more than me, you are not fit to be my disciples. <a href="/erv/matthew/10.htm">English Revised Version</a> 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. <a href="/gwt/matthew/10.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a> "The person who loves his father or mother more than me does not deserve to be my disciple. The person who loves a son or daughter more than me does not deserve to be my disciple. <a href="/gnt/matthew/10.htm">Good News Translation</a> "Those who love their father or mother more than me are not fit to be my disciples; those who love their son or daughter more than me are not fit to be my disciples. <a href="/isv/matthew/10.htm">International Standard Version</a> "The one who loves his father or mother more than me isn't worthy of me, and the one who loves a son or daughter more than me isn't worthy of me. <a href="/msb/matthew/10.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a> Anyone who loves his father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me; anyone who loves his son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me; <a href="/net/matthew/10.htm">NET Bible</a> "Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. <a href="/nheb/matthew/10.htm">New Heart English Bible</a> Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. <a href="/wbt/matthew/10.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a> 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. <a href="/wey/matthew/10.htm">Weymouth New Testament</a> Any one who loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and any one who loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me; <a href="/web/matthew/10.htm">World English Bible</a> He who loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; and he who loves son or daughter more than me isn’t worthy of me. <div class="vheading2">Literal Translations</div><a href="/lsv/matthew/10.htm">Literal Standard Version</a> He who is cherishing father or mother above Me, is not worthy of Me, and he who is cherishing son or daughter above Me, is not worthy of Me, <a href="/blb/matthew/10.htm">Berean Literal Bible</a> The one loving father or mother above Me is not worthy of Me, and the one loving son or daughter above Me is not worthy of Me. <a href="/ylt/matthew/10.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a> 'He who is loving father or mother above me, is not worthy of me, and he who is loving son or daughter above me, is not worthy of me, <a href="/slt/matthew/10.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a> He loving father or mother above me, is not worthy of me; and he loving son or daughter above me, is not worthy of me.<div class="vheading2">Catholic Translations</div><a href="/drb/matthew/10.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a> 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. <a href="/cpdv/matthew/10.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a> Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me. And whoever loves son or daughter above me is not worthy of me. <a href="/nabre/matthew/10.htm">New American Bible</a> “Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me; <a href="/nrsvce/matthew/10.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a> Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me;<div class="vheading2">Translations from Aramaic</div><a href="/lamsa/matthew/10.htm">Lamsa Bible</a> Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. <a href="/aramaic-plain-english/matthew/10.htm">Aramaic Bible in Plain English</a> Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.<div class="vheading2">NT Translations</div><a href="/anderson/matthew/10.htm">Anderson New Testament</a> He that loves father or mother more than me, is not worthy of me: and he that loves son or daughter more than me, is not worthy of me: <a href="/godbey/matthew/10.htm">Godbey New Testament</a> <FR>He that loveth father and mother more than me is not worthy of me; and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.<Fr> <a href="/haweis/matthew/10.htm">Haweis New Testament</a> 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. <a href="/mace/matthew/10.htm">Mace New Testament</a> he that loveth father or mother more than me, is unworthy of me: he that loveth son or daughter more than me, is unworthy of me. <a href="/wey/matthew/10.htm">Weymouth New Testament</a> Any one who loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and any one who loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me; <a href="/worrell/matthew/10.htm">Worrell New Testament</a> <FR>"He that loves father or mother more than Me, is not worthy of Me; and he that loves son or daughter more than Me, is not worthy of Me.<Fr> <a href="/worsley/matthew/10.htm">Worsley New Testament</a> <FR>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:<Fr> <a href="/parallel/matthew/10-37.htm">Additional Translations ...</a></div></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="audio" id="audio"></a><div class="vheadingv">Audio Bible</div><iframe width="100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/hriiyJYqzvc?start=2666" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe> <div class="vheadingv">Context</div><a href="/bsb/matthew/10.htm">Take up Your Cross</a> 36A man’s enemies will be the members of his own household.’ 37<a href="/greek/3588.htm" title="3588: Ho (Art-NMS) -- The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.">Anyone who</a> <a href="/greek/5368.htm" title="5368: philōn (V-PPA-NMS) -- From philos; to be a friend to (an individual or an object), i.e. Have affection for; specially, to kiss.">loves</a> <a href="/greek/3962.htm" title="3962: patera (N-AMS) -- Father, (Heavenly) Father, ancestor, elder, senior. Apparently a primary word; a father.">his father</a> <a href="/greek/2228.htm" title="2228: ē (Conj) -- Or, than. A primary particle of distinction between two connected terms; disjunctive, or; comparative, than.">or</a> <a href="/greek/3384.htm" title="3384: mētera (N-AFS) -- A mother. Apparently a primary word; a mother.">mother</a> <a href="/greek/5228.htm" title="5228: hyper (Prep) -- Gen: in behalf of; acc: above. ">more than</a> <a href="/greek/1473.htm" title="1473: eme (PPro-A1S) -- I, the first-person pronoun. A primary pronoun of the first person I.">Me</a> <a href="/greek/1510.htm" title="1510: estin (V-PIA-3S) -- I am, exist. The first person singular present indicative; a prolonged form of a primary and defective verb; I exist.">is</a> <a href="/greek/3756.htm" title="3756: ouk (Adv) -- No, not. Also ouk, and ouch a primary word; the absolute negative adverb; no or not.">not</a> <a href="/greek/514.htm" title="514: axios (Adj-NMS) -- Worthy, worthy of, deserving, comparable, suitable. Probably from ago; deserving, comparable or suitable.">worthy</a> <a href="/greek/1473.htm" title="1473: mou (PPro-G1S) -- I, the first-person pronoun. A primary pronoun of the first person I.">of Me;</a> <a href="/greek/2532.htm" title="2532: kai (Conj) -- And, even, also, namely. "></a> <a href="/greek/3588.htm" title="3588: ho (Art-NMS) -- The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.">anyone who</a> <a href="/greek/5368.htm" title="5368: philōn (V-PPA-NMS) -- From philos; to be a friend to (an individual or an object), i.e. Have affection for; specially, to kiss.">loves</a> <a href="/greek/5207.htm" title="5207: huion (N-AMS) -- A son, descendent. Apparently a primary word; a son, used very widely of immediate, remote or figuratively, kinship.">his son</a> <a href="/greek/2228.htm" title="2228: ē (Conj) -- Or, than. A primary particle of distinction between two connected terms; disjunctive, or; comparative, than.">or</a> <a href="/greek/2364.htm" title="2364: thygatera (N-AFS) -- Apparently a primary word; a female child, or descendant.">daughter</a> <a href="/greek/5228.htm" title="5228: hyper (Prep) -- Gen: in behalf of; acc: above. ">more than</a> <a href="/greek/1473.htm" title="1473: eme (PPro-A1S) -- I, the first-person pronoun. A primary pronoun of the first person I.">Me</a> <a href="/greek/1510.htm" title="1510: estin (V-PIA-3S) -- I am, exist. The first person singular present indicative; a prolonged form of a primary and defective verb; I exist.">is</a> <a href="/greek/3756.htm" title="3756: ouk (Adv) -- No, not. Also ouk, and ouch a primary word; the absolute negative adverb; no or not.">not</a> <a href="/greek/514.htm" title="514: axios (Adj-NMS) -- Worthy, worthy of, deserving, comparable, suitable. Probably from ago; deserving, comparable or suitable.">worthy</a> <a href="/greek/1473.htm" title="1473: mou (PPro-G1S) -- I, the first-person pronoun. A primary pronoun of the first person I.">of Me;</a> 38and anyone who does not take up his cross and follow Me is not worthy of Me.…<div class="cred"><a href="//berean.bible">Berean Standard Bible</a> · <a href="//berean.bible/downloads.htm">Download</a></div> <a name="crossref" id="crossref"></a><div class="vheading">Cross References</div><div id="crf"><a href="/luke/14-26.htm">Luke 14:26</a> “If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters—yes, even his own life—he cannot be My disciple. <a href="/matthew/16-24.htm">Matthew 16:24-25</a> Then Jesus told His disciples, “If anyone wants to come after Me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow Me. / For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. <a href="/luke/9-23.htm">Luke 9:23-24</a> Then Jesus said to all of them, “If anyone wants to come after Me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow Me. / For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will save it. <a href="/john/12-25.htm">John 12:25</a> Whoever loves his life will lose it, but whoever hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. <a href="/mark/8-34.htm">Mark 8:34-35</a> Then Jesus called the crowd to Him along with His disciples, and He told them, “If anyone wants to come after Me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow Me. / For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and for the gospel will save it. <a href="/deuteronomy/13-6.htm">Deuteronomy 13:6-8</a> If your very own brother, or your son or daughter, or the wife you embrace, or your closest friend secretly entices you, saying, “Let us go and worship other gods” (which neither you nor your fathers have known, / the gods of the peoples around you, whether near or far, whether from one end of the earth or the other), / you must not yield to him or listen to him. Show him no pity, and do not spare him or shield him. <a href="/luke/18-29.htm">Luke 18:29-30</a> “Truly I tell you,” Jesus replied, “no one who has left home or wife or brothers or parents or children for the sake of the kingdom of God / will fail to receive many times more in this age—and in the age to come, eternal life.” <a href="/philippians/3-7.htm">Philippians 3:7-8</a> But whatever was gain to me I count as loss for the sake of Christ. / More than that, I count all things as loss compared to the surpassing excellence of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ <a href="/genesis/22-2.htm">Genesis 22:2</a> “Take your son,” God said, “your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah. Offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains, which I will show you.” <a href="/john/15-18.htm">John 15:18-19</a> If the world hates you, understand that it hated Me first. / If you were of the world, it would love you as its own. Instead, the world hates you, because you are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. <a href="/1_john/2-15.htm">1 John 2:15</a> Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. <a href="/exodus/32-26.htm">Exodus 32:26-29</a> So Moses stood at the entrance to the camp and said, “Whoever is for the LORD, come to me.” And all the Levites gathered around him. / He told them, “This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: ‘Each of you men is to fasten his sword to his side, go back and forth through the camp from gate to gate, and slay his brother, his friend, and his neighbor.’” / The Levites did as Moses commanded, and that day about three thousand of the people fell dead. ... <a href="/galatians/1-10.htm">Galatians 1:10</a> Am I now seeking the approval of men, or of God? Or am I striving to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a servant of Christ. <a href="/2_corinthians/5-14.htm">2 Corinthians 5:14-15</a> For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that One died for all, therefore all died. / And He died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves, but for Him who died for them and was raised again. <a href="/micah/7-5.htm">Micah 7:5-6</a> Do not rely on a friend; do not trust in a companion. Seal the doors of your mouth from her who lies in your arms. / For a son dishonors his father, a daughter rises against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. A man’s enemies are the members of his own household.</div> <a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div>He that loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.that loveth father.<a href="/matthew/22-37.htm">Matthew 22:37</a> 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.<a href="/deuteronomy/33-9.htm">Deuteronomy 33:9</a> Who said unto his father and to his mother, I have not seen him; neither did he acknowledge his brethren, nor knew his own children: for they have observed thy word, and kept thy covenant.<a href="/luke/14-26.htm">Luke 14:26</a> 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.not.<a href="/matthew/22-8.htm">Matthew 22:8</a> Then saith he to his servants, The wedding is ready, but they which were bidden were not worthy.<a href="/luke/20-35.htm">Luke 20:35</a> But they which shall be accounted worthy to obtain that world, and the resurrection from the dead, neither marry, nor are given in marriage:<a href="/luke/21-36.htm">Luke 21:36</a> 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.<div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/matthew/10-35.htm">Daughter</a> <a href="/matthew/10-25.htm">Enough</a> <a href="/matthew/10-13.htm">Good</a> <a href="/malachi/2-11.htm">Loves</a> <a href="/micah/7-18.htm">Loving</a> <a href="/matthew/10-35.htm">Mother</a> <a href="/matthew/10-13.htm">Worthy</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/matthew/14-6.htm">Daughter</a> <a href="/matthew/10-38.htm">Enough</a> <a href="/matthew/10-38.htm">Good</a> <a href="/luke/7-5.htm">Loves</a> <a href="/luke/1-78.htm">Loving</a> <a href="/matthew/12-46.htm">Mother</a> <a href="/matthew/10-38.htm">Worthy</a><div class="vheading2">Matthew 10</div>1. <a href="/matthew/10-1.htm">Jesus sends out his apostles, enabling them with power to do miracles;</a> 5. <a href="/matthew/10-5.htm">giving them their charge, teaches them;</a> 16. <a href="/matthew/10-16.htm">comforts them against persecutions;</a> 40. <a href="/matthew/10-40.htm">and promises a blessing to those who receive them.</a> </div></div><div id="mdd"><div align="center"><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><div align="center"> <script id="3d27ed63fc4348d5b062c4527ae09445"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=51ce25d5-1a8c-424a-8695-4bd48c750f35&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script> <script id="b817b7107f1d4a7997da1b3c33457e03"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=cb0edd8b-b416-47eb-8c6d-3cc96561f7e8&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script>  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-2'> </div>  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-0' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div>  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-3'> </div>  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-1' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div>  <div align="center" id='div-gpt-ad-1531425649696-0'> </div> <ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:inline-block;width:200px;height:200px" data-ad-client="ca-pub-3753401421161123" data-ad-slot="3592799687"></ins> <script> (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); </script> </div> </td></tr></table></div></div></div><div id="combox"><div class="padcom"><a name="study" id="study"></a><div class="vheading"><table width="100%"><tr><td width="99%" valign="top"><a href="/study/matthew/10.htm">Study Bible</a></td><td width="1%" valign="top"><a href="/study/matthew/" title="Book Summary and Study">Book ◦</a> <a href="/study/chapters/matthew/10.htm" title="Chapter summary and Study">Chapter </a></tr></table></div>Anyone who loves his father or mother more than Me This phrase emphasizes the priority of allegiance to Jesus over familial relationships. In the cultural context of first-century Judea, family ties were paramount, and loyalty to one's family was a deeply ingrained value. Jesus' statement challenges this norm, asserting that devotion to Him must surpass even the strongest earthly bonds. This echoes the first commandment to have no other gods before the Lord (<a href="/exodus/20-3.htm">Exodus 20:3</a>), highlighting the call to prioritize spiritual commitments over all else. The demand for such loyalty is consistent with the radical nature of discipleship that Jesus preached.is not worthy of Me; The concept of worthiness here is tied to the idea of being a true disciple. Worthiness is not about earning salvation but about the willingness to fully commit to Jesus' teachings and mission. This phrase suggests that true discipleship requires a reordering of priorities, where Jesus is the central focus. The call to be "worthy" is a call to live in a manner that reflects the values and mission of Christ, as seen in passages like <a href="/matthew/16-24.htm">Matthew 16:24</a>, where Jesus speaks of taking up one's cross to follow Him.anyone who loves his son or daughter more than Me This phrase extends the call for allegiance beyond the immediate parental relationship to include one's children. In ancient Jewish culture, children were seen as a blessing and a continuation of one's lineage and legacy. The love for one's children is natural and profound, yet Jesus demands that even this love must not surpass the love and commitment to Him. This reflects the broader biblical theme of God requiring the first place in the hearts of His followers, as seen in <a href="/deuteronomy/6-5.htm">Deuteronomy 6:5</a>, which commands love for God with all one's heart, soul, and strength.is not worthy of Me; Reiterating the earlier statement, this phrase underscores the seriousness of the call to discipleship. The repetition emphasizes the non-negotiable nature of this requirement. The worthiness here is about alignment with Jesus' mission and values, which often requires difficult choices and sacrifices. This echoes the teachings found in <a href="/luke/14-26.htm">Luke 14:26-27</a>, where Jesus speaks of the cost of discipleship, including the willingness to forsake all for His sake. The call to be "worthy" is a call to a life of radical commitment and transformation in Christ.<div class="vheading2">Persons / Places / Events</div>1. <a href="/topical/j/jesus_christ.htm">Jesus Christ</a> The speaker of this verse, Jesus is addressing His disciples, emphasizing the cost of discipleship and the priority of allegiance to Him above all earthly relationships. 2. <a href="/topical/d/disciples.htm">Disciples</a> The immediate audience of Jesus' teaching, representing all believers who are called to follow Christ with complete devotion. 3. <a href="/topical/f/family_relationships.htm">Family Relationships</a> The verse specifically mentions "father," "mother," "son," and "daughter," highlighting the most intimate and significant human relationships. 4. <a href="/topical/t/the_call_to_discipleship.htm">The Call to Discipleship</a> This event is part of Jesus' broader teaching on the demands and sacrifices required to truly follow Him. 5. <a href="/topical/f/first_century_judea.htm">First Century Judea</a> The cultural and historical context in which Jesus spoke, where family ties were of utmost importance, making this teaching particularly challenging.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><a href="/topical/p/priority_of_christ.htm">Priority of Christ</a> Jesus demands that our love for Him surpasses even the deepest human affections. This is not a call to neglect family but to ensure that our ultimate allegiance is to Christ. <a href="/topical/c/cost_of_discipleship.htm">Cost of Discipleship</a> Following Jesus may require difficult choices and sacrifices, including the reordering of our closest relationships. <a href="/topical/t/true_worthiness.htm">True Worthiness</a> Worthiness in the kingdom of God is measured by our willingness to place Christ above all else, reflecting our understanding of His supreme value. <a href="/topical/r/radical_love.htm">Radical Love</a> Our love for Christ should be so profound that all other loves pale in comparison, demonstrating the transformative power of the Gospel in our lives. <a href="/topical/e/eternal_perspective.htm">Eternal Perspective</a> By prioritizing Christ, we align our lives with eternal values, recognizing that earthly relationships, while important, are temporary.<div class="vheading2">Lists and Questions</div><a href="/top10/lessons_from_matthew_10.htm">Top 10 Lessons from Matthew 10</a> <a href="/q/what_is_the_pro-palestinian_movement.htm">Who knows the Son except the Father?</a> <a href="/q/is_there_a_mother_god_deity.htm">Is there a female deity called Mother God?</a> <a href="/q/what_defines_the_athanasian_creed.htm">What defines the Athanasian Creed?</a> <a href="/q/why_does_jesus_say_to_'hate'_family.htm">Luke 14:26: Why does Jesus command followers to “hate” their family, contradicting the biblical admonition to honor parents (Exodus 20:12)? </a><a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/ellicott/matthew/10.htm">Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers</a></div>(37) He that loveth father or mother more than me.--The words are important, partly in themselves, partly as explaining the stronger phrase of <a href="/context/luke/14-26.htm" title="If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brothers, and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple.">Luke 14:26-27</a>, which speaks of a man "hating father or mother" as a condition of discipleship. Where two affections come into collision, the weaker must give way; and though the man may not and ought not to cease to love, yet he must act as if he hated--disobey, and, it may be, desert--those to whom he is bound by natural ties, that he may obey the higher supernatural calling.<div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/matthew/10.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div>Verses 37, 38. - Parallel passage: <a href="/luke/14-26.htm">Luke 14:26, 27</a>, where the saying is spoken to the multitudes - presumably its original occasion. Ver 37: A man must place me before his nearest tics. Ver. 38: Yea, must receive his cross (however it is brought to him), and with it follow after me. Observe the shadow of the cross upon our Lord's mind. Verse 37. - He that loveth. Natural and spontaneous love (ὁ φιλῶν), father... mother... son... daughter. No mention of wife, brothers, sisters, as in the parallel passage in Luke, perhaps because not mentioned in our vers. 35, 36. Is not worthy of me. And of all that I can be to him. Observe Christ's consciousness of his own worth. And he that loveth son, etc. A separate clause, because of the difference between the love of child to parent and that of parent to child. The latter is the stronger. The clause is omitted in B*, D, and two or three lesser authorities, but probably through homoioteleuton. <a href="/commentaries/matthew/10-37.htm">Parallel Commentaries ...</a> <a name="lexicon" id="lexicon"></a><div class="vheading">Greek</div>Anyone who Ὁ (Ho) Article - Nominative Masculine Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_3588.htm">Strong's 3588: </a> The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the. loves φιλῶν (philōn) Verb - Present Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_5368.htm">Strong's 5368: </a> From philos; to be a friend to (an individual or an object), i.e. Have affection for; specially, to kiss. [his] father πατέρα (patera) Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_3962.htm">Strong's 3962: </a> Father, (Heavenly) Father, ancestor, elder, senior. Apparently a primary word; a 'father'. or ἢ (ē) Conjunction <a href="/greek/strongs_2228.htm">Strong's 2228: </a> Or, than. A primary particle of distinction between two connected terms; disjunctive, or; comparative, than. mother μητέρα (mētera) Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_3384.htm">Strong's 3384: </a> A mother. Apparently a primary word; a 'mother'. more than ὑπὲρ (hyper) Preposition <a href="/greek/strongs_5228.htm">Strong's 5228: </a> Gen: in behalf of; acc: above. Me ἐμὲ (eme) Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative 1st Person Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_1473.htm">Strong's 1473: </a> I, the first-person pronoun. A primary pronoun of the first person I. is ἔστιν (estin) Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_1510.htm">Strong's 1510: </a> I am, exist. The first person singular present indicative; a prolonged form of a primary and defective verb; I exist. not οὐκ (ouk) Adverb <a href="/greek/strongs_3756.htm">Strong's 3756: </a> No, not. Also ouk, and ouch a primary word; the absolute negative adverb; no or not. worthy ἄξιος (axios) Adjective - Nominative Masculine Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_514.htm">Strong's 514: </a> Worthy, worthy of, deserving, comparable, suitable. Probably from ago; deserving, comparable or suitable. of Me; μου (mou) Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 1st Person Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_1473.htm">Strong's 1473: </a> I, the first-person pronoun. A primary pronoun of the first person I. anyone who ὁ (ho) Article - Nominative Masculine Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_3588.htm">Strong's 3588: </a> The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the. loves φιλῶν (philōn) Verb - Present Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_5368.htm">Strong's 5368: </a> From philos; to be a friend to (an individual or an object), i.e. Have affection for; specially, to kiss. [his] son υἱὸν (huion) Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_5207.htm">Strong's 5207: </a> A son, descendent. Apparently a primary word; a 'son', used very widely of immediate, remote or figuratively, kinship. or ἢ (ē) Conjunction <a href="/greek/strongs_2228.htm">Strong's 2228: </a> Or, than. A primary particle of distinction between two connected terms; disjunctive, or; comparative, than. daughter θυγατέρα (thygatera) Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_2364.htm">Strong's 2364: </a> Apparently a primary word; a female child, or descendant. more than ὑπὲρ (hyper) Preposition <a href="/greek/strongs_5228.htm">Strong's 5228: </a> Gen: in behalf of; acc: above. Me ἐμὲ (eme) Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative 1st Person Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_1473.htm">Strong's 1473: </a> I, the first-person pronoun. A primary pronoun of the first person I. is ἔστιν (estin) Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_1510.htm">Strong's 1510: </a> I am, exist. The first person singular present indicative; a prolonged form of a primary and defective verb; I exist. not οὐκ (ouk) Adverb <a href="/greek/strongs_3756.htm">Strong's 3756: </a> No, not. Also ouk, and ouch a primary word; the absolute negative adverb; no or not. worthy ἄξιος (axios) Adjective - Nominative Masculine Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_514.htm">Strong's 514: </a> Worthy, worthy of, deserving, comparable, suitable. Probably from ago; deserving, comparable or suitable. of Me; μου (mou) Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 1st Person Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_1473.htm">Strong's 1473: </a> I, the first-person pronoun. A primary pronoun of the first person I. <div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/matthew/10-37.htm">Matthew 10:37 NIV</a> <a href="/nlt/matthew/10-37.htm">Matthew 10:37 NLT</a> <a href="/esv/matthew/10-37.htm">Matthew 10:37 ESV</a> <a href="/nasb/matthew/10-37.htm">Matthew 10:37 NASB</a> <a href="/kjv/matthew/10-37.htm">Matthew 10:37 KJV</a> <a href="//bibleapps.com/matthew/10-37.htm">Matthew 10:37 BibleApps.com</a> <a href="//bibliaparalela.com/matthew/10-37.htm">Matthew 10:37 Biblia Paralela</a> <a href="//holybible.com.cn/matthew/10-37.htm">Matthew 10:37 Chinese Bible</a> <a href="//saintebible.com/matthew/10-37.htm">Matthew 10:37 French Bible</a> <a href="/catholic/matthew/10-37.htm">Matthew 10:37 Catholic Bible</a> <a href="/matthew/10-37.htm">NT Gospels: Matthew 10:37 He who loves father or mother more (Matt. Mat Mt) </a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/matthew/10-36.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Matthew 10:36"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Matthew 10:36" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/matthew/10-38.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Matthew 10:38"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Matthew 10:38" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="bot"><iframe width="100%" height="1500" scrolling="no" src="/botmenubhnew2.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></td></tr></table></div></body></html>