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.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Jesus isn't asking you to stop loving your family, but to reorder your affections. He's saying that if those deep, natural loves for father, mother, son, or daughter ever pull you away from Him or cause you to compromise your commitment, then your love for Him isn't supreme, and thus not truly worthy of Him. This isn't about a lack of love for family, but about the ultimate place Christ holds in your heart.
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.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Jesus is sending out his disciples to proclaim his kingdom, giving them authority to heal and cast out demons. He warns them that they will face opposition and persecution, not only from outsiders but also from within their own families, as his message will divide households. This verse highlights the radical nature of discipleship, demanding a supreme loyalty to Jesus that transcends even the most fundamental human relationships.
It sounds harsh, doesn't it? Jesus says we must love Him more than our parents or children. What does this radical statement truly mean for our hearts and lives?
Jesus is not asking us to eliminate natural affection. The Bible clearly calls us to honor our parents and love our children. Instead, Jesus is establishing the ultimate priority in our lives. When natural affections and the call of Christ come into conflict, Christ must be the one we choose.
Think of it this way: earthly loves, while precious and commanded by God, are reflections of His love. They point to Him. But when those reflections start to eclipse the source of all light, it's time for a recalibration. Jesus is the Son of God, our Redeemer, and infinitely worthy of supreme devotion. To love Him more means placing Him in the supreme seat of our affections, so that all other loves are rightly ordered and understood in relation to Him.
Following Jesus isn't always easy. In fact, Jesus Himself warns that it comes with a cost. What does it mean to be 'worthy' of Him in light of this challenge?
Being 'worthy' of Christ, as Jesus uses the term here, isn't about earning His favor. It's about being fitting or appropriate to bear His name and live as His disciple. The verses that follow Matthew 10:37 (like taking up your cross and losing your life to find it) reveal the demanding nature of this discipleship.
When our love for family clashes with Christ's call, choosing family over Christ means we aren't willing to pay the price of following Him. It exposes a fundamental unsuitability for His service. It's like a soldier refusing to march when the commander calls – they aren't fit for the army. True discipleship requires a readiness to potentially forsake even the dearest earthly ties if they stand between us and obedience to Christ.
Ask a follow-up
Understand the original words
philon · Greek Verb
Biblical love involves more than emotion; it is an active, sacrificial commitment and devotion. Here, it refers to the highest priority of allegiance, which must be reserved for Christ above all human relationships.
axios · Greek Adjective
To be worthy in a biblical sense implies possessing the character, posture, or allegiance appropriate for a relationship or calling. It denotes being fitting or aligned with the nature of the one to whom one is dedicated.
This passage uses stronger language, saying one must 'hate' father, mother, and even their own life to be a disciple, highlighting the extreme priority Jesus demands over all earthly relationships and self-preservation.
Philippians 3:7-8Paul's declaration of counting all things as loss for the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus echoes Jesus' demand for supreme love, showing that prioritizing Christ means re-evaluating everything else.
Deuteronomy 13:6-10This Old Testament passage deals with extreme loyalty, stating that even a beloved family member or close friend who entices one to worship other gods must be shown no pity, establishing a precedent for God's supremacy over familial ties.
Matthew 19:29Jesus promises a hundredfold return to those who have left 'houses or brothers or sisters or fathers or mothers or children or lands' for his sake, reinforcing that this radical prioritization of Him results in ultimate gain, not loss.
calvinMatthew 10:37-42: "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."
- He who loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; and he who loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. 38. And he who doth not take his cross and follow me, [603] is not worthy of me. 39. He who findeth his life [604] shall lose it; and he who loseth his life for my sake shall find it. [605] 40. He who receiv…
bensonMatthew 10:37: "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 10:37-38 . He that loveth father or mother more than me — He that is not ready to give up all these when they stand in competition with his duty; is not worthy of me — Nor shall have any interest in my saving benefits. And he that taketh not his cross, &c. — Every one condemned to crucifixion by the Romans was compelled to carry the cros…
Jesus isn't asking you to stop loving your family, but to reorder your affections. He's saying that if those deep, natural loves for father, mother, son, or daughter ever pull you away from Him or cause you to compromise your commitment, then your love for Him isn't supreme, and thus not truly worthy of Him. This isn't about a lack of love for family, but about the ultimate place Christ holds in your heart.
Jesus is sending out his disciples to proclaim his kingdom, giving them authority to heal and cast out demons. He warns them that they will face opposition and persecution, not only from outsiders but also from within their own families, as his message will divide households. This verse highlights the radical nature of discipleship, demanding a supreme loyalty to Jesus that transcends even the most fundamental human relationships.
Jesus is sending out his disciples to proclaim his kingdom, giving them authority to heal and cast out demons. He warns them that they will face opposition and persecution, not only from outsiders but also from within their own families, as his message will divide households. This verse highlights the radical nature of discipleship, demanding a supreme loyalty to Jesus that transcends even the most fundamental human relationships.
"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." — Jesus isn't asking you to stop loving your family, but to reorder your affections. He's saying that if those deep, natural loves for father, mother, son, or daughter ever pull you away from Him or…
Get the original Greek and Hebrew, verse-by-verse context, and related passages inside the app.
Last reviewed October 2026