We read in both the Old and New Testaments of the Bible to honor our father and mother (Exodus 20:12, Mathew 19:19). On the other hand, (Luke 14:26) says if anyone comes to Jesus and does not hate their father and mother, that person cannot be a disciple of Jesus. To critics of the Bible, this is an obvious contradiction in the Bible. How can the Bible say to honor your parents in one verse and then teach to hate them in another?
Miseo – To Hate or Love Less
The key to understanding this scripture can be found in the translation of the word hate. The word hate that is used in (Luke 14:26) is translated from the Greek word miseo. This word can mean to hate, detest, or to love less. In what context is the word being used is a question that must be asked. When read in proper context, the verse makes a lot more sense.
(Luke 14:26) If anyone comes to me and does not hate (miseo – to love less) father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters–yes, even their own life–such a person cannot be my disciple.
The word being used here certainly does not mean to hate as we know and use the word today. Jesus was saying you must love your father and mother less than you love him. Jesus says the same thing in the book of Mathew. Anyone who loves their father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves their son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me (Mathew 10:37).The Bible says we are to love God with all our heart, soul, and mind (Mathew 22:37). No person or thing is to be loved more than him.
Jacob Loved Leah Less Than Rachel
Another example of this can be found in Genesis. It tells the story of Jacob and his two wives, Rachel and Leah. In one verse it says Jacob loved Rachel more than Leah. In some translations of the Bible, the following verse says the Lord saw that Leah was hated (Genesis 29:30-31). Again, Jacob didn’t hate Leah in the sense that he detested her, he just loved her less than Rachel. After her death, it was Leah who was buried in the family burial cave (Genesis 49:31). Would this have been done for a wife Jacob detested?
Once again we find there is no contradiction in the Bible.
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