"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." Mat.10:37
There are some things that Jesus said that seem on the surface to be hard to grasp. Like this verse. Here in the Bible Belt family is everything. People will miss church because of family. People will choose family over friends or anyone else. Let a family member get disciplined by pastor and the whole family is up in arms. The love and devotion people show towards family members is almost idolatry.
Jesus told us that He is to be the focus of the first and the best of our devotion. Christ died for us on the cross. Your mom or dad or spouse or kids did not do that. Birthing you into the world means that your mother did her job. She gets no more reward and is due nothing more for her act of obedience to God's command. Exalting your mother to god-like status is more Catholic than Christian.
Sometimes in life the explanation of scripture becomes clear through the experiences of life. I never lived in the Bible Belt before and therefore I was never exposed to the love and devotion that people show towards their family members. It occurs to me that people who dote on their family on Earth think that Heaven will be a great family reunion. I am sorry but that is not how the Bible spells out what heaven is like.
"And I fell at his feet to worship him. But he said to me, see that you do not do that! I am your fellow servant, and of your brethren who have the testimony of Jesus. ..." Rev.19:10
In Heaven and throughout eternity we will be known as those who are fellow servants who have been saved by Jesus Christ. Not one time did John tell of meeting an old friend or family member in his vision.
God bless the reading of His word. Amen!
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