Tuesday Contradictions: Matthew 12:47 – Did Jesus Tell Us to 'Hate' Our Parents?

Lance Smith examines the apparent contradiction between biblical commands to honor parents and Jesus' strong sayings about family priority. Using context, cultural idiom, and examples from Matthew, Luke, and John, he shows how phrases like “hate your father” are hyperbolic calls for ultimate allegiance to God, not literal family rejection. The episode explains the passages, defends Jesus' respect for his mother, and concludes the Bible reorders family priority rather than condemning familial love.

References to items discussed and/or used on this podcast may be found at the following:

buymeacoffee.com/lancesmith 

The Bible Difficulties and Answers Website

The Bible Difficulties and Answers Facebook Page

Email Address: [email protected] 

1. Skeptics Annotated Bible: https://www.skepticsannotatedbible.com/contra/parents.html 
2. GotQuestions.org – "What did Jesus mean when He instructed us to hate our father and mother (Luke 14:26)?" https://www.gotquestions.org/hate-father-mother.html
3. Jews for Jesus – "Did Jesus teach his disciples to hate their parents?" https://jewsforjesus.org/answers/did-jesus-teach-his-disciples-to-hate-their-parents
4. BibleInterpretation.org – "MATTHEW 12:46-50 THE TRUE FAMILY OF JESUS" by Fr. Abraham Mutholath https://bibleinterpretation.org/matthew-12_46-50/
5. Benedictine Media – "‘Who Is My Mother?’ Did Jesus Disrespect Mary?" https://media.benedictine.edu/who-is-my-mother-did-jesus-disrespect-mary
6. GotQuestions.org – "Was Jesus being rude to Mary when He referred to her as “woman” in John 2:4?" https://www.gotquestions.org/Jesus-Mary-woman.html
7. Christian Research Institute (equip.org) – "Luke 14:26: Hate or Hyperbole" https://www.equip.org/articles/luke-1426/
8. Crossway.org – "Did Jesus Really Mean That We Should Hate Our Families? (Luke 14)" by Thomas R. Schreiner https://www.crossway.org/articles/did-jesus-really-mean-that-we-should-hate-our-families-luke-14/