Living His WordSample

Jesus often used hyperbole in his teaching. “Hyperbole” may be defined as a figure of speech that makes use of exaggeration in order to strongly emphasize a point one is trying to make. Hyperbolic statements are not usually meant to be taken literally. Thus, they need to be interpreted in light of the point that is trying to be made.

In our verses for today, the point Jesus is trying to make is that discipleship comes first. Jesus is not literally saying that one must hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, or even one’s own life in order to be a good disciple. Rather, he’s saying that nothing should come before being his disciple. If a relative could somehow come between a person and discipleship, then discipleship should come first, not that one should literally hate the person. After all, it was Jesus himself who said we should even love our enemies (Matthew 5:44).

Likewise, the point Jesus makes about carrying one’s cross is also hyperbolic. He’s not saying that every single disciple must literally carry the instrument of their own death, as Jesus himself would do, but that nothing should come before discipleship. If it comes down to discipleship or not carrying one’s cross, then, again, discipleship should come first. In that case, one should willingly go to their death, even carrying the instrument of death in the process.

Being a disciple of Jesus is the most important thing one can do in life. It is not surprising, then, that Jesus would use hyperbole in order to underscore the point. It forces us to question our own priorities. Is there anything before discipleship in our own lives?