Many people heard Christ’s call and followed him in droves. But Christ knew their hearts, and sifted them as wheat. He said to the believers: "When the blood and sentiment relationship prevents you from following me completely, you must leave those earthly relationships; and even if you were compelled to hate your beloved family in order that you should not separate yourselves from me, Lord of heaven, then do. You have to choose between God and your relatives. Furthermore, Christ asks you to deny yourself, your love, your laziness, and your habits, and to condemn yourself, and consider yourself deserving the shameful death of the cross. Keep condemning yourself everyday in this manner that you may die to your proud, sinful nature, and become in following Christ in his likeness. He who does not part with the sons of this world, even those whom he loves, and denies his soul, which incites him to evil, cannot become a child of God. Give all the glory to your Lord alone.
This commandment of Christ does not abolish his commandment of loving the neighbor, nor does it dim the matrimonial bond, nor does it lessen the honoring of parents, but it decides priority to God, for he, and no one else, is the center, aim, and source of your life. He sends you to your brother man that you may serve him in the name of the Lord, as if God visits him through you. Thus the Highest delivers you from your secular involvements, and sends you to the world as his ambassador. He is in you, and his word is on your tongue.