Buddhist Catholic Contemplative Evangelical General Christian Hindu Jewish Latter-day Saint Muslim New Visions Progressive Christian

Beliefs

Topics

Columnists

Resource Library

Research Tools

Video

Podcasts

Thought Readers

Faith In Media Tracker

Newsletters

Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In Subscription Support

Follow Patheos

Home
Catholic
Relationships and Religion
How Important Is the Family in the Bible?

How Important Is the Family in the Bible?

Last updated on: February 11, 2026 at 8:37 am by Jocelyn Soriano

How Important Is the Family in the Bible? 2026-01-27T15:09:09+08:00 Jocelyn Soriano

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

a family reading the Bible

Image from Canva Pro

From the very beginning, it should have been clear how important a family is. By creating Adam and Eve to be with each other, God has shown that we were made for love, and therefore, we were made for family.

Later in the Gospels, however, there are certain Bible verses that made us think again about the importance of family.

Two instances could make us think that God does not want us to value our families.

The first one is when we read in our English Bible translations the following verses:

“If any one comes to me without hating his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple.” – Luke 14:26, NABRE

The other one is this:

“A crowd seated around him told him, ‘Your mother and your brothers [and your sisters] are outside asking for you.’ But he said to them in reply, ‘Who are my mother and [my] brothers?’ And looking around at those seated in the circle he said, ‘Here are my mother and my brothers. [For] whoever does the will of God is my brother and sister and mother.’” – Mark 3:32-35, NABRE

Were we wrong to think about the importance of our families?

No. But some of us are wrong in interpreting the above verses to mean that we should hate our families.

The first one should be understood within its proper context. Jesus did not literally mean that we should hate our parents. Why should God command us in the Ten Commandments to honor our parents if we should hate them instead?

“Honor your father and your mother, that you may have a long life in the land the LORD your God is giving you.” – Exodus 20:12, NABRE

To hate here only means that we should love another more, and in this case, that means that we should love God above all.

If we love our parents so much, then we should love God all the more.

In the second instance where Jesus told us that it isn’t only our biological relatives that matter, He never meant to take away the importance of one’s family. On the contrary, He meant to expand it and to make us understand its true value!

Not everyone can be related to Jesus biologically, but we can all be His brothers and sisters if we do the will of God.

“But to those who did accept him he gave power to become children of God, to those who believe in his name, who were born not by natural generation nor by human choice nor by a man’s decision but of God.”- John 1:12-13, NABRE

As for the holy family, Jesus never neglected His earthly parents. The Bible tells us that He was obedient to them:

“He went down with them and came to Nazareth, and was obedient to them.” – Luke 2:51, NABRE

Regarding Mary, His mother, He did not disrespect her when He told everyone that His real mother is the one who does the will of God. In truth, He lifted her up because that’s precisely what Mary does. In everything that Mary did, she followed the will of God.

Mary’s assent to surrender to the will of God was very clear when the angel announced the birth of Jesus:
“Mary said, ‘Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word.’” – Luke 1:38, NABRE

When Mary asked Jesus to turn water into wine, this is what Mary told the servers who would assist in filling the jars:

“Do whatever he tells you.” – John 2:5, NABRE

Jesus NEVER neglected her. When He was dying upon the cross, He even asked John to take care of her and treat her as his own:

“Then he said to the disciple, ‘Behold, your mother.’” – John 19:27, NABRE

Everywhere we look, we see how important the family is in the Bible.

How many apostles were siblings? Didn’t Jesus call Peter and his brother Andrew? Didn’t He also call James and John?

Mary, Martha and Lazarus were also siblings.

Even in the Old Testament, the importance of families was very evident.

When Abraham was called, it was not only to Him that the blessing was promised but to future generations through Him.

“I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you.” – Genesis 12:2, NABRE

When God chose to save a few from the Great Flood, He chose to save a family – Noah’s family.

“Go into the ark, you and all your household, for you alone in this generation have I found to be righteous before me.” – Genesis 7:1, NABRE

It was God Himself who designed the family.

“Therefore a man leaves his father and his mother and clings to his wife, and the two of them become one body.” – Genesis 2:24, NABRE

Through the family, the faith is grown and passed on.

We were created to be like this when we were made in the very image of God!

“God created mankind in his image; in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.” – Genesis 1:27, NABRE

Let us remember that God is Love.

And Love is family. Love is the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit of Love.
Let us never forget the importance of the family. Each one of us has been born into a family. Even for those of us who may no longer have them, we are invited to become a part of God’s spiritual family and to be His own children.

No one is meant to be alone. And with God and the family He has planned for us, we will never be alone.

“Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ loved the church.” – Ephesians 5:25, NABRE

“If you want to bring happiness to the whole world, go home and love your family.” – Mother Teresa

You may also want to read “Which Religion Is About Relationships?”

Jocelyn Soriano writes about relationships and the Catholic faith at Single Catholic Writer. She is the author of 366 Days of Compassion, To Love an Invisible God and Mend My Broken Heart.

Buy the book from Amazon

Buy the book from Gumroad

Buy the book from other digital stores

See my other books

General Christian

Family, Parenting and Religion

About Jocelyn Soriano

Jocelyn Soriano is an author, poet, and book reviewer. She is an introvert who enjoys a cup of coffee and listening to the cello ****** while working.

She wrote the books To Love an Invisible God, Defending My Catholic Faith and Mend My Broken Heart. She also wrote books on poetry including Poems of Love and Letting Go and Of Waves and Butterflies: Poems on Grief. She has published more than 15 books and developed her own Android applications including God’s Promises and Catholic Answers and Apologetics.

She writes about relationships and common questions about God and the Catholic faith at Single Catholic Writer. She is currently single and happy and she would like everyone to know how happy we can be by drawing close to the love of God!

Previous Post

February 4, 2026

What Pain Can Accomplish In Us

Next Post

February 18, 2026 Is Failing the Ash Wednesday Fast a Sin?

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Christmas Church Issue Divine Mercy End Times Grief Healing Heaven Joy Miracles Movie Review Movies New Age Prayer Questions to God Relationships Single Life Spiritual Growth Technology Virgin Mary Wealth Management

Select a Month October 2026 September 2026 August 2026 July 2026 June 2026 May 2026 April 2026 March 2026 February 2026 January 2026 December 2025 November 2025 October 2025 September 2025 August 2025 July 2025 June 2025 May 2025 April 2025 March 2025 February 2025 January 2025 December 2024 November 2024 October 2024 September 2024 August 2024 July 2024 June 2024 May 2024 April 2024 March 2024 February 2024 January 2024 December 2023 November 2023 October 2023 September 2023 August 2023 July 2023 June 2023 May 2023 April 2023 March 2023 February 2023 January 2023

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

What does the word Genesis mean?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Beginning History Creation Law

Books by This Author Books by Beloved

See All Titles »