“And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others…He that loveth father or mother…and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me…to love Him with all the heart…is more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices…joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons…this poor widow hath cast in more than they all…For they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God…they worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator…we are more than conquerors through him that loved us…lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God”~Matt. 5:47; 10:37; Mk. 12:33; Lk. 15:7; 21:3; Jn. 12:43; 21:15; Rom. 1:25; 8:37; 2 Tim. 3:4.
The above scriptures are dealing with priorities. For example: You can love pleasures but not more than God; you can praise others as long as God is first in line; you can love loved ones, but not before God, etc.
We are told that Jacob’s love for Rachel so far exceeded his love for Leah that the latter thought she was hated, “Jacob loved also Rachel more than Leah…And Leah…said, Because the LORD hath heard that I was hated.”~ Gen. 29:30,33.
When it comes to God, ‘more than" is to be exceeding abundant. When compared to people and things it will seem as hate for them and objects.
When my daughter, Leah, was a very small girl we would take our afternoon naps together. She would take her little hand, place it on my cheek, turn my head toward her and say, “Daddy, I love you ‘more than’ the whole wide world!”
❤️
Precious.