The Bible addresses family relationships with great significance, emphasizing love, unity, and support within the family structure. However, there are also moments when walking away from family—whether due to faith, conflict, or calling—becomes part of the journey. In these 30 Bible verses, we explore themes of leaving family behind, either to follow God’s call, maintain righteousness, or endure challenging relationships. Each verse is followed by a reflection, offering insights into navigating complex family dynamics while staying true to God’s purpose.
1. Matthew 10:37
“Anyone who loves their father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves their son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.”
Jesus emphasizes the primacy of our relationship with God over familial ties. While family is important, this verse challenges believers to prioritize their commitment to God above all else. Walking away from family may sometimes be necessary when it comes to choosing between loyalty to family and following Christ’s calling. It underscores the radical nature of discipleship.
2. Luke 14:26
“If anyone comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters—yes, even their own life—such a person cannot be my disciple.”
Jesus uses strong language to convey that following Him requires absolute dedication, even over family ties. “Hate” here means to love less, showing that loyalty to Christ surpasses all other relationships. This verse speaks to moments when family allegiance may conflict with a higher calling, urging believers to put God’s kingdom first, even if it means distancing themselves from family.
3. Matthew 19:29
“And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or fields for my sake will receive a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal life.”
Jesus promises eternal reward for those who leave behind family or possessions for His sake. Sometimes, following God’s call involves difficult decisions, including walking away from family attachments. This verse assures us that such sacrifices are not in vain but will be richly rewarded in God’s kingdom. It encourages believers to focus on the eternal perspective.
4. Genesis 12:1
“The Lord had said to Abram, ‘Go from your country, your people and your father’s household to the land I will show you.’”
Abram was called to leave his family and homeland to follow God’s direction. This pivotal moment in Scripture shows how faith sometimes requires leaving familiar surroundings and loved ones behind to pursue God’s will. Abram’s obedience set the stage for the birth of a nation. This verse reminds us that sometimes walking away from family is part of fulfilling a greater purpose.
5. Mark 10:29-30
“‘Truly I tell you,’ Jesus replied, ‘no one who has left home or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for me and the gospel will fail to receive a hundred times as much in this present age and in the age to come eternal life.’”
Jesus reassures His followers that those who make sacrifices for His sake will be abundantly rewarded. This includes leaving family or possessions behind to pursue His calling. It highlights the cost of discipleship and the greater blessings that come from putting God’s mission above all else. Walking away from family may be part of this journey, but God’s rewards far outweigh the sacrifice.
6. Genesis 2:24
“That is why a man leaves his father and mother and is united to his wife, and they become one flesh.”
This verse marks the beginning of a new family unit as a man leaves his parents to cleave to his wife. While it is not about abandoning family, it does emphasize the need to establish new priorities when starting a family of one’s own. It serves as a reminder that there are natural transitions in life that may require stepping away from close family ties to fulfill new roles.
7. Luke 9:59-60
“He said to another man, ‘Follow me.’ But he replied, ‘Lord, first let me go and bury my father.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and proclaim the kingdom of God.’”
Jesus challenges the man to prioritize proclaiming God’s kingdom over family obligations. This verse highlights the urgency of the gospel and the need to sometimes leave behind family concerns to pursue God’s calling. While honoring family is important, there are moments when the work of the kingdom must take precedence, even if it means walking away from family responsibilities.
8. 1 Kings 19:20-21
“Elisha then left his oxen and ran after Elijah. ‘Let me kiss my father and mother goodbye,’ he said, ‘and then I will come with you.’ ‘Go back,’ Elijah replied. ‘What have I done to you?’ So Elisha left him and went back. He took his yoke of oxen and slaughtered them. He burned the plowing equipment to cook the meat and gave it to the people, and they ate. Then he set out to follow Elijah and became his servant.”
Elisha’s decision to follow Elijah required him to leave behind his family and livelihood. He didn’t just say goodbye; he burned his equipment, signaling that there was no turning back. This verse shows the cost of commitment when God calls us, even if it means walking away from family and familiar comforts to pursue a new path of service.
9. Matthew 12:48-50
“He replied to him, ‘Who is my mother, and who are my brothers?’ Pointing to his disciples, he said, ‘Here are my mother and my brothers. For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother.’”
Jesus redefines the concept of family, shifting the focus from biological ties to spiritual ones. This verse challenges the idea that loyalty to earthly family should supersede loyalty to God’s family. Walking away from family for the sake of following God’s will may lead to the discovery of a deeper, spiritual family in the body of Christ.
10. Hebrews 11:8-9
“By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going. By faith he made his home in the promised land like a stranger in a foreign country; he lived in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise.”
Abraham’s faith led him to leave his family and home behind without knowing where God would lead him. His obedience exemplifies the faith needed to follow God’s call, even when it requires walking away from family and the security of familiar surroundings. This verse reminds us that sometimes stepping into the unknown is part of God’s greater plan.
11. Deuteronomy 13:6-8
“If your very own brother, or your son or daughter, or the wife you love, or your closest friend secretly entices you, saying, ‘Let us go and worship other gods’… do not yield to them or listen to them. Show them no pity. Do not spare them or shield them.”
In this passage, the Israelites are commanded not to follow family members who lead them away from God. It illustrates the need to prioritize faithfulness to God over familial loyalty when family members try to lead one into disobedience or idolatry. Walking away from family in such situations may be necessary to maintain faithfulness to God’s commandments.
12. Luke 18:29-30
“‘Truly I tell you,’ Jesus said to them, ‘no one who has left home or wife or brothers or sisters or parents or children for the sake of the kingdom of God will fail to receive many times as much in this age, and in the age to come eternal life.’”
Jesus again emphasizes the rewards for those who leave behind family or possessions to follow Him. This verse encourages believers to be willing to make sacrifices, including walking away from family when necessary, for the sake of God’s kingdom. It reassures us that such sacrifices are not only honored but richly rewarded by God.
13. Proverbs 27:10
“Do not forsake your friend or a friend of your family, and do not go to your relative’s house when disaster strikes—you better a neighbor nearby than a relative far away.”
This proverb suggests that, at times, it may be more beneficial to rely on those who are close by, even if they are not family, rather than seeking out distant relatives. It recognizes that there are moments when walking away from family ties and seeking support from others may be more practical. It highlights the importance of community beyond blood relations.
14. Acts 7:3
“‘Leave your country and your people,’ God said, ‘and go to the land I will show you.’”
Stephen recounts God’s call to Abraham to leave his family and country behind. This verse reflects the faith and courage required to step away from family and familiar surroundings to follow God’s leading. It serves as an example of how walking away from family, while difficult, can be part of fulfilling God’s greater plan for one’s life.
15. 1 Corinthians 7:15
“But if the unbeliever leaves, let it be so. The brother or the sister is not bound in such circumstances; God has called us to live in peace.”
In the context of marriage, Paul advises believers that if an unbelieving spouse chooses to leave, they are not bound to stay in that relationship. This verse applies to walking away from family relationships where faith and values conflict. It encourages believers to seek peace, even if it means letting go of relationships that hinder spiritual growth or harmony.
16. Matthew 4:22
“And immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him.”
James and John left their father’s fishing business to follow Jesus. This verse highlights the immediacy with which they responded to Jesus’ call, leaving behind their family to pursue a new purpose. It serves as a reminder that following Christ sometimes requires a willingness to leave behind family obligations and familiar ways of life in order to pursue a greater calling.
17. Ruth 1:16-17
“But Ruth replied, ‘Don’t urge me to leave you or to turn back from you. Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God. Where you die I will die, and there I will be buried.’”
Ruth’s decision to leave her homeland and family to follow her mother-in-law Naomi shows her deep commitment to a new family and faith. Her loyalty to Naomi and the God of Israel demonstrates how walking away from family can sometimes lead to finding a new and greater sense of belonging. It highlights the importance of loyalty to God’s plan above cultural or familial ties.
18. Mark 3:33-35
“‘Who are my mother and my brothers?’ he asked. Then he looked at those seated in a circle around him and said, ‘Here are my mother and my brothers! Whoever does God’s will is my brother and sister and mother.’”
Jesus redefines family as those who do the will of God. This verse reminds us that walking away from biological family, if necessary for the sake of following God’s will, leads to the formation of a new, spiritual family. It emphasizes the importance of spiritual relationships over earthly ties when it comes to fulfilling God’s purposes.
19. Exodus 18:24-27
“Moses listened to his father-in-law and did everything he said. He chose capable men from all Israel and made them leaders of the people… Then Moses sent his father-in-law on his way, and Jethro returned to his own country.”
Moses, after receiving wise counsel from his father-in-law, allowed him to return to his own country. This example of parting from family on good terms reflects the natural course of life where loved ones come and go. While not about abandoning family, it shows that sometimes, walking away from family happens as part of fulfilling one’s purpose and responsibilities.
20. Genesis 31:3
“Then the Lord said to Jacob, ‘Go back to the land of your fathers and to your relatives, and I will be with you.’”
God commands Jacob to return to his family after years of separation. This verse demonstrates how sometimes, walking away from family is temporary and part of a greater plan. It shows that God is sovereign over the timing of family relationships and may call us to leave or return according to His will. It also highlights that obedience to God takes precedence over personal desires.
21. 1 Timothy 5:8
“Anyone who does not provide for their relatives, and especially for their own household, has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.”
Paul teaches that believers have a responsibility to care for their family members, especially within their household. While there are times when walking away from family may be necessary, this verse emphasizes the importance of fulfilling our responsibilities to family, showing that abandonment without just cause contradicts the values of faith and compassion.
22. Matthew 8:21-22
“Another disciple said to him, ‘Lord, first let me go and bury my father.’ But Jesus told him, ‘Follow me, and let the dead bury their own dead.’”
Jesus calls for immediate commitment to His mission, even over family obligations. This verse challenges the cultural expectations of family duties, urging disciples to prioritize the kingdom of God. It reminds us that sometimes walking away from family obligations is necessary when they conflict with the urgency of following Christ’s call.
23. Proverbs 18:24
“One who has unreliable friends soon comes to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.”
This verse acknowledges that sometimes, relationships outside of family can be stronger and more supportive than family ties. It reassures us that walking away from family when necessary doesn’t mean walking alone—God provides friends and spiritual relationships that can offer the support and loyalty we need. It highlights the value of true friendship.
24. Acts 20:37-38
“They all wept as they embraced him and kissed him. What grieved them most was his statement that they would never see his face again. Then they accompanied him to the ship.”
Paul’s departure from the Ephesian elders was filled with emotion, as they knew they would likely never see him again. This moment shows the reality of walking away from loved ones for the sake of God’s mission. While the separation was painful, it was necessary for Paul to fulfill his calling. It teaches us that sometimes, walking away is a part of following God’s greater purpose.
25. Matthew 19:5
“‘For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.’”
This verse reiterates the importance of leaving one’s parents to form a new family unit through marriage. While it doesn’t speak of abandonment, it reflects the natural progression of life where certain family relationships change as new ones are formed. Walking away from family in this context is part of establishing independence and fulfilling God’s design for marriage.
26. Judges 6:27
“So Gideon took ten of his servants and did as the Lord told him. But because he was afraid of his family and the townspeople, he did it at night rather than in the daytime.”
Gideon obeyed God’s command to destroy his family’s altar to Baal, even though he feared their reaction. This verse shows the tension between obeying God and confronting family opposition. Sometimes walking away from family traditions or beliefs is necessary to align oneself with God’s truth, even if it causes conflict or fear.
27. Luke 18:28
“Peter said to him, ‘We have left all we had to follow you!’”
Peter expresses the sacrifice he and the other disciples made to follow Jesus, leaving behind their families, jobs, and homes. This verse reflects the cost of discipleship, where walking away from family and possessions is part of fully committing to Jesus. It reminds us that following Christ requires total surrender, even at the expense of earthly attachments.
28. Ephesians 6:1
“Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.”
This verse underscores the importance of honoring parents, showing that while walking away from family may be necessary at times, it should never be done lightly or without cause. Obedience to parents is part of God’s design for family, but it is always within the framework of obedience to God. It teaches the balance between family loyalty and faithfulness to God.
29. Genesis 31:55
“Early the next morning Laban kissed his grandchildren and his daughters and blessed them. Then he left and returned home.”
Laban’s farewell to his family after Jacob’s departure was filled with blessing and love, reflecting a peaceful parting. This verse shows that walking away from family doesn’t always involve conflict or strife—sometimes it’s simply part of life’s journey. It encourages us to seek peace and blessing, even when parting ways with loved ones.
30. Revelation 2:4-5
“Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken the love you had at first. Consider how far you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first.”
Although not directly about family, this verse speaks to the danger of abandoning our first love for God. It reminds us that walking away from our spiritual family or God’s calling can lead to spiritual decline. This verse challenges us to return to our commitment to God, ensuring that no earthly relationship, even family, takes precedence over our love for Him.
Further Reading
30 Powerful Bible Verses About Letting Go Of Things You Can’T Control (With Explanation)
30 Bible Verses About Grandparents Love (With Explanation)
30 Best Bible Verses About Uniqueness (With Explanation)
30 Best Bible Verses About Space (With Explanation)
30 Best Bible Verses About Lent (With Explanation)