When reading Jesus' comments in Luke 14:26 it's easy for one to get the wrong idea of what he is trying to convey. Christ at no time ever told His followers, or anyone else for that matter, they should hate. Quite the opposite. Many times the translation from the native language into English changes the essence of what was said. Only through examining the scriptures at a depper level can we really know what is being said.

Luk 14:26 ESV  "If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple.

This is strong language. Even so Jesus does not mean that one must hate his father or mother.

Mat 15:4 proves the opposite.

Mat 15:4 ESV  For God commanded, 'Honor your father and your mother,' and, 'Whoever reviles father or mother must surely die.'

It’s only where the element of choice comes in (cf. Mat 6:24) as it sometimes does, when father or mother oppose Christ. Then one must not hesitate to make the right choice.

Mat 6:24 ESV  "No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.

One must serve God before man.

Act 5:29 ESV  But Peter and the apostles answered, "We must obey God rather than men.

The language here is more sharply put than in Mat 10:37.

Mat 10:37 ESV  Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.

The point Jesus is making is that no one can come between us and God. If we allow this then we are not worthy. He is addressing the parable he gave in the verses prior.

Luk 14:18-20 ESV  But they all alike began to make excuses. The first said to him, 'I have bought a field, and I must go out and see it. Please have me excused.' (19)  And another said, 'I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I go to examine them. Please have me excused.' (20)  And another said, 'I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come.'

There is no excuse we can make that will justify us not following the law of God and staying true to the covenant He made with us.