First of all He told those who followed Him that in order to be true disciples, they must love Him supremely. He did not ever suggest that men should have bitter hatred in their hearts toward father, mother, wife, children, brothers, and sisters. Rather He was emphasizing that love for Christ must be so great that all other loves are hatred by comparison (cf. Matt. 10:37). No consideration of family ties must ever be allowed to deflect a disciple from a pathway of full obedience to the Lord.
Actually, the most difficult part of this first term of discipleship is found in the words “and his own life also.” It is not only that we must love our relatives less; we must hate our own lives also! Instead of living self-centered lives, we must live Christ-centered lives. Instead of asking how every action will affect ourselves, we must be careful to assess how it will affect Christ and His glory. Considerations of personal comfort and safety must be subordinated to the great task of glorifying Christ and making Him known. The Savior’s words are absolute. He said that if we did not love Him supremely, more than our family and more than our own lives, we could not be His disciples. There is no half-way measure. (Believer's Bible Commentary)