Theme: The loyalty of God’s King encourages loyalty from his people

And Samuel said to Saul, “You have done foolishly. You have not kept the command of the LORD your God, with which he commanded you. For then the LORD would have established your kingdom over Israel for ever. But now your kingdom shall not continue. The LORD has sought out a man after his own heart, and the Lord has commanded him to be prince over his people, because you have not kept what the LORD commanded you.” – 1 Samuel 13:13-14

Now great crowds accompanied him, and he turned and said to them, “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. Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple. – Luke 14:25-27

Kissing was a customary ancient Near Eastern sign of familial love, goodwill, and friendship used in greetings, farewells, and blessings (e.g., Genesis 29:13; 31:28; 33:4; Exodus 4:27; Ruth 1:9; 1 Samuel 10:1; 2 Samuel 14:33; Acts 20:37).