During His time, Jesus was trying to break the Jewish people out of their ritualistic habits and embrace the true teachings that God had given them. So many people had become complacent in following the letter of the laws handed down to them, that they had lost the spirit behind them. They determined their faithfulness by the rituals that they followed rather than the love that they shared. Thus, when Jesus illuminates the true way, those who followed Him had to turn their backs of centuries of tradition and the family members who had become comfortable in their uncaring practices.
Christ's teachings divide us today. At least one difference is between those who try to beat down others with twisted versions of Christ's message rather than trying to raise them up. As Mahatma Gandhi is attributed to say, "I like your Christ, I do not like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ." Sadly, most Christians think that returning to even more tradition is the answer, ignoring the sore that truly pushed so many people away.