Matthew 8:19

19 et accedens unus scriba ait illi magister sequar te quocumque ieris

Matthew 8:19 Meaning and Commentary

Matthew 8:19

And a certain Scribe came
"As they went in the way", ( Luke 9:57 ) to go to the sea side, in order to take shipping, and pass to the other shore;

and said unto him, Master, or Rabbi, I will follow thee
whithersoever thou goest.
One would have thought, that this man desired in good earnest to be a disciple of Christ, were it not for Christ's answer to him, who knew his heart: from whence it appears, that he, seeing the miracles which Christ wrought, and observing the fame of him among the people, began to think that he would be generally received as the Messiah; and by joining himself to him, promised himself much ease, honour, and wealth. These seem to be the motives, which prevailed upon him to take so sudden and hasty a step; for he did not wait to be called to follow Christ, as the other disciples were, but offers himself to be one; that is, to be one of his intimates, one of his apostles; and besides, he rashly promises to do that, which he knew nothing of, and which in some cases is impossible to be done.

Matthew 8:19 In-Context

17 ut adimpleretur quod dictum est per Esaiam prophetam dicentem ipse infirmitates nostras accepit et aegrotationes portavit
18 videns autem Iesus turbas multas circum se iussit ire trans fretum
19 et accedens unus scriba ait illi magister sequar te quocumque ieris
20 et dicit ei Iesus vulpes foveas habent et volucres caeli tabernacula Filius autem hominis non habet ubi caput reclinet
21 alius autem de discipulis eius ait illi Domine permitte me primum ire et sepelire patrem meum
The Latin Vulgate is in the public domain.