Matthew 8

(Luke 9:57-62)

18-20 There are many who are at first willing to follow Jesus, but who do not realize that it means walking on the “narrow road” (Matthew 7:14). The person who follows Jesus must be ready to deny himself (see Mark 8:34 and comment). He must also count the cost of being a disciple of Jesus (see Luke 14:26-32 and comment). To be a disciple one must give up everything he has (Luke 14:33). The disciple possibly may not even have a place to lay his head, much less a home to live in. The cost of following Jesus is very high.

21-22 One of Jesus’ disciples then asked permission to go and bury his father. Perhaps the father was not yet dead, and the disciple wanted to return home in order to receive his inheritance.

Jesus said, “… let the dead bury their own dead.” In other words, let the spiritually dead take care of the things of this world. Those who are spiritually alive, who have been called to be disciples, must first do the work of the kingdom of God. The work of the kingdom of God is urgent. Nothing else can come before it (see Matthew 10:37-38).

Jesus does not teach here that disciples don’t have to honor their parents. Usually it is possible to follow Jesus and also fulfill our responsibility to our family. But when we cannot do both, we must put Jesus above our family.

Then, according to Luke 9:61-62, a third man came to Jesus and said, “I will follow you, Lord; but first let me go back and say good-bye to my family.” Jesus knew the man’s heart. He knew that the man was still greatly attached to his family. The man wanted to follow Jesus, but not with all his heart. Jesus said to him, “No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God.”

Like a farmer plowing his field, a follower of Jesus must look only ahead. He must have a single goal. He must never seek to return to his old life. Lot’s wife looked back and was turned to a pillar of salt (Genesis 19:15-17,23-26). The Jews, after escaping from Egypt, grumbled against God and desired to go back to Egypt; and so, because of their grumbling and looking back, God destroyed them (Numbers 14:1-4,26-29).

(Mark 4:35-41; Luke 8:22-25)

23-27 See Mark 4:35-41 and comment.

(Mark 5:1-20; Luke 8:26-39)

28-34 See Mark 5:1-20 and comment.