But Jesus said unto him, follow thou me
Christ would not excuse him on this account, but insists on what
he had before called him to; to attend upon him, and give himself
up to the ministry of the word: which was done, partly to shew,
that a greater regard ought to be had to him, than to the nearest
relation and friend whatever; and partly, on account of the
dignity of the Gospel ministry, which greatly exceeds any such
services; as also to signify, of what little account were the
traditions of the elders with him; wherefore he says,
let the dead bury the dead.
Our Lord is not to be understood, as speaking against, or
disrespectfully of burying the dead; his words suppose it ought
to be done: only it was not proper, that this person should be
concerned in it at this time, who was called to an higher
employment; and therefore should leave this to be done by
persons, whom it better became. And however strange and odd such
a phrase may sound in the ears of some, of one dead man's burying
another, it was easily understood by a Jew; with whom it is
common to say, (tmk bwvx
ajwxh) , "that a sinner is counted as F7 dead,
and that ungodly persons, even while they are alive",
(Mytm Nyywrq) , are
"called dead" F8. And in this sense is the word used,
in the former part of this phrase; and Christ's meaning is, let
such who are dead in trespasses and sins, and to all that is
spiritually good, bury those who are dead in a natural or
corporal sense. It is likely the deceased was an unregenerate
man; however, it is plainly suggested, that many of the relations
were; and there were enough of them to take care of this service:
and therefore, there was no need why he should neglect the
ministry of the Gospel to attend that; but, ought to leave it to
persons who were fitter for it.