Matthew 8:19

19 And a scribe approached, and said to him [+And a scribe nighing/coming to, said to him], Master, I shall follow thee, whither ever thou shalt go.

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 that it were fulfilled, that was said by Esaias, the prophet [that it should be fulfilled, that thing that was said by Esaias, the prophet], saying, He took our infirmities, and bare our sicknesses.

18 And Jesus saw much people about him, and bade his disciples go over the water. [Soothly Jesus seeing many companies about him, commanded his disciples to go over the water.]

19 And a scribe approached, and said to him [+And a scribe nighing/coming to, said to him], Master, I shall follow thee, whither ever thou shalt go.

20 And Jesus said to him, Foxes have dens, and birds of the air have nests, but man's Son hath not wherein to rest his head. [And Jesus said to him, Foxes have burrows, or dens, and birds of the air have nests, but man's Son hath not where he shall rest his head.]

21 [Soothly] Another of his disciples said to him, Lord, suffer me to go first, and bury my father.