Luke 9:57-58
As they were going along the road, someone said to him, “I will follow you wherever you go.” And Jesus said to him, “Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.”
English Standard Version (ESV)
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This man’s enthusiastic declaration, "I will follow you wherever you go," isn't just a simple pledge of loyalty. It carries the subtle undertone of "wherever you go away," hinting at a desire to follow Jesus on his departure, rather than on the arduous journey of his public ministry. This shows Jesus' immediate need to discern true commitment from superficial attraction.
Jesus and his disciples are traveling, likely after a rough encounter where they were rejected by a Samaritan village. In this moment of vulnerability and continued journeying, an eager person declares their intention to follow Jesus anywhere. This declaration, though enthusiastic, is met with Jesus's stark reminder about the lack of material security in his own life, setting the stage for a serious discussion on the true cost of discipleship.
Imagine declaring your undying loyalty in the heat of the moment. What if that passion is based more on excitement than a clear grasp of what's ahead?
This eager follower, identified by Matthew as a scribe, bursts with enthusiasm! He declares, 'I will follow you wherever you go.' His heart is ready, but his mind hasn't fully processed the reality of discipleship. Jesus, seeing this, doesn't just accept the offer at face value. He immediately presents a stark contrast: 'Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.'
This isn't Jesus being negative; He's being real. He's showing that following Him isn't about finding comfort or security in earthly terms. It's about embracing a life of radical dependence on God, often marked by homelessness and hardship. The scribe's offer, though seemingly bold, lacked the deep understanding of sacrifice that true discipleship demands.
When people excitedly offer to follow Jesus, He often responds not with flattery, but with truth. Why is radical honesty so central to His invitation?
Jesus' reply to the scribe ('Foxes have holes...') is a powerful illustration of His approach to calling disciples. He doesn't sugarcoat the journey. Instead, He paints a picture of His own humble, itinerant life, highlighting the lack of worldly possessions and status.
This isn't a deterrent for genuine followers; it's a filter. Jesus is inviting people into a kingdom that isn't of this world. He's calling them to a life where their ultimate security and belonging are found not in earthly homes or possessions, but in Him. He's testing the depth of commitment, ensuring that those who follow do so with open eyes, ready for the sacrifices that ministry and loyalty to God might require.
Understand the original words
akoloutheō · Greek Verb
The act of becoming a disciple, involving complete surrender, obedience, and alignment of one's life with the teachings and example of Jesus Christ. It implies a total commitment that supersedes all other personal loyalties.
huios tou anthrōpou · Greek Noun Phrase
A Messianic title derived from Daniel 7:13-14, referring to the authority, humanity, and divine nature of Jesus. It emphasizes his identity as the representative of humanity and the one who will establish the eternal kingdom of God.
This encounter happens as Jesus is traveling toward Jerusalem for his final week, a journey fraught with opposition and sacrifice. The eager volunteer doesn't grasp the true cost of following Jesus, a stark contrast to the difficult path Jesus himself is walking.
c. AD 27-30
Jesus' Galilean Ministry Begins
Jesus begins his public ministry in Galilee, gathering disciples and teaching. This period sees growing crowds and increasing opposition from religious leaders.
c. AD 28
Jesus Sends Out the Seventy
Jesus commissions and sends out seventy disciples to go ahead of him to various towns and villages, preparing the way for his arrival.
c. AD 28— this verse
Journey Towards Jerusalem
Jesus is making his way towards Jerusalem, a journey that will eventually lead to his crucifixion. This specific leg of the journey involves traveling through or near Samaria.
c. AD 28
Samaritan Village Rejects Jesus
A Samaritan village refuses to welcome Jesus and his disciples, prompting James and John to ask if fire should be called down from heaven. Jesus rebukes them.
This passage directly parallels Luke 9:57, with a scribe explicitly offering to follow Jesus, highlighting the theme of eager but potentially unconsidered commitment.
Deuteronomy 6:5This verse, commanding to love the Lord with all one's heart, soul, and might, provides the ultimate standard against which the 'wherever you go' commitment in Luke 9:57 should be measured.
1 Corinthians 7:29-31Paul's instruction to live as though not preoccupied by worldly affairs resonates with Jesus's challenge in Luke 9:57-62, emphasizing that true discipleship requires a reorientation of priorities away from the temporary.
John 1:43The calling of Philip, who immediately responds 'Follow me,' shows a different model of discipleship where the response is immediate and unquestioning, contrasting with the hesitation seen in the Luke 9 passages.
Philippians 3:14Paul's declaration to press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call in Christ Jesus mirrors the forward-looking, single-minded dedication Jesus calls for, contrasting with the 'looking back' Jesus warns against.
barnesLuke 9:57: "And it came to pass, that, as they went in the way, a certain man said unto him, Lord, I will follow thee whithersoever thou goest."
See the notes at Matthew 8:19-22 .
vincentLuke 9:57: "And it came to pass, that, as they went in the way, a certain man said unto him, Lord, I will follow thee whithersoever thou goest."
A certain manMatthew, a scribe.Thou goest (ἀπέρχῃ)Lit., "goest away" (ἀπό). I will follow thee whithersoever-away thou goest.
This man’s enthusiastic declaration, "I will follow you wherever you go," isn't just a simple pledge of loyalty. It carries the subtle undertone of "wherever you go away," hinting at a desire to follow Jesus on his departure, rather than on the arduous journey of his public ministry. This shows Jesus' immediate need to discern true commitment from superficial attraction.
Jesus and his disciples are traveling, likely after a rough encounter where they were rejected by a Samaritan village. In this moment of vulnerability and continued journeying, an eager person declares their intention to follow Jesus anywhere. This declaration, though enthusiastic, is met with Jesus's stark reminder about the lack of material security in his own life, setting the stage for a serious discussion on the true cost of discipleship.
Jesus and his disciples are traveling, likely after a rough encounter where they were rejected by a Samaritan village. In this moment of vulnerability and continued journeying, an eager person declares their intention to follow Jesus anywhere. This declaration, though enthusiastic, is met with Jesus's stark reminder about the lack of material security in his own life, setting the stage for a serious discussion on the true cost of discipleship.
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c. AD 30
Jesus' Crucifixion and Resurrection
Jesus is crucified in Jerusalem during Passover and rises from the dead on the third day, fulfilling his mission.
"As they were going along the road, someone said to him, “I will follow you wherever you go.” And Jesus said to him, “Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.”" — This man’s enthusiastic declaration, "I will follow you wherever you go," isn't just a simple pledge of loyalty. It carries the subtle undertone of "wherever you go away," hinting at a desire to fo…
