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)
This seemingly enthusiastic follower is offering a commitment without fully grasping its cost; he promises to go "wherever you go," but Jesus's reply reveals that this path involves immense hardship and homelessness, not the comfortable life the man likely imagined. This highlights how genuine discipleship requires counting the cost and understanding the radical nature of following Jesus, even when it means embracing uncertainty and sacrifice.
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)
Just after a rejection in Samaria, Jesus and his disciples are traveling, and a man impulsively declares he'll follow Jesus anywhere. This declaration is immediately followed by Jesus' stark reminder that following him involves significant hardship and a complete lack of worldly security. The narrative sets up a contrast between enthusiastic but potentially shallow commitment and the true cost of discipleship.
This man's offer to follow Jesus sounds amazing: 'I'll go anywhere with you!' But Jesus' response is surprisingly tough. Why?
An Eager but Uninformed Promise
This unnamed man, likely a scribe accustomed to a certain status, blurts out a heartfelt commitment. He's impressed by Jesus and wants in. But his enthusiasm is a bit like wanting to join a marathon team after seeing the finish line – exciting, but without fully grasping the training involved.
Jesus, the ultimate mentor, sees this.
Jesus' Gentle Reality Check
Instead of accepting the blank check of commitment, Jesus points out the stark reality of his own life: 'Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of man has nowhere to lay his head.' This isn't a complaint; it's a factual statement about his itinerant, often precarious existence. He's not offering a life of comfort or security. He's inviting people into a mission that requires radical trust and detachment from worldly comforts.
What happens when a perfectly good duty, like burying a father, clashes with following Jesus? Jesus' answer is radical.
The Higher Claim
The second man makes a seemingly reasonable request: 'Lord, permit me first to go and bury my father.' In that culture, honoring parents, especially in death, was a profound obligation. Yet, Jesus' reply is striking: 'Leave the dead to bury their own dead. But you, go and proclaim the kingdom of God.'
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What 'Dead' Means Here
Jesus isn't being disrespectful to the dead or the practice of burial. He's using a powerful metaphor. Those who are spiritually dead, those separated from God's life, can handle the physical tasks of dealing with the physically dead. The urgent, life-giving task—proclaiming God's kingdom—falls to those who have encountered God's life through Jesus. The call to follow Jesus and spread His message is presented as a priority that transcends even deeply held familial duties when they hinder that divine mission.
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 interaction highlights that while Jesus' ministry drew people from all walks of life, including educated scribes, he was keenly aware that many were attracted by the novelty rather than the cost of discipleship. His honest assessment of his own lack of earthly possessions serves as a stark contrast to the potential expectations of comfort and ease from a new follower.
Early to mid-AD 27
Jesus' Galilean Ministry Begins
Following his baptism and temptation, Jesus begins his public ministry in Galilee, gathering disciples and teaching.
Mid-AD 27
Jesus' Fame Spreads
Jesus' miracles and teachings attract a growing following, including scribes and others from various backgrounds.
Late AD 27— this verse
Journey Toward Jerusalem
Jesus and his disciples are traveling, likely heading towards Jerusalem for an upcoming festival. This journey takes them through various regions, including Samaria.
Late AD 27
Samaritan Rejection
Jesus and his disciples are refused hospitality in a Samaritan village, highlighting the tension between Jews and Samaritans.
Late AD 27 - Early AD 28
The Call to Discipleship
In response to the rejection in Samaria and as Jesus continues his journey, he encounters individuals who express a desire to follow him, prompting Jesus to clarify the radical cost of discipleship.
This passage is a parallel account where a scribe makes the same eager offer to follow Jesus, highlighting the common theme of unqualified discipleship.
Luke 9:59This verse immediately follows, presenting a different kind of potential disciple who asks to delay following, showing Jesus's varied responses to those offering to join him.
John 6:66This passage illustrates the consequence of shallow commitment, where many disciples turned back from Jesus because his words were hard, echoing the caution Jesus gives to the eager follower in Luke 9:57.
Philippians 3:13-14Paul's declaration to 'press on toward the goal' reveals a mature understanding of discipleship that involves leaving behind past comforts and focusing on Christ's calling, contrasting with the unconsidered enthusiasm of the man in Luke 9:57.
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 seemingly enthusiastic follower is offering a commitment without fully grasping its cost; he promises to go "wherever you go," but Jesus's reply reveals that this path involves immense hardship and homelessness, not the comfortable life the man likely imagined. This highlights how genuine discipleship requires counting the cost and understanding the radical nature of following Jesus, even when it means embracing uncertainty and sacrifice.
Just after a rejection in Samaria, Jesus and his disciples are traveling, and a man impulsively declares he'll follow Jesus anywhere. This declaration is immediately followed by Jesus' stark reminder that following him involves significant hardship and a complete lack of worldly security. The narrative sets up a contrast between enthusiastic but potentially shallow commitment and the true cost of discipleship.
Just after a rejection in Samaria, Jesus and his disciples are traveling, and a man impulsively declares he'll follow Jesus anywhere. This declaration is immediately followed by Jesus' stark reminder that following him involves significant hardship and a complete lack of worldly security. The narrative sets up a contrast between enthusiastic but potentially shallow commitment and the true cost of discipleship.
"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 seemingly enthusiastic follower is offering a commitment without fully grasping its cost; he promises to go "wherever you go," but Jesus's reply reveals that this path involves immense hardship…
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Last reviewed October 2026