To another he said, “Follow me.” But he said, “Lord, let me first go and bury my father.” And Jesus said to him, “Leave the dead to bury their own dead. But as for you, go and proclaim the kingdom of God.”
English Standard Version (ESV)
Jesus’ command, "Follow me," is so direct and urgent that the man’s immediate response isn’t a refusal, but an assumption that he will go, only asking for a brief delay for a crucial family duty. This reveals that the heart of the issue isn't a desire to avoid Jesus, but a deeply ingrained sense of obligation that he believes takes precedence, even over the Master's personal call.
To another he said, “Follow me.” But he said, “Lord, let me first go and bury my father.” And Jesus said to him, “Leave the dead to bury their own dead. But as for you, go and proclaim the kingdom of God.”
English Standard Version (ESV)
Jesus is calling people to follow him, but not everyone is ready for the radical commitment required. Following the eager scribe who offered himself without counting the cost, Jesus now calls to another, who asks for a delay to fulfill a family obligation. This interaction highlights the tension between earthly duties and the urgent, all-consuming call of God's kingdom.
When Jesus says 'Follow me,' it's not a suggestion, it's a summons. But what about our most deeply felt human obligations?
This passage highlights a crucial tension in the life of faith: the absolute priority of God's call over all other duties, even the most natural and loving ones.
A Direct Summons
Jesus doesn't wait for an offer; He issues a command: "Follow me." This isn't about a casual invitation to join a club. It's a profound, life-altering directive that demands immediate allegiance.
The Weight of Tradition
The man's request to "first go and bury my father" speaks to a deeply ingrained cultural and familial duty. Burial customs were significant, often involving extended mourning periods. He's not asking to abandon his father, but to fulfill a sacred, expected responsibility before committing to Jesus.
God's Higher Claim
Jesus' response, "Let the dead bury their dead," is startlingly direct. He isn't dismissing the importance of honoring parents or the custom of burial. Instead, He's revealing a spiritual reality: those who are separated from God are spiritually 'dead.' Their involvement in the physical act of burial is secondary to the spiritual urgency of the Kingdom. God's call to follow Him, to participate in His redemptive work, supersedes even the most honorable earthly duties.
Following Jesus isn't just about agreeing with Him; it's about a willingness to let go of what holds us back, no matter how precious.
Ask a follow-up
The interactions in Luke 9 reveal that true discipleship demands a radical commitment that reorders our priorities.
The Cost of Following
Jesus is clear about the demands of discipleship. For the scribe who offered himself readily, Jesus highlighted the lack of a permanent home, signaling that following Him meant embracing uncertainty and hardship, not comfort or prestige. The desire to follow must be tempered by an understanding of the cross.
The Urgency of the Kingdom
For the man asked to bury his father, Jesus underscores the critical urgency of the Kingdom of God. While the man saw a duty to the dead and his family, Jesus saw a world of the 'living dead'—those separated from God—who needed the message of salvation. The spread of the Gospel could not wait for the completion of customary mourning periods.
Reordering Priorities
Jesus isn't promoting disrespect for parents or family. Instead, He's illustrating that His call is an all-encompassing, world-changing mission. To hesitate, to delay, is to risk losing the momentum of God's work and the transformative power of His presence. Discipleship requires a willingness to place God's kingdom above all earthly ties and responsibilities, trusting Him to provide for those we leave behind.
Understand the original words
kyrios · Greek Noun
A term of address signifying authority, reverence, and mastery. In the New Testament, it is used to acknowledge Jesus as both a teacher and the divine Lord to whom one owes absolute allegiance.
nekros · Greek Adjective used as a noun
The spiritual state of being separated from God due to sin and rebellion. Biblically, it refers to those who are spiritually unresponsive to the gospel and lack the life of God, regardless of their physical state.
basileia tou theou · Greek Noun Phrase
The sovereign rule and reign of God, both in the hearts of believers and in its future, consummated state over all creation. It represents the central theme of Jesus' preaching—the breaking in of divine authority to redeem and restore.
This passage presents a similar scenario where a disciple asks to bury his father, and Jesus responds with a powerful statement about prioritizing His call over familial duties.
Matthew 8:19-20This passage, occurring alongside the request to bury a father in Matthew's Gospel, highlights Jesus' teaching about the cost of discipleship, contrasting the desire to follow with the reality of having nowhere to rest.
Matthew 6:33This verse provides a foundational principle for Jesus' strong response, emphasizing that seeking God's kingdom and His righteousness should be the absolute first priority in all things, including personal and familial obligations.
1 Kings 19:20-21Here, Elijah calls Elisha to follow him, and Elisha asks for permission to say farewell to his family, showing a parallel between God's call to prophets and Jesus' call to disciples, and the tension with existing relationships.
bengelLuke 9:59: "And he said unto another, Follow me. But he said, Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my father."
Luke 9:59 . Ἀπελθόντι , having departed [ i.e. to go and ]) The dative. Here the man takes for granted his departure , does not ask leave for it. A different Kind of departure ( ἀπελθὼν , “ go thou and preach”) is enjoined in Luke 9:60 .
calvinLuke 9:57-62: "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."
- And a scribe approaching said to him, Master, I will follow thee whithersoever thou shalt go. 20. And Jesus saith to him, Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests: but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head. 21. And another of his disciples said to him, Lord, permit me first to go and bury my father. 22. And Jesus said to him, Fo…
Jesus’ command, "Follow me," is so direct and urgent that the man’s immediate response isn’t a refusal, but an assumption that he will go, only asking for a brief delay for a crucial family duty. This reveals that the heart of the issue isn't a desire to avoid Jesus, but a deeply ingrained sense of obligation that he believes takes precedence, even over the Master's personal call.
Jesus is calling people to follow him, but not everyone is ready for the radical commitment required. Following the eager scribe who offered himself without counting the cost, Jesus now calls to another, who asks for a delay to fulfill a family obligation. This interaction highlights the tension between earthly duties and the urgent, all-consuming call of God's kingdom.
Jesus is calling people to follow him, but not everyone is ready for the radical commitment required. Following the eager scribe who offered himself without counting the cost, Jesus now calls to another, who asks for a delay to fulfill a family obligation. This interaction highlights the tension between earthly duties and the urgent, all-consuming call of God's kingdom.
"To another he said, “Follow me.” But he said, “Lord, let me first go and bury my father.” And Jesus said to him, “Leave the dead to bury their own dead. But as for you, go and proclaim the kingdom of God.”" — Jesus’ command, "Follow me," is so direct and urgent that the man’s immediate response isn’t a refusal, but an assumption that he will go, only asking for a brief delay for a crucial family duty. Thi…
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Last reviewed October 2026