Yet another said, “I will follow you, Lord, but let me first say farewell to those at my home.”
English Standard Version (ESV)
While the man says he wants to follow Jesus, the word used for "bid farewell" implies more than a simple goodbye; it suggests arranging his affairs and giving final instructions, indicating he's more focused on settling his past than embracing Jesus' future. This isn't just about saying goodbye to his family, but about delaying discipleship to tie up loose ends in his earthly life.
Yet another said, “I will follow you, Lord, but let me first say farewell to those at my home.”
English Standard Version (ESV)
In this part of Luke's Gospel, Jesus is on his way to Jerusalem, and he's encountering people who offer to follow him but with various hesitations. He's already challenged the first man about the homeless reality of his ministry and is dealing with another who wants to delay following until after his father's burial. This third man, eager to follow Jesus, still asks for permission to go home and say goodbye to his family first.
This man's request seems reasonable, almost polite. Who wouldn't want to say goodbye to family before a major life change? But Jesus saw something deeper.
The word 'first' in this request is a red flag. It signals a conditional commitment, not the wholehearted surrender Jesus demands.
A Trojan Horse Request
This individual says, 'I will follow you, Lord, but first...' This 'but first' is a stalling tactic. It's like saying 'Yes, I'll help, but first let me finish this one thing.' Often, that 'one thing' becomes an endless series of 'one things.'
The Master's Diagnosis
Jesus understood that this 'farewell' wasn't just a quick goodbye. The original word used suggests not only leaving but also arranging affairs and giving final instructions. This implies a significant delay and a potential for earthly ties to pull him back permanently. His offer to follow was sincere in the moment, but his 'first' revealed a heart not yet fully disentangled from worldly concerns, making his commitment tentative.
Jesus follows this man's request with a stark image: the plowman who looks back. What does this have to do with saying goodbye?
Jesus' response paints a powerful picture of what it means to be truly committed to God's kingdom.
The Farmer's Focus
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Imagine a farmer with a plow. To create straight, productive furrows, the farmer must fix their eyes on the horizon ahead, not on the ground they've just covered. Looking back is counterproductive; it disrupts the rhythm, causes crooked rows, and wastes effort.
Kingdom Priorities
Jesus applies this to the Kingdom of God. He's saying that the 'farewell' this man wants to make isn't just a minor delay. It represents a 'looking back'—a preoccupation with earthly affairs and relationships that pulls his attention away from the forward, unwavering focus required for discipleship. This backward glance signals that his heart isn't fully 'in it,' making him unfit for the crucial work of the kingdom.
Understand the original words
Kyrios · Greek Noun
A title of respect, authority, and divine recognition. In the New Testament, it acknowledges Jesus' sovereignty, messianic identity, and deity.
akoloutheō · Greek Verb
To walk behind someone, implying discipleship, imitation, and commitment. It signifies a life of radical obedience and abandonment of one's own agenda to join the mission and path of Jesus.
This man's request, while seemingly reasonable—a desire to formally say goodbye and perhaps settle affairs at home—contrasts sharply with the immediate, unwavering commitment Jesus demands. The commentary notes the parallel with Elisha, but Jesus elevates the standard, highlighting that the 'Kingdom of God' requires an even deeper level of undivided devotion than the prophetic call Elisha received.
c. 400-300 BC
Hellenistic Period Begins
Following Alexander the Great's conquests, Greek culture and language spread across the Near East, influencing local customs and social structures, including the development of more complex terminology for social interactions like 'bidding farewell'.
c. 1st Century BC - 1st Century AD
Roman Rule in Judea
Judea comes under Roman control, bringing political and social upheaval. This period shapes the context for Jesus' ministry and the everyday lives of those who heard his teachings.
c. AD 27-30— this verse
Jesus' Galilean Ministry
Jesus begins his public ministry, calling disciples and teaching about the Kingdom of God. This is the immediate backdrop for the interactions described in Luke 9.
c. AD 30-33
Jesus' Journey to Jerusalem
Jesus and his disciples undertake their final journey towards Jerusalem, a period marked by significant teachings and encounters, including the instances of discipleship being tested.
This passage parallels the request to say farewell to family before following a divine call, showing a pattern of God's representatives interacting with those left behind before embarking on their mission.
Luke 14:33This verse directly states that anyone who does not give up all their possessions cannot be Jesus' disciple, highlighting the radical commitment Jesus requires, which is challenged by the desire to settle earthly affairs.
Matthew 8:21-22This parallel account shows a similar situation where Jesus calls someone to follow Him, and the response involves deferring the call to attend to family matters, illustrating Jesus' firm stance on immediate discipleship.
1 Kings 19:19-21Elisha's response to Elijah's call echoes the desire to settle family affairs, but his subsequent actions demonstrate a decisive break, serving as a contrast to the man in Luke who is unwilling to make that immediate commitment.
2 Corinthians 2:13Paul uses the Greek word for 'bid farewell' when speaking of leaving Troas, showing how this concept of parting and moving on is a recurring theme in the lives of those serving God, but always with a forward-looking perspective.
vincentLuke 9:61: "And another also said, Lord, I will follow thee; but let me first go bid them farewell, which are at home at my house."
To bid farewell (ἀποτάξασθαι)In this sense the word is used only in later Greek. In classical Greek it signifies to set apart or assign, as a soldier to his post or an official to his office, and later to detach soldiers. Hence to dismiss one with orders. This latter sense may, as Kypke suggests, be included in the meaning of the word in this passage; the man des…
wesleyLuke 9:61: "And another also said, Lord, I will follow thee; but let me first go bid them farewell, which are at home at my house."
9:61 Suffer me first to bid them farewell that are in my house - As Elisha did after Elijah had called him from the plough, 1Kings 19:19; to which our Lord's answer seems to allude.
While the man says he wants to follow Jesus, the word used for "bid farewell" implies more than a simple goodbye; it suggests arranging his affairs and giving final instructions, indicating he's more focused on settling his past than embracing Jesus' future. This isn't just about saying goodbye to his family, but about delaying discipleship to tie up loose ends in his earthly life.
In this part of Luke's Gospel, Jesus is on his way to Jerusalem, and he's encountering people who offer to follow him but with various hesitations. He's already challenged the first man about the homeless reality of his ministry and is dealing with another who wants to delay following until after his father's burial. This third man, eager to follow Jesus, still asks for permission to go home and say goodbye to his family first.
In this part of Luke's Gospel, Jesus is on his way to Jerusalem, and he's encountering people who offer to follow him but with various hesitations. He's already challenged the first man about the homeless reality of his ministry and is dealing with another who wants to delay following until after his father's burial. This third man, eager to follow Jesus, still asks for permission to go home and say goodbye to his family first.
"Yet another said, “I will follow you, Lord, but let me first say farewell to those at my home.”" — While the man says he wants to follow Jesus, the word used for "bid farewell" implies more than a simple goodbye; it suggests arranging his affairs and giving final instructions, indicating he's mo…
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Last reviewed October 2026