Burial Duties

Burial Duties

Matthew 8:21-22, NIV

Another disciple said to him, “Lord, first let me go and bury my father.” 22But Jesus told him, “Follow me, and let the dead bury their own dead.”

Luke 9:59-60, NIV

He said to another man, “Follow me.” But he replied, “Lord, first let me go and bury my father.” 60Jesus said to him, “Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and proclaim the kingdom of God.”

Setting the Scene

Matthew tells us that a “disciple” approached Jesus with a complication; Luke tells us that the exchange was initiated by Jesus. By calling him a “disciple,” Matthew may simply be acknowledging that Jesus had already invited him to follow.

The man’s immediate response to the invitation to follow Jesus was a qualified yes, but there was something else important he wanted to do first—bury his father. Our first impression might be that the man’s father had just died and he was asking for a brief delay, but the circumstances indicate the man’s father was still alive, and he was actually asking for an indefinite delay. Once the man’s duty to his father was fulfilled at some point in the future, then he would follow Jesus.

This potential disciple may have had legitimate reasons to hesitate making his commitment to Jesus. If he was the oldest son, he had multiple duties and privileges. Jesus’ response to his conditional allegiance is not license to disobey the commandment to honor our parents or to ignore our responsibilities as their children. Rather, Jesus’ words challenged the man’s use of “first” in a way that placed commitment to Christ somewhere farther down on the list.

At first glance, we may think Jesus sounds harsh in saying, “Let the dead bury their own dead,” but his expression can also mean let the dying bury the dead. In other words, “I’m calling you to a life that is a higher priority; others can take care of the details of death because they are not called to that life.” The life-giving task to “proclaim the kingdom of God” takes precedence over all other responsibilities.

Getting Personal

What responsibilities and circumstances in your life challenge you in keeping your commitment to Christ as first priority? Why?

What might you be putting “first” in your life ahead of what Christ has told you to do?

Circumstances will always arise to challenge our commitment to Christ. When they do, our allegiance must be clear. The temptation of the qualified yes is that it allows us to feel like we have responded positively when we have actually just put off the decision. Jesus asks for nothing less than first place.

Talking to God

Confess to the Lord the interests and concerns that occasionally take over first place in your priorities. Thank him for faithfully drawing your heart and mind back to him.