Luke 9:57-62 – “As they were going along the road, someone said to Him, “I will follow You wherever You go.” 58 And Jesus said to him, “The foxes have holes and the birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head.”  59 And He said to another, “Follow Me.” But he said, “Lord, permit me first to go and bury my father.” 60 But He said to him, “Allow the dead to bury their own dead; but as for you, go and proclaim everywhere the kingdom of God.”  61 Another also said, “I will follow You, Lord; but first permit me to say good-bye to those at home.” 62 But Jesus said to him, “No one, after putting his hand to the plow and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.” NASU

Well NO but that is what I had a person tell me regarding this passage that Jesus was saying, “Let the walking dead bury the dead.”  Context is important when considering anything and especially scriptural truths as is the case here.

Remember the bold declaration in this account to Jesus, “I will follow you anywhere.”  Jesus responded with his unique way of challenging their commitment and exposing the lack thereof.  Another came to Him and said, “I will follow you but let me go home first to bury my father.”  That is when Jesus said, “Allow the dead to bury their own dead…”  The man’s father was not deceased but he was asking to be allowed time to go home assume his responsibilities and ultimately receive his inheritance first.  Jesus said, “NO!” 

But, the use of that phrase, “Allow the dead to bury their own dead,” is interesting for we know that the Hebrews used the word dead to express indifference toward something or identify that it has no influence or authority over them.  We are told in Romans 7:4 to be ‘dead to the law’ and in Romans 6:11 we understand that to mean that sin has no influence over us for we are ‘dead to sin.’  In a very real sense our Lord was identifying that which is most important – the proclaiming of the Gospel of the Kingdom.  In that sense He was advising those petitioning Him for a delay in commitment and service was a choice between life and death.  It was not a statement of our Lord of lack of empathy for the loss of a loved one.  Remember how he reacted at Lazarus’ tomb – HE WEPT! 

Further we know the Bible teaches that we are to ‘honor’ our parents Ephesians 6:2 and elsewhere so our Lord would never suggest disrespecting parents or divesting our responsibilities.  He was rather identifying that to which these were being called was far more important than earthly treasure.  The real question is not whether the Lord was being too harsh in His response but what was the man asking or seeking.  It would seem that he was looking for an excuse to delay his commitment while justifying himself saying, “Once this is done then I will….”   I have dealt with scores of people who use the same type of excuse for not serving God and the thread is always the same.  ‘Once this or that is done then I will….’  NO!  Today is the day of Salvation.  NOW is the accepted time.

Jesus said in Luke 9:23 – “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.”  The decision to accept the call of God to salvation should never be delayed for we know not what a day may bring forth and life is truly a vapor.  It is here one moment then gone.

            God bless you as you go forth in the Life of God!