Articles
Let the Dead Bury Their Own Dead
Let the Dead Bury Their Own Dead
On the face of it, Jesus’ comment in Luke 9:59-60 seems extremely harsh and uncaring.
And Jesus said to another, “Follow Me.”
But he said, “Lord permit me first to go and bury my father.”
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.”
Why would Jesus refuse to allow a disciple to attend his father’s funeral? I mean, the kingdom can wait just a day or two, can’t it? Doesn’t Jesus in other places demand that His disciples fulfill family obligations in honoring father and mother (Matthew 19:17), caring for them in old age (Mark 7:10-13)?
Yes indeed, and for those reasons most commentators suggest that the man is not simply requesting a day off to observe a funeral. Chrysostom thinks it would include wranglings about the will, months or years of new obligations from the farm and estate, “waves after waves of things coming in succession [that] bear him very far away.”
If Chrysostom is right, it reminds us of the social entanglements cited by those invited to a big dinner as excuses for not attending—a parcel of land, five yoke of oxen, a new bride (Luke 14:16-24). While these do not seem incompatible with the life of a disciple, the men in the parable used them as ways to ignore God’s call. Sadly, missing out on the nobleman’s banquet will not be the end of their suffering and loss.
Jesus’ comment seems to suggest a difference between good, godly obligations and worldly, selfish obligations. Jesus says “the dead” can worry with these things. Corpses don’t dig graves; Jesus refers to the spiritually dead (Ephesians 2:1, 1 Timothy 5:6). The dead lack a kingdom perspective; they get caught up in the world oblivious to eternity. Being a disciple of Jesus often includes the faithful discharge of many obligations, including working a job (Eph. 4:28, 2 Thess. 3:8) and caring for aging parents (1 Tim. 5:8). Many things can be perfectly normal and innocent—vacations, jobs, homes, hobbies, cars—until they prevent a person from following Christ into battle. Disciples of Jesus are called to arrange their affairs in such a way as to give priority to the kingdom; and not just as one activity among many, but as an overarching identity that controls every decision (Matthew 6:33).
We’ve seen it many times: a person allows a pursuit to get in the way. “I’ll become a Christian as soon as I graduate,” he promises. And then four years later it becomes, “I’ll start coming to church right after the wedding.” A few more years andit’s, “After I work hard enough to get a few promotions and start choosing my schedule, I’ll make time for the Lord.” Eventually, the new line becomes, “After I retire.” Lo, he is in a pine box, and he has spent his whole life avoiding the call of the gospel for things the world told him he simply must do.
And yet, what if Jesus really were telling this disciple that he can’t even attend a quick funeral? Maybe the demands of the busiest part of Jesus’ earthly ministry wouldn’t allow even a brief break.
Perhaps we shouldn’t be too quick to soften the shock. The point of this passage is that the call of the kingdom really is more important than anything else. Nothing can distract us from following Jesus. The whole context of Luke 9:57-62 is about the demands of discipleship. Some will be called to give up comfortable homes in order to follow Jesus (57-58). Some will allow an estate to pass on to others (59-60). Some will abandon childhood companions (61-62).
There is not an absolutist line here—some people may receive a calling to serve in ways that requires them to give up more (Luke 18:22, 2 Timothy 2:3). You may not have to make my sacrifices, and I may not have to make yours. But whatever Jesus calls us to do, nothing can excuse us from. “If anyone comes to Me, and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be My disciple. Whoever does not carry his own cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple” (Luke 14:26-27). --John Guzzetta
