Let the Dead Bury the Dead Matthew 8:22

Matthew shared, “when Jesus saw great multitudes about him, he gave commandment to depart unto the other side. And a certain scribe came, and said unto him, Master, I will follow you wherever you go. And Jesus said unto him, The foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man has not where to lay his head. And another of his disciples said unto him, Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my father”, and in chapter eight and verse twenty-two of his book, Matthew shared how Jesus said, “follow me; and let the dead bury the dead” where we read:

But Jesus said unto him, Follow me; and let the dead bury their dead.

The verse reads, “But Jesus said unto him, Follow me;” Matthew began with the word, “but” or “nevertheless, moreover and” “Jesus” which means “Jehovah is Salvation” and is “the Son of God, the Savior of mankind and God incarnate” “said unto him” or “uttered, declared and proclaimed to ”, “follow me” which means “join Jesus as an attendant and accompany Jesus as a disciple”. Jesus told the man who used the excuse that he wanted to wait until his dad was dead and buried to “follow Him”.

The verse goes on to say, “and let the dead bury their dead.” Matthew added the words, “and let the dead” or “and allow and permit the spiritually dead and are destitute of a life that recognizes and is devoted to God because they are given up to trespasses and sins” “bury” or “inter and celebrate with funeral rites” “their dead” which means “the ones who belong to them who are spiritually dead and are destitute of a life that recognizes and is devoted to God because they are given up to trespasses and sins”. Matthew shared how Jesus told this delaying and excuse making disciple to allow people who are spiritually “dead” to “bury” their own “dead”.

When we think through Matthew's words in this verse, we may think that Jesus was being very difficult with this disciple. Jesus knew there are people who are “spiritually dead” who have no desire to be in a relationship with His Father in Heaven, and when they reject Him, they might as well be about the regular duties of life that lead to a “dead” end. Jesus wanted this disciple to know there is no greater relationship than one with Him, and should He choose to follow after those who are spiritually dead, He would not be able to follow Jesus. Let all who read these words take heed.

Next time Matthew shares what happened, “when he was entered into a ship”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

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