Let the Dead Bury their Dead - Luke 9:60

The beloved physician Luke wrote concerning Jesus and His disciples, “ it came to pass, that, as they went in the way, a certain man said unto him, Lord, I will follow you whithersoever you go. And Jesus said unto him, Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man has not where to lay his head. And he said unto another, Follow me. But he said, Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my father”, and in chapter nine and verse sixty of his book Luke shared how Jesus responded, “let the dead bury their Dead” where we read:

Jesus said unto him, Let the dead bury their dead: but go and preach the kingdom of God.

The verse reads, “Jesus said unto him, Let the dead bury their dead:” Luke began with the words, “Jesus said unto him” or “the Son of God, the Savior of mankind and God incarnate uttered, declared and proclaimed to the man who wanted to bury his father”, “let the dead” which means “allow and permit people who are deceased, have breathed their last, destitute of life and inanimate” “bury their dead” or “inter, entomb and lay to rest their own personal people who are deceased, have breathed their last, destitute of life and inanimate”. Luke shared how Jesus told the man who desired to “bury” his father before he came to follow Him to allow the “destitute of life” to “inter” their own people who are “deceased”.

The verse continues, “but go and preach the kingdom of God.” Luke added the words, “but go and preach” which means “however, moreover depart and leave to herald, carry the message of, publish abroad and declare” “the kingdom of God” or “the rule, reign, kingship and dominion of the Godhead bodily and trinity which is comprised of God the Father, Christ the Son and God incarnate”. Luke shared how Jesus directed the man to “depart” and “herald” God's dominion and rule.

When we consider Luke's words in this verse, we see how Jesus understood the man's “reason and excuse” for not following Him right away, and Jesus addressed his idea of “delay” by telling him to “allow and permit” “dead” people to “bury” their “dead” people. This may seem harsh at first, but when we consider people who do not have a relationship with God the Father are “spiritually dead”, we understand they live among others who are in the same condition. Jesus' idea was the “eternality” of the “Kingdom of God” is superior to life on earth, and the fact that people will “live forever” either in “God's Kingdom” or the “kingdom of darkness” should inspire all who follow Him to “herald” His “everlasting” Kingdom. Those who are wise will not only “follow Jesus”, but also make themselves available to tell others the “good news” of the “Kingdom of God”.

Next time Luke shares how a man says to Jesus, “I will follow you; but let me first go bid them farewell, which are at home”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".