Luke 9:59

KJV

And he said unto another, Follow me. But he said, Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my father.

KJV (with Strong's)

And {G1161} he said {G2036} unto {G4314} another {G2087}, Follow {G190} me {G3427}. But {G1161} he said {G2036}, Lord {G2962}, suffer {G2010} me {G3427} first {G4412} to go {G565} and bury {G2290} my {G3450} father {G3962}.

Complete Jewish Bible

To another he said, “Follow me!” but the man replied, “Sir, first let me go away and bury my father.”

Berean Standard Bible

Then He said to another man, “Follow Me.” The man replied, “Lord, first let me go and bury my father.”

American Standard Version

And he said unto another, Follow me. But he said, Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my father.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Luke 9:59 captures a pivotal exchange where Jesus issues an immediate call to discipleship, only to be met with a potential follower's request for delay, citing the sacred duty of burying his father. This encounter, part of a series illustrating the radical demands of kingdom citizenship, profoundly underscores the absolute and urgent priority Jesus places on following Him, challenging conventional societal and familial obligations in light of the Kingdom of God.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is situated within a crucial section of Luke's Gospel, specifically [Luke 9:57-62](/luke/9-57-62 "The Cost of Discipleship"). Immediately preceding this interaction, Jesus has just declared that the "Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head" ([Luke 9:58](/luke/9-58 "Jesus' Homelessness")), setting a tone of self-denial and radical commitment for those who would follow Him. Following this verse, another potential disciple requests to bid farewell to his family, further emphasizing the theme of immediate and unconditional surrender to Christ's call. This trio of encounters serves as a powerful literary device, highlighting the escalating demands of discipleship and contrasting worldly priorities with the urgent call of the Kingdom. The narrative here is not merely descriptive but prescriptive, challenging the reader to consider their own readiness for radical obedience.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** In ancient Jewish society, the duty of burying one's parents was considered one of the most sacred and non-negotiable filial responsibilities, often referred to as "hesed shel emet" (true kindness) because it could not be repaid. It involved not only the immediate burial but also a period of mourning and care for the deceased's estate, which could extend for a significant time. The phrase "bury my father" could mean either that the father had just died, or more likely, that the father was elderly and the son wished to wait until his father's natural death to fulfill this duty before committing to Jesus. This cultural expectation made the man's request seem entirely reasonable, even pious, from a human perspective. Jesus's response, therefore, would have been profoundly shocking and counter-cultural, challenging the very foundations of societal and familial obligation in favor of an unprecedented spiritual priority.
* **Key Themes:** Luke 9:59 contributes significantly to several overarching themes in Luke's Gospel. Foremost is the **Radical Priority of Discipleship**, emphasizing that following Jesus demands an immediate and unreserved commitment that transcends all earthly ties, even those considered sacred. This passage reinforces the **Urgency of the Kingdom of God**, portraying Jesus's mission as one that cannot be delayed by personal affairs or cultural expectations. The call to "Follow me" ([Luke 9:59](/luke/9-59 "Luke 9:59 - The Call to Follow")) is presented as an urgent summons to participate in the proclamation of God's reign, echoing the broader theme of the Kingdom's imminence found throughout Jesus's ministry (e.g., [Luke 4:43](/luke/4-43 "Jesus Preaching the Kingdom of God")). Furthermore, the verse highlights the **Primacy of Spiritual Over Earthly Obligations**, illustrating a profound tension between deeply ingrained filial duty and the higher calling of God's will. Jesus's implicit message, made explicit in the parallel account in [Matthew 8:22](/matthew/8-22 "Matthew 8:22 - Let the Dead Bury Their Dead"), is that the spiritual mission of the Kingdom takes precedence over even the most weighty familial responsibilities.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **Follow (Greek, _akolouthéō'_):** From a root meaning "to be in the same way with," this word properly signifies to accompany, specifically as a disciple. It implies not just physical proximity but a commitment to adopt the master's way of life, teachings, and mission. In this context, Jesus's command is an invitation to active, imitative discipleship, a complete alignment with His purpose and journey.
* **Suffer (Greek, _epitrépō'_):** This verb means "to turn over (transfer), i.e., allow, give leave, permit." The man's use of this word is a plea for permission to delay his response to Jesus's call. It highlights his desire to fulfill a perceived obligation before fully committing, seeking a temporary deferment of the divine command.
* **Bury (Greek, _tháptō'_):** A primary verb meaning "to celebrate funeral rites, i.e., inter." While seemingly straightforward, the cultural context suggests this could refer to either an immediate funeral or, more likely, the long-term responsibility of caring for an aging parent until their death and then performing the burial rites. The man's request is rooted in a deeply ingrained cultural and familial duty, which he believes takes precedence.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And he said unto another, 'Follow me.'"**: Jesus, having just clarified the demanding nature of His itinerant ministry, extends a direct and personal invitation to another individual to become His disciple. The command "Follow me" (ἀκολούθει μοι) is a present imperative, implying an immediate and continuous action, a call to join His mission and lifestyle without delay. This is a divine summons, requiring a decisive response.
* **"But he said, 'Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my father.'"**: The man acknowledges Jesus's authority by addressing Him as "Lord" (Κύριε), yet he immediately presents a condition. His request to be "suffered" (ἐπίτρεψόν) or permitted to go "first" (πρῶτον) before following Jesus reveals a prioritization of a deeply ingrained cultural and familial duty over the immediate call of the Kingdom. The phrase "to go and bury my father" (ἀπελθόντι θάψαι τὸν πατέρα μου) signifies a commitment to fulfill this sacred filial obligation, which, as discussed in the context, could imply waiting for an elderly father to die naturally. This response sets up a direct conflict between the man's perceived responsibilities and Jesus's radical demand for immediate allegiance.

#### Literary Devices
Luke 9:59 powerfully employs **Contrast** and **Irony**. The immediate, unconditional call of Jesus to "Follow me" stands in stark contrast to the man's conditional, delayed response, "suffer me first to go and bury my father." This highlights the fundamental tension between the demands of the Kingdom of God and the legitimate, yet ultimately subordinate, claims of earthly life. There is also a subtle **Irony** in the man addressing Jesus as "Lord" (acknowledging His authority) while simultaneously attempting to dictate the terms of his obedience. This reveals a common human tendency to acknowledge divine authority in principle but hesitate in practice, seeking to reconcile divine commands with personal convenience or cultural expectations.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
This encounter in Luke 9:59 profoundly illustrates the radical nature of discipleship, asserting that the Kingdom of God demands an unreserved and immediate commitment that transcends all other loyalties, even those as sacred as familial duties. Jesus's call to "follow me" is not an invitation to a casual affiliation but a summons to a new order of priorities where allegiance to Him and His mission takes absolute precedence. This challenges the deeply ingrained human tendency to prioritize comfort, security, or even culturally revered obligations over the urgent and immediate demands of God's will. The theological implication is clear: true discipleship requires a reordering of one's entire life around Christ, recognizing that the spiritual realities of the Kingdom outweigh all temporal concerns.

* [Matthew 10:37](/matthew/10-37 "Matthew 10:37 - Love for Family vs. Christ")
* [Philippians 3:7-8](/philippians/3-7-8 "Philippians 3:7-8 - Paul's Priorities")
* [Luke 14:26](/luke/14-26 "Luke 14:26 - Hating Family for Christ")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Luke 9:59 serves as a profound mirror for contemporary believers, challenging us to honestly examine the "fathers to bury" in our own lives – those seemingly legitimate, noble, or even pious obligations, desires, or comforts that we allow to delay or diminish our full obedience to Christ's call. This passage forces us to confront the reality that discipleship is not merely an addition to our existing lives but a complete reorientation of our priorities around Jesus and His Kingdom. It calls us to embrace an urgent, radical commitment, recognizing that the work of God's Kingdom is paramount and cannot be postponed for personal convenience, cultural expectations, or even deeply cherished relationships. True faith demands a willingness to lay aside all competing claims, no matter how valid they may seem, in favor of the immediate and absolute call of Christ.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **What "legitimate" obligations or desires in my life might be hindering my immediate and full obedience to Christ's call?**
* **How does my daily life reflect the radical priority of Jesus and His Kingdom over other commitments?**
* **Am I truly ready to embrace the urgency of God's mission, or do I tend to procrastinate or make excuses?**
* **In what areas of my life do I need to reorder my priorities to align more fully with Christ's demands?**

### FAQ

**What did Jesus mean by "let the dead bury their dead" in the parallel account, and how does it relate to Luke 9:59?**

Answer: While not explicitly stated in Luke 9:59, the parallel account in [Matthew 8:22](/matthew/8-22 "Matthew 8:22 - Let the Dead Bury Their Dead") (and implied in Luke's broader context) clarifies Jesus's radical response: "Let the dead bury their dead: but go thou and preach the kingdom of God." This saying is a powerful example of **hyperbole** and **paradox**, characteristic of Jesus's teaching. It does not literally mean to abandon one's deceased family members. Instead, "the dead" refers to two distinct groups:
1. **Spiritually Dead:** Those who are spiritually unresponsive to God's call, engrossed in worldly affairs and priorities. These are the ones who can attend to the literal burials.
2. **Literally Dead:** The deceased who need to be buried.
Jesus's point is that the urgent, life-giving mission of proclaiming the Kingdom of God takes absolute precedence over even the most sacred and time-consuming earthly duties. He is calling the man to prioritize the spiritual, eternal work of the Kingdom over the temporal, though culturally important, obligations of the world. The spiritual urgency of following Christ and proclaiming the gospel outweighs all other concerns.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Luke 9:59, with its stark demand for immediate and absolute allegiance, finds its ultimate fulfillment in the person and work of Jesus Christ Himself. Jesus is the embodiment of the radical commitment He demands from His followers. He perfectly exemplified placing the Father's will above all earthly ties and comforts, even to the point of having "nowhere to lay His head" ([Luke 9:58](/luke/9-58 "Jesus' Homelessness")). His entire life was a singular, unwavering pursuit of His redemptive mission, culminating in His sacrificial death on the cross. The "burying of the father" represents any earthly claim that competes with the divine call, and Christ Himself, by His perfect obedience, demonstrates the path of ultimate submission. Through His death and resurrection, Jesus inaugurated the new covenant, calling believers into a spiritual family and a Kingdom whose priorities supersede all earthly allegiances ([Mark 3:31-35](/mark/3-31-35 "Jesus' True Family")). Therefore, to "follow me" in [Luke 9:59](/luke/9-59 "Luke 9:59 - The Call to Follow") is to participate in Christ's own radical obedience, to die to self and live for Him ([Galatians 2:20](/galatians/2-20 "Crucified with Christ")), recognizing that our ultimate identity and purpose are found in Him, the "firstborn among many brethren" ([Romans 8:29](/romans/8-29 "Firstborn Among Many Brethren")), who calls us to share in His glorious, eternal mission.

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Matthew 16:24

¶ Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any [man] will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.

1 Kings 19:20

And he left the oxen, and ran after Elijah, and said, Let me, I pray thee, kiss my father and my mother, and [then] I will follow thee. And he said unto him, Go back again: for what have I done to thee?

Matthew 6:33

But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

Matthew 8:21

And another of his disciples said unto him, Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my father.

Matthew 8:22

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

Haggai 1:2

Thus speaketh the LORD of hosts, saying, This people say, The time is not come, the time that the LORD'S house should be built.

Matthew 9:9

¶ And as Jesus passed forth from thence, he saw a man, named Matthew, sitting at the receipt of custom: and he saith unto him, Follow me. And he arose, and followed him.