Matthew 8:21

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

And {G1161} another {G2087} of his {G846} disciples {G3101} said {G2036} unto him {G846}, Lord {G2962}, suffer {G2010} me {G3427} first {G4412} to go {G565} and {G2532} bury {G2290} my {G3450} father {G3962}.

Another of the talmidim said to him, "Sir, first let me go and bury my father."

Another of His disciples requested, “Lord, first let me go and bury my father.”

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

Commentary on Matthew 8:21 (KJV)

Matthew 8:21 presents a pivotal moment in Jesus's ministry, highlighting the radical demands of true discipleship. This verse captures the request of a potential follower, setting the stage for one of Jesus's most challenging statements regarding commitment to the Kingdom of God.

Context

This verse is part of a series of encounters where Jesus confronts individuals about the cost of following Him. It immediately follows the exchange with a scribe who offered to follow Jesus anywhere (Matthew 8:19), to whom Jesus responded about having nowhere to lay His head (Matthew 8:20). The request in Matthew 8:21, though seemingly reasonable from a cultural standpoint, is met with an equally challenging reply from Jesus in the very next verse. This narrative emphasizes the urgency and supreme priority of Jesus's call.

Key Themes

  • The Priority of the Kingdom of God: Jesus consistently taught that allegiance to Him and His mission must supersede all other obligations, even sacred family duties. This verse underscores the radical nature of placing God's will first.
  • The Cost of Discipleship: Following Jesus is not a casual decision but demands complete commitment and a willingness to set aside personal desires or cultural expectations when they conflict with God's call. Jesus often emphasized the radical demands of following Him.
  • Urgency of the Call: Jesus's response implies that delaying commitment, even for a culturally accepted reason, is not an option when the Kingdom is at hand.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "suffer me first to go and bury my father" carries significant weight. In ancient Jewish culture, burying one's parents was considered a highly honorable and essential filial duty. However, the timing of this request is crucial. If the father had just died, the disciple would have been in mourning and likely already engaged in funeral rites, not asking for permission to leave. Therefore, many scholars believe "bury my father" was likely an idiom for waiting until the father died naturally—which could be years away—before fully committing to Jesus. This interpretation suggests the disciple was asking for a significant delay in his commitment, prioritizing future inheritance or family obligations over immediate discipleship. The term "disciple" (Greek: mathētēs) here refers to a learner or follower, indicating someone who had already begun to associate with Jesus. This account has a strong parallel in Luke's Gospel, where another potential follower makes a similar request.

Practical Application

For believers today, Matthew 8:21 serves as a powerful reminder about the nature of our commitment to Christ. While respecting family and fulfilling responsibilities are important, Jesus challenges us to examine our priorities. Are there legitimate, but ultimately secondary, concerns that we allow to delay or hinder our full devotion to God's calling? This verse calls for a spirit of readiness and a willingness to obey God's voice without procrastination, recognizing that the Kingdom of God demands our ultimate allegiance above all else. It encourages us to prioritize spiritual duties and the advancement of God's Kingdom in our lives.

Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • Luke 9:59

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

  • Luke 9:62

    And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.

  • Leviticus 21:11

    Neither shall he go in to any dead body, nor defile himself for his father, or for his mother;

  • Leviticus 21:12

    Neither shall he go out of the sanctuary, nor profane the sanctuary of his God; for the crown of the anointing oil of his God [is] upon him: I [am] the LORD.

  • Numbers 6:6

    All the days that he separateth [himself] unto the LORD he shall come at no dead body.

  • Numbers 6:7

    He shall not make himself unclean for his father, or for his mother, for his brother, or for his sister, when they die: because the consecration of his God [is] upon his head.

  • 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?

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