Matthew 8:21

KJV

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

KJV (with Strong's)

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}.

Complete Jewish Bible

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

Berean Standard Bible

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

American Standard Version

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

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Matthew 8:21 records a pivotal interaction where one of Jesus's disciples requests permission to first attend to a significant family duty—the burial of his father—before fully committing to following the Lord. This seemingly reasonable request, rooted in deeply held cultural and familial obligations, immediately precedes one of Jesus's most challenging and radical statements on the absolute priority and urgent demands of discipleship, underscoring that allegiance to the Kingdom of God must supersede all other earthly ties and responsibilities.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is strategically placed within a section of Matthew's Gospel (chapters 8-9) that vividly demonstrates Jesus's unparalleled authority through a series of miracles and encounters. Immediately preceding this exchange, Jesus has just responded to a zealous scribe's offer to follow Him anywhere by highlighting the demanding nature of His itinerant ministry, stating that "the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head" ([Matthew 8:20](/matthew/8-20 "Matthew 8:20 - Jesus Has No Home")). The request in [Matthew 8:21](/matthew/8-21 "Matthew 8:21 - The Disciple's Request") sets up Jesus's famously challenging and seemingly harsh reply in [Matthew 8:22](/matthew/8-22 "Matthew 8:22 - Jesus's Radical Command"), where He commands, "Follow me, and let the dead bury their own dead." This narrative sequence emphasizes the radical and immediate nature of Jesus's call to discipleship, contrasting human priorities with divine urgency.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** In ancient Jewish society, burying one's parents was considered a sacred and non-negotiable duty, a supreme act of filial piety. It was one of the most honored mitzvot (commandments) and a core expression of respect and love for one's family. The phrase "bury my father" in this context, however, is widely understood by scholars not to mean that the father had just died, but rather that the disciple wished to wait until his father died naturally, which could be many years in the future. If the father had just passed, the disciple would likely have been in the midst of mourning and funeral rites, not seeking permission to depart. Thus, the request was likely an idiom for a significant delay, prioritizing future inheritance or long-term family obligations over immediate and full commitment to Jesus's ministry.
* **Key Themes:** This interaction contributes significantly to several overarching themes in Matthew's Gospel and the broader New Testament. Firstly, it powerfully illustrates **The Priority of the Kingdom of God**, asserting that allegiance to Christ and His mission must take precedence over all other obligations, even those as sacred as family duties. Secondly, it highlights **The Cost of Discipleship**, demonstrating that following Jesus is not a casual decision but demands complete commitment and a willingness to set aside personal desires, comfort, or even deeply ingrained cultural expectations when they conflict with God's call, as emphasized by Jesus's teaching on radical commitment in [Luke 14:26](/luke/14-26 "Luke 14:26 - Hating Family for Christ"). Finally, it underscores the **Urgency of the Call**, implying that delaying commitment, even for culturally acceptable reasons, is not an option when the Kingdom of God is at hand and demands immediate response.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **disciple (Greek, _mathētḗs'_):** From G3101, meaning "a learner, i.e., pupil." The use of this term indicates that the individual was not merely a curious bystander but had already begun to associate with Jesus, suggesting a preliminary commitment or interest in His teachings. His request, therefore, comes from one who has already taken steps towards following Jesus, making Jesus's subsequent response all the more pointed.
* **suffer (Greek, _epitrépō'_):** From G2010, meaning "to turn over (transfer), i.e., allow, give leave (liberty, license), let, permit." This word highlights the disciple's request for permission, indicating his understanding that following Jesus involved a departure from his current life and required divine sanction for a temporary deferral.
* **first (Greek, _prōton'_):** From G4412, the neuter of πρῶτος as adverb, meaning "firstly (in time, place, order, or importance)." This adverb is critical to understanding the nature of the disciple's request. He is not asking for a brief absence to perform an immediate funeral, but rather to prioritize a future event and its associated responsibilities before fully dedicating himself to Jesus's itinerant ministry. This "first" is precisely what Jesus challenges.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And another of his disciples said unto him":** This phrase introduces a new individual, distinct from the scribe in the preceding verses. The identification as "one of his disciples" signifies someone who has already made a preliminary commitment to Jesus, is learning from Him, and is part of His inner circle of followers. This context elevates the significance of his request and Jesus's response.
* **"Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my father":** The address "Lord" (G2962, _kýrios_) acknowledges Jesus's authority and mastership. The core of the request is for permission ("suffer me") to attend to a critical family duty ("to go and bury my father") *before* fully committing to following Jesus. The inclusion of "first" (G4412, _prōton_) is crucial, indicating a desire to prioritize this family obligation over an immediate and undivided commitment to Jesus's call. As discussed in the context, "bury my father" is likely an idiom for waiting until the father dies naturally, which could entail a significant, indefinite delay.

#### Literary Devices
This passage employs several powerful literary devices. **Juxtaposition** is evident as this disciple's request is placed immediately after Jesus's statement about having no place to lay His head, and it directly precedes Jesus's radical command to "let the dead bury their own dead." This creates a sharp contrast between human priorities and the divine urgency of the Kingdom. The phrase "bury my father" functions as an **idiom**, not to be taken literally as an immediate funeral, but as a culturally understood expression for waiting for a parent's natural death. This idiomatic usage highlights the depth of the cultural expectation and the radical nature of Jesus's counter-cultural demand. Furthermore, there is a subtle **irony** in the disciple addressing Jesus as "Lord" while simultaneously seeking to delay obedience to His implied call, revealing a tension between verbal acknowledgment of authority and practical submission.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
This verse profoundly speaks to the nature of ultimate allegiance and the radical demands of the Kingdom of God. It challenges the common human tendency to prioritize earthly responsibilities, even noble ones, over the immediate and supreme call of Christ. Theologically, it underscores that following Jesus requires a reordering of one's entire life, placing God's will and the advancement of His Kingdom above all familial, cultural, or personal aspirations. This does not negate the importance of family, but rather redefines the ultimate source of one's identity and loyalty within the new family of God. Jesus's teaching here, and in similar passages, elevates the spiritual over the temporal, demanding an undivided heart and immediate obedience to His divine summons.

* [Luke 9:59-60](/luke/9-59-60 "Luke 9:59-60 - The Parallel Account")
* [Deuteronomy 33:9](/deuteronomy/33-9 "Deuteronomy 33:9 - Levites Prioritizing God")
* [Luke 14:26](/luke/14-26 "Luke 14:26 - Radical Demands of Discipleship")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Matthew 8:21 serves as a profound mirror for contemporary believers, challenging us to examine the true nature of our commitment to Christ. In a world that constantly demands our attention and loyalty, this verse forces us to confront what "firsts" we place before God's immediate call. While honoring family and fulfilling responsibilities are indeed biblical principles, Jesus's response here reveals that even these good things can become obstacles to ultimate discipleship if they are allowed to delay or diminish our wholehearted devotion to Him. This passage calls us to a spirit of radical readiness, urging us 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, ensuring that our "firsts" align with His divine will and purpose.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **What "firsts" in my life (e.g., career, family, personal comfort, cultural expectations) do I tend to prioritize over God's immediate call to discipleship?**
* **How does this passage challenge my understanding of what it means to truly "follow" Jesus in a practical, daily sense?**
* **Am I willing to set aside culturally accepted norms or personal desires if they conflict with the urgent demands of the Kingdom of God?**

### FAQ

**Was the disciple's father already dead, or was this an immediate funeral request?**

Answer: It is highly unlikely that the disciple's father was already dead. In ancient Jewish culture, if a father had just died, the son would have been in a state of immediate mourning and actively involved in funeral rites, which typically occurred very quickly after death. He would not have been asking Jesus for permission to go, but rather would have already been engaged in the duty. Therefore, scholars widely interpret "bury my father" as an idiom meaning "wait until my father dies naturally." This implies a desire to delay full commitment to Jesus for an indefinite period, possibly years, to fulfill expected filial duties and perhaps inherit property. Jesus's radical response in [Matthew 8:22](/matthew/8-22 "Matthew 8:22 - Jesus's Radical Reply") makes more sense in the context of a request for a significant delay rather than a brief absence for an immediate funeral.

**Why did Jesus give such a seemingly harsh or insensitive response to a culturally important request?**

Answer: Jesus's response was not insensitive but radically counter-cultural, designed to highlight the supreme and urgent priority of the Kingdom of God. He was not devaluing family or the duty of burial, but rather emphasizing that the call to follow Him and proclaim the Kingdom was so urgent and absolute that it superseded all other earthly obligations, even the most sacred. His statement, "Let the dead bury their own dead" ([Matthew 8:22](/matthew/8-22 "Matthew 8:22 - Let the Dead Bury Their Own Dead")), likely refers to those who are spiritually "dead" (unresponsive to God's call) attending to the physically "dead." Jesus was demanding an undivided allegiance, illustrating that the spiritual life and the mission of the Kingdom must take precedence over all else. This radical call is a hallmark of true discipleship, demanding immediate and absolute commitment.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Matthew 8:21, with its challenging call to prioritize the Kingdom above all else, finds its ultimate fulfillment and perfect embodiment in the person of Jesus Christ Himself. Jesus did not merely preach radical discipleship; He lived it perfectly. He left the glory of His Father's side in heaven, emptying Himself and taking on the form of a servant, precisely to accomplish the will of God on earth ([Philippians 2:5-8](/philippians/2-5-8 "Philippians 2:5-8 - Christ's Humility and Obedience")). His entire life was a testament to prioritizing His Father's mission, culminating in His ultimate sacrifice on the cross. He came not to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many ([Mark 10:45](/mark/10-45 "Mark 10:45 - The Son of Man Came to Serve")). In His own words, He declared, "My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to accomplish his work" ([John 4:34](/john/4-34 "John 4:34 - Jesus's Purpose")). Jesus is the one who perfectly fulfilled the Father's will, establishing a new spiritual family for those who do the will of God, superseding even earthly familial ties in ultimate importance ([Mark 3:31-35](/mark/3-31-35 "Mark 3:31-35 - Who Is My Mother and My Brothers?")). He is the life-giver, the one who calls those who are spiritually dead to new life, enabling them to truly "bury their own dead" by breaking free from the grip of the world and its priorities to follow Him into eternal life ([John 5:24](/john/5-24 "John 5:24 - Hearing His Word and Having Eternal Life")). Thus, the radical demand of discipleship in Matthew 8:21 is not an arbitrary rule, but an invitation to participate in the very life and mission of Christ, who perfectly exemplified ultimate devotion to God.

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

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?