What is the meaning of Matthew 8:21? Another of His disciples • The phrase points to someone already counted among the followers, not a hostile inquirer (Matthew 8:19–20). • Scripture often distinguishes “crowds” from “disciples,” yet even within the disciples there are varying depths of commitment (John 6:60–66; Luke 14:25–27). • The wording reminds us that Jesus deals personally with each believer, exposing hidden reservations one heart at a time (John 2:24-25). requested • His approach is courteous but conditional. He does not flatly refuse Jesus’ call; he tries to negotiate terms. • The Lord regularly receives petitions—“your Father knows what you need before you ask Him” (Matthew 6:8)—but He never grants a request that competes with wholehearted obedience (James 4:3). • Asking is good; tacking on conditions reveals divided allegiance (Acts 5:1-4). “Lord” • The disciple uses the right title—“Lord”—acknowledging Jesus’ authority (Romans 10:9; Acts 2:36). • Saying “Lord” while delaying obedience undercuts the confession (Luke 6:46). • True lordship means Jesus’ voice overrules every other claim, even good and honorable ones (Philippians 2:10-11). first let me go • The tiny word “first” signals priority. Jesus had said, “Seek first the kingdom of God” (Matthew 6:33). • Delayed obedience is disobedience, however reasonable the delay may appear (Proverbs 3:27-28). • Whenever “first” is attached to anything before the Lord’s call—career, family, comfort—it exposes a rival throne (Luke 9:59-61). and bury my father. • Honoring parents is a God-given duty (Exodus 20:12), and caring for funeral arrangements was a sacred obligation (Genesis 25:9). • Yet Jesus’ immediate reply—“Follow Me, and let the dead bury their own dead” (Matthew 8:22)—shows that even the most legitimate responsibility must bow to the greater call of the living Christ (2 Timothy 2:4). • Some scholars note the father may not have died yet; the son could be asking for an indefinite postponement. Whether the burial were imminent or years away, the point stands: nothing outranks Jesus’ summons (1 Kings 19:19-21). • The spiritually “dead” can handle earthly affairs; those made alive in Christ are drafted into urgent kingdom service (Ephesians 2:4-5). summary Matthew 8:21 exposes the subtle temptation to delay full obedience behind respectable excuses. Calling Jesus “Lord” is empty if anything—no matter how noble—takes first place over His command. Christ’s disciples are marked by immediate, unquestioning response, trusting that when they put Him first, every genuine responsibility will find its proper place under His rule. |
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