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We may dismiss the old conceit that sought to identify these three persons with three apostles, Judas, Thomas, Matthew. It is hardly credible that these apostles, already named as apostles in this Gospel, would be now introduced here as "a certain man," "another," "another." They would have been mentioned by name, surely, if they had been meant in person. "A certain scribe," "another of His disciples," "another"; this is all recorded of them in the Gospels — not enough to identify the individuals, but sufficient to accentuate the cases. One of them, the last of the three, seems to have been shaping for discipleship for some time, and was now making full prefer of it. These men differed apparently in their dispositions. The first seems bold and impulsive, as his loud avowal would show — "I will follow Thee whithersoever Thou goest." The second looks modest and thoughtful, as the piety he expresses toward his father would indicate — "Lord, I will follow Thee, but suffer me first to go and bury my father." The third appears cautious and calculating; so we infer from his desire to smooth things first with his relations — "Lord, I will follow Thee; but suffer me first to go bid them farewell that are at home at my house." Again: These persons differed very evidently, in their gospel ideas. They all recognized the Messianic mission of Jesus, but diverged in their thought of its character and aim. The first regarded Him as the Christ certainly, but, like many more, imagined that it was a temporal kingdom, with temporal attendings, that he was aiming at, and that it would be well to be with Him in this aim of His, the direct way to the things of this life; hence his gushing proffer, "I will follow Thee whithersoever Thou goest." The second also regarded Him as the Christ, but perceived His aim to be rather a reign of "spirit and truth" than of might, and, spiritualized as he was, and waiting with the few for "the consolation of Israel," he would assuredly follow this Son of David when his dying father should be buried and the way all clear; hence also his sincere but delaying request, "Lord, I will follow Thee; but suffer me first to go and bury my father." The third, like the others, regarded Jesus as the Messiah, and with the second perceived the spirituality of His aim, and felt drawn into sympathy with Him in His spiritual gospel, a follower in heart of His blessed Person. But the flesh shrank where the spirit was willing in him; he would rather not break with his family if he could but go and settle matters with them so as to stand well in their eyes while yet he followed Jesus; hence also his true but somewhat trimming proffer, "Lord, I will follow Thee; but let me first go bid them farewell that are at home at my house." Farther: These men differed, as may be gathered from their sentiments, in the risks they ran of coming short in discipleship — the chief point in the narrative. The first was, without doubt, on his way to serious disappointment; the second was, without perceiving it, asking for a dangerous delay; and the third was, though not very conscious of it, attempting a compromise that would surely prove disastrous.

(J. Chalmers, M. A.)

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KJV: And it came to pass, that, as they went in the way, a certain man said unto him, Lord, I will follow thee whithersoever thou goest.

WEB: As they went on the way, a certain man said to him, "I want to follow you wherever you go, Lord."