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this world: —

1. The time. In Matthew 8:19, it is when Christ had a mind to retire, and had declared His purpose to go into the desert; in Luke, when He steadfastly set His face to go to Jerusalem. Both may agree; the one more immediately, the other more remotely; first to the desert, then to Jerusalem.

2. Here is a resolution professed: "Lord, I will follow Thee whithersoever Thou goest." Where take notice —

(1) Of the ready forwardness of the scribe. He was not called by Christ, but offered himself of his own accord.

(2) Observe the largeness of the offer, and unboundedness of it, "whithersoever"; as indeed it is our duty to follow Christ through thick and thin.

3. Christ's answer and reply: "And Jesus said unto him, Foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests; but the Son of Man hath not where to lay His head." By the tenor of Christ's answer, you may know what ails him, and on what foot he limped; for this is spoken either by way of preparation to enable him to keep his resolution, or rather by way of probation, to try the truth and strength of it; whether it were sincere and sound; yea or nay: us the young man was tried (Mark 10:21). So here, we hear no more of this scribe; our Lord knew how to discover hypocrites. Two things were defective in this resolution.

(1) It was sudden and rash, not weighing the difficulties. They that rashly leap into a profession, usually fall back at the first trial. Therefore we must sit down and count the charges (Luke 14:28).

(2) There was a carnal aim in it. He minded his own profit and honour; therefore Christ in effect telleth him, "You had best consider what you do, for following of Me will be far from advancing any temporal interest of yours." "He did not discourage a willing follower, but discover a worldly hypocrite," saith Chrysologus. The doctrine we learn from hence is this: —They that will sincerely follow Christ, must not look for any great matters in the world, but rather prepare themselves to run all hazards with Him. This is evident —

1. From Christ's own example; and the same mind should be in all His followers: "They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world" (John 17:16). Our estranging of our hearts from the world is an evidence of our conformity to Christ. Christ passed through the world to sanctify it as a place of service; but His constant residence was not here, to fix it as a place of rest; and all that are Christ's are alike affected. We pass through as strangers, but are not at home as inhabitants or dwellers; and if we have little of the world's favour, it is enough if any degree of service for God.

2. From the nature of His kingdom. His kingdom is not of this world (John 18:3, 6). It is not a kingdom of pomp, but a kingdom of patience. Here we suffer with Christ, hereafter we reign with Him. The comforts are not earthly, or the good things of this world, but heavenly — the good things of the world to come. This was the scribe's mistake.

3. From the spirit of Christ. His spirit is given us to draw us off from this world to that which is to come (1 Corinthians 2:12).

Use 1. Is information.

(1) With what thoughts we should take up the stricter profession of Christianity — namely, with expectations of the cross. Christ will try us, and the world will hate us; therefore let us not flatter ourselves with an easy passage to heaven.

(2) It informeth us what fools they are that take up religion upon a carnal design of ease and plenty, and will follow Christ to grow rich in the world.

(3) It informs us what an unlikely design they have in hand who would bring the world and Christ fairly to agree, or reconcile their worldly advantages and the profession of the gospel. And when they cannot frame the world and their conveniences to the gospel, do fashion the gospel to the world, and the carnal courses of it.

Use 2. Is instruction. When you come to enter into covenant with Christ, consider —

(1) Christ knoweth what motives do induce you: "He needeth not that any should testify of man, for He knoweth what is in man" (John 2:25).

(2) If the heart be false in making the covenant, it will never hold good. An error in the first concoction will never be mended in the second (Deuteronomy 5:29).

(3) That Christ cannot but take it ill that we are so delicate and tender Of our interests, and so impatient under the cross, when He endured so willingly such great things for our sakes.

(4) If you be not dead to the things of the world, you are not acquainted with the virtue and power of Christ's cross, and have not a true sense of Christianity, cannot glory in it as the most excellent profession in the world (Galatians 6:14).

(5) We are gainers by Christ if we part with all the world for His sake (Mark 10:29, 30); therefore no loss should seem too great in obeying His will. Certainly a man cannot be a loser by God.

(6) All worldly things were confiscated by the Fall, and we can have no spiritual right to them till we receive a new grant by Jesus Christ, who is the heir of all things (1 Corinthians 3:23).

(T. Manton, D. D.)

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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."