Luke 9 59

Luke 9:59 kjv

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

Luke 9:59 nkjv

Then He said to another, "Follow Me." But he said, "Lord, let me first go and bury my father."

Luke 9:59 niv

He said to another man, "Follow me." But he replied, "Lord, first let me go and bury my father."

Luke 9:59 esv

To another he said, "Follow me." But he said, "Lord, let me first go and bury my father."

Luke 9:59 nlt

He said to another person, "Come, follow me." The man agreed, but he said, "Lord, first let me return home and bury my father."

Luke 9 verses

Luke 9 59 Meaning

Luke 9:59 records a moment during Jesus' journey to Jerusalem when He calls another individual to follow Him as a disciple. The man responds by stating a strong desire to first fulfill a critical family duty: to "go and bury my father." This interaction highlights the radical and immediate nature of Jesus' call to discipleship, demanding a complete reprioritization of one's life, even over highly revered societal and familial obligations. The man's request, though culturally understandable, demonstrates a conflict between personal devotion to Christ and earthly responsibilities, setting the stage for Jesus' profound counter-cultural reply in the next verse regarding the kingdom's ultimate priority.

Luke 9 59 Context

Luke 9:59 is part of a series of interactions Jesus has with prospective disciples or those considering following Him, found in Luke 9:57-62, sometimes referred to as "the costs of discipleship." These exchanges occur as Jesus has "set his face to go to Jerusalem" (Lk 9:51), indicating a determined movement towards His crucifixion and the culmination of His earthly ministry. The calls are presented in rapid succession, emphasizing the immediacy and radical nature of what it means to truly follow Jesus. The broader context of Luke 9 shows Jesus equipping and sending out the twelve (Lk 9:1-6), His transfiguration (Lk 9:28-36), and increasingly dire warnings about the suffering He must undergo (Lk 9:43-45). This narrative backdrop highlights that discipleship is not merely an intellectual assent but a profound and costly commitment, a theme reinforced by this verse where a deeply ingrained cultural duty is challenged by the urgency of the Kingdom. In Jewish society, filial duty, particularly towards one's parents and their burial, was a paramount religious and social obligation, seen as a sacred act (a "hešed" or loving-kindness deed).

Luke 9 59 Word analysis

• And he said unto another (εἶπεν δὲ πρὸς ἕτερον - eipen de pros heteron): "Another" signals a different individual from the eager but potentially misguided would-be follower in Lk 9:57-58. This shows a distinct encounter, emphasizing the variety of individuals and excuses Jesus faced.
• Follow me (ἀκολούθει μοι - akolouthei moi): This is a direct command, an imperative, signaling an authoritative call to immediate, committed discipleship. It implies becoming a constant companion, adopting Jesus' lifestyle, mission, and teachings. This echoes calls made to the original disciples (Lk 5:11, 27).
• But he said (ὁ δὲ εἶπεν - ho de eipen): Indicates the man's immediate verbal response, framing his condition or reservation.
• Lord (Κύριε - Kyrios): This address signifies respect and acknowledges Jesus' authority, showing the man recognized Jesus as a teacher or even Messiah. However, the use of "Lord" immediately followed by a conditional request exposes a tension between theoretical acknowledgement and practical obedience.
• suffer me first to go (ἐπίτρεψόν μοι πρῶτον ἀπελθόντι - epitrepson moi prōton apelthonti): "Suffer me" or "permit me" is a polite but firm request for a delay. The word "first" (πρῶτον - prōton) is crucial; it establishes a clear priority in the man's mind, placing the family obligation before Jesus' call. This creates a direct conflict of priorities.
• and bury my father (θάψαι τὸν πατέρα μου - thapsai ton patera mou):
  • "bury" (θάψαι - thapsai): Refers to the act of interment.
  • "my father" (τὸν πατέρα μου - ton patera mou): The immediate cultural understanding of this request is key. Given that Jewish custom demanded same-day burial due to climate and religious law (Deut 21:23), it's highly improbable the man's father was actually deceased and unburied while the son was casually conversing with Jesus away from home. Most scholars interpret "bury my father" as waiting for his aging father to pass away naturally so he could fulfill the ultimate filial duty of inheriting the family estate and ensuring proper burial, followed by a year-long mourning period (sitting shiva and kaddish). This would represent an indefinite postponement, potentially for many years, as his primary duty before committing to anything else. Jesus' radical response (in Lk 9:60) cuts through this, highlighting that even such a significant and socially accepted duty must yield to the immediate, non-negotiable call of the Kingdom. This wasn't a request for a short pause for a true emergency, but a request for a protracted delay for an expected, future event, linked with inheritance and cultural duty.

Luke 9 59 Bonus section

This interaction with the prospective disciple forms a crucial part of Jesus' teaching on the demands of the Kingdom. The "Lord, let me first" phrase reveals a common human tendency to negotiate with God, to set conditions, or to postpone immediate obedience based on perceived "important" worldly duties or desires. Jesus' unwavering stance across these various calls in Luke 9 demonstrates that the Kingdom of God and active participation in proclaiming it requires an unreserved, decisive break from prioritizing anything over Him. It is not a call to forsake responsibility but to reorient all responsibility under God's supreme authority and immediate purpose. The contrast is between temporal, earthly concerns (even vital ones like filial duty) and eternal, divine ones. This highlights the narrow gate and the demanding path of genuine discipleship, reminding us that there is often a moment where earthly attachments, however noble, must be laid down for the sake of Kingdom advance.

Luke 9 59 Commentary

Luke 9:59 captures a foundational principle of Christian discipleship: its absolute and immediate priority. Jesus extends a direct call, "Follow me," which in ancient Jewish society meant aligning oneself completely with the teacher, embracing their teachings, and adopting their lifestyle and mission. The man's response, "Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my father," reflects a profoundly human desire to balance divine command with deeply ingrained social and familial obligations. In the ancient Near East, caring for one's parents, especially their burial, was among the highest forms of piety and filial duty, seen as a sacred honor and a moral imperative derived from the Fifth Commandment. However, Jesus' subsequent retort (in the following verse, Lk 9:60) clarifies that this specific request—likely for an indefinite delay until his aging father naturally passed away and he could attend to the entire funeral and inheritance process—was unacceptable. It revealed a divided loyalty and a desire to control the terms of his discipleship. The Lord requires an all-encompassing commitment that transcends even the most esteemed worldly duties when those duties are placed as conditions or hindrances to following Him immediately. This teaching is a strong polemic against cultural norms that could inadvertently elevate human tradition above God's urgent call, asserting the radical, immediate, and all-consuming nature of Kingdom ministry.