Luke 9 61

Luke 9:61 kjv

And another also said, Lord, I will follow thee; but let me first go bid them farewell, which are at home at my house.

Luke 9:61 nkjv

And another also said, "Lord, I will follow You, but let me first go and bid them farewell who are at my house."

Luke 9:61 niv

Still another said, "I will follow you, Lord; but first let me go back and say goodbye to my family."

Luke 9:61 esv

Yet another said, "I will follow you, Lord, but let me first say farewell to those at my home."

Luke 9:61 nlt

Another said, "Yes, Lord, I will follow you, but first let me say good-bye to my family."

Luke 9 verses

Luke 9 61 Meaning

Luke 9:61 presents a third individual who approaches Jesus with a conditional commitment to follow Him. This man declares his intention to become a disciple but states he must first return home to bid farewell to his household. Jesus' immediate and challenging response (found in Lk 9:62) clarifies that discipleship demands an urgent, singular focus and a willingness to sever ties that might hinder complete devotion to the Kingdom of God, thus highlighting the absolute priority of the call to follow Him.

Luke 9 61 Context

Luke 9:61 falls within a crucial section of Luke's Gospel (Lk 9:51-18:14) where Jesus explicitly sets His face towards Jerusalem, signifying His determined journey towards His crucifixion and the consummation of His mission. This particular passage (Lk 9:57-62) immediately follows the rejection by a Samaritan village and marks the beginning of Jesus’ detailed teaching on the radical demands of discipleship. It features a sequence of three encounters with would-be followers, each highlighting a distinct barrier to total commitment. The first two encounters reveal issues of physical hardship and familial obligations (burying a father), while this third encounter focuses on the desire to take leave of one’s household. This immediate context underscores Jesus’ unwavering expectation of immediate, wholehearted, and unreserved devotion from those who choose to follow Him, emphasizing that the urgency of the Kingdom's call supersedes all earthly ties and personal affairs.

Luke 9 61 Word analysis

• Another: Refers to a third individual, distinct from the two preceding encounters in Luke 9:57-60. It indicates that the previous conversations did not deter other potential followers from expressing their interest in accompanying Jesus.
• I will follow you, Lord: A declaration of intent and acknowledgment of Jesus' authority ("Lord," Greek: Kyrie - Κύριε). The willingness is present, but it is qualified, setting the stage for Jesus' challenge. This man, unlike the previous two, is the only one to initiate the statement, suggesting some perceived willingness, yet it is quickly shown to be incomplete.
• but first: The conjunction `kai prōton` (καὶ πρῶτον) is crucial. `Prōton` signifies "first in time" or "first in priority." This indicates a condition or a precondition that the man believes must be met before full commitment to discipleship. This 'first' highlights the man's lingering attachment and divided loyalty, which Jesus immediately confronts. It stands in direct contrast to "seek first the kingdom of God" (Matt 6:33).
• go and bid farewell: Greek: `apotassomai` (ἀποτάσσομαι). This verb means "to arrange," "to settle," "to set in order," or specifically, "to take leave of," "to bid farewell to." Culturally, bidding farewell often involved significant rituals, gathering blessings, or settling personal and familial affairs before embarking on a major life change, such as extended travel, entering religious service, or joining a new way of life. It implies a significant, potentially time-consuming, and emotionally engaging process.
• those at my house: Greek: `tous en tō oikō mou` (τοὺς ἐν τῷ οἴκῳ μου), referring to one's household, family members, and potentially dependents. In ancient society, the family unit (oikos) was central to identity, security, and social structure. Obligations to family were profound and lifelong. The man's request is culturally understandable and expected in a traditional Jewish context. However, Jesus’ radical call often redefines traditional societal norms and priorities.

Words-Group Analysis:

• "I will follow you, Lord, but first go and bid farewell": This phrase encapsulates the central conflict. The desire to follow Jesus is expressed, but the subsequent clause introduces a delay and a condition that arises from a primary allegiance to existing earthly bonds. The man prioritizes conventional social/familial obligations above the immediate, uncompromising call of the Kingdom. This implies a lack of total surrender and urgency.
• "bid farewell to those at my house": This seemingly innocuous request reveals a common challenge to discipleship: the tension between devotion to Christ and attachment to family, social standing, or earthly comforts. Unlike Elijah's allowance for Elisha (1 Kgs 19:20), Jesus permits no such delay, indicating the unique urgency and singular devotion required by the Son of Man. Jesus' response highlights a radical departure from contemporary expectations concerning familial duties, making a polemical statement against the supreme authority of human traditions when they conflict with divine calling.

Luke 9 61 Bonus section

This passage, alongside its preceding verses (Lk 9:57-60), forms a trilogy of responses from Jesus to individuals interested in discipleship. Each response is seemingly harsh but is designed to articulate the profound cost and non-negotiable terms of Kingdom citizenship. Jesus' demands transcend typical societal expectations of the day, making clear that His Kingdom operates on a higher set of priorities. The man's request for "farewell" not only implies a time-consuming social ritual but also potentially an opportunity for his family to dissuade him, representing a potential emotional pull back to his previous life. Jesus' strong response protects potential disciples from such distractions, highlighting the all-consuming nature of the commitment. The urgency stems from the "day of salvation" being at hand, the swiftness of Jesus' own journey to Jerusalem, and the unparalleled importance of proclaiming the Good News of the Kingdom.

Luke 9 61 Commentary

Luke 9:61 reveals the radical and uncompromising nature of Jesus' call to discipleship. The man's declaration, "I will follow you, Lord," suggests a genuine desire to join Jesus, yet his qualifying clause, "but first go and bid farewell to those at my house," unmasks a fundamental misunderstanding of the Kingdom's demands. While socially and culturally understandable, even expected, for one to tie up family affairs before a major life change, Jesus perceives this as a competing loyalty and a delay that undermines the immediate urgency of His mission. The 'first' becomes the critical stumbling block.

Jesus is not condemning family affection itself, but rather any earthly attachment that takes precedence over the call to follow Him. His Kingdom demands absolute priority and undivided allegiance, surpassing even the most fundamental of human bonds. This absolute devotion requires a readiness to step away from comfortable routines, family expectations, and personal ties that might hold one back. The individual must be willing to abandon his 'old life' not only physically but also emotionally and mentally, with his hand firmly on the plow of the Kingdom's work, without looking back. This exchange sets a profound boundary: true discipleship admits no conditions, no delays, and no competing primary allegiances.