Matthew 8 22

Matthew 8:22 kjv

But Jesus said unto him, Follow me; and let the dead bury their dead.

Matthew 8:22 nkjv

But Jesus said to him, "Follow Me, and let the dead bury their own dead."

Matthew 8:22 niv

But Jesus told him, "Follow me, and let the dead bury their own dead."

Matthew 8:22 esv

And Jesus said to him, "Follow me, and leave the dead to bury their own dead."

Matthew 8:22 nlt

But Jesus told him, "Follow me now. Let the spiritually dead bury their own dead."

Matthew 8 verses

Matthew 8 22 Meaning

Matthew 8:22 communicates Jesus' radical demand for discipleship, emphasizing that commitment to Him and the proclamation of the Kingdom must take absolute and immediate priority over all other obligations, including deep-seated family duties. The verse contrasts the urgency of spiritual life and Kingdom work with the preoccupations of those who are spiritually dead.

Matthew 8 22 Context

Matthew 8 presents a series of Jesus' miraculous demonstrations of authority: over disease (leper, centurion's servant, Peter's mother-in-law), over nature (calming the storm), and over demonic powers (Gadarene demoniacs). This verse comes immediately after Jesus explains the cost of discipleship to a scribe who eagerly offers to follow (Matt 8:19-20). It then follows the request of "another of His disciples" (not a general inquirer but someone already associated with Him) who asks permission to first fulfill the highly esteemed filial duty of burying his father. In Jewish culture, burying one's parents was a sacred duty, often involving a prolonged mourning period and secondary burial (ossuary placement). Jesus' response is startling because it challenges this fundamental societal and religious expectation, setting the call to Kingdom service above all other commitments, even the most revered.

Matthew 8 22 Word analysis

• But Jesus said: The Greek word for "But" (de, δέ) signifies a contrast or a change of subject from the previous statements, emphasizing Jesus' direct and often counter-cultural response. This marks Jesus' authoritative, divine directive, cutting through conventional thought.

• to him, 'Follow Me,':

  • to him: Specifically directed to the disciple who sought to defer his service.
  • Follow Me, (ἀκολούθει μοι - akolouthei moi): A present imperative verb, indicating a continuous and immediate action. It is the central command of discipleship throughout the Gospels, demanding allegiance, imitation, and commitment to Jesus' way of life and mission. This call implies abandoning one's previous life and priorities.

• and let the dead bury their own dead.':

  • and let (ἄφες - aphes): A command, meaning "permit," "leave alone," or "allow." It implies disengagement from a task or situation.
  • the dead (τοὺς νεκροὺς - tous nekrous - first instance): This is understood as those who are spiritually dead, unregenerate, or alienated from God's life (Eph 2:1-5). They are people immersed in worldly concerns and lacking the spiritual urgency of the Kingdom of God.
  • bury (θάψαι - thapsai): The act of interring a corpse.
  • their own dead (τοὺς ἑαυτῶν νεκροὺς - tous heautōn nekrous - second instance): This refers to those who are physically dead—the corpses that need burial. The phrase is a profound paradox or wordplay, highlighting the contrast between spiritual vitality and spiritual dormancy.

• Words-group by words-group analysis:

  • "But Jesus said to him, 'Follow Me,'": This entire phrase underscores the singular authority and immediate, non-negotiable nature of Jesus' call. Discipleship is not merely an optional add-on but a total reorientation of one's life. The direct address to a specific individual makes the demand personal and immediate.
  • "and let the dead bury their own dead.": This striking statement implies:
    • A contrast of priorities: The urgent work of the Kingdom (following Jesus, proclaiming the gospel) far surpasses even sacred human duties like burying parents.
    • The urgency of the Kingdom: The time for action is "now." Delay is not permissible.
    • The spiritual state of humanity: Those outside of Christ are "dead" to spiritual realities and can be left to deal with earthly matters. The focus of the true disciple must be on matters of eternal life and the propagation of spiritual truth. It is not a condemnation of burial customs but a re-prioritization of the spiritual over the physical and temporal. The underlying implication is that the disciple’s mission (proclaiming life in Christ) is of such paramount importance that traditional, though important, obligations must be subordinated or delegated to others. The disciple could be asking to wait for the natural death of his father, which could mean an indefinite delay to a call that Jesus demands as immediate.

Matthew 8 22 Bonus section

The demanding nature of Matthew 8:22 would have been particularly shocking to its original Jewish audience, who held kibbud av va'em (honoring father and mother) as one of the most fundamental mitzvot (commandments), often paralleled in importance to honoring God Himself. A son's primary duty was to care for his parents, including ensuring their proper burial. The potential request of the disciple to wait an extended period, possibly years, for his elderly father's natural death to properly manage the inheritance and burial, makes Jesus' retort even more profound. Jesus is essentially saying that the temporal and urgent mission of the Kingdom, proclaiming the coming of God's reign and offering spiritual life, is so critical that it takes precedence even over an immediate, specific, and vital cultural obligation. This underlines the absolute authority and unmatched priority of Christ's call in a way that transcends all human customs and expectations.

Matthew 8 22 Commentary

Matthew 8:22 represents one of Jesus' most radical and challenging statements regarding the cost and priority of discipleship. It reveals that the call to follow Christ necessitates an immediate, absolute, and total commitment that transcends all other relationships, duties, or cultural norms, even those considered deeply pious, like burying a parent. Jesus is not diminishing the importance of honoring parents or proper burial; rather, He is emphasizing that the proclamation of the Kingdom and allegiance to Him are of such unparalleled spiritual urgency that they permit no delay or diversion. Those who are "spiritually dead"—lacking a relationship with God and bound by earthly concerns—can attend to the affairs of this world, including its funeral rites. But those called to follow Jesus are to focus exclusively on eternal life and proclaiming that life to others, seizing the "now" moment of the Kingdom's arrival. This verse teaches that there is nothing, not even sacred family obligation, that should come between a disciple and the Lord's calling to His Kingdom.For practical usage, this can be understood as:

• Prioritizing spreading the gospel over extended engagement in non-Kingdom-focused activities.
• Responding to spiritual opportunities with immediacy rather than deferring for future convenience or worldly comfort.