But Jesus told him, “Let the dead bury their own dead. You, however, go and proclaim the kingdom of God.”
Parallel translations
- WEB But Jesus said to him, “Leave the dead to bury their own dead, but you go and announce God’s Kingdom.”
- KJV Jesus said unto him, Let the dead bury their dead: but go thou and preach the kingdom of God.
- NKJV Jesus said to him, “Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and preach the kingdom of God.”
- NASB But He said to him, “Allow the dead to bury their own dead; but as for you, go and proclaim everywhere the kingdom of God.”
- NLT But Jesus told him, “Let the spiritually dead bury their own dead! Your duty is to go and preach about the Kingdom of God.”
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Jesus says to let the dead bury their own dead and to go proclaim God's kingdom. The urgency of the kingdom claims first place over other duties.
Overview
Jesus does not despise filial duty but uses a striking saying to assert the supreme claim of the kingdom. Letting the spiritually dead tend such matters frees the called to the higher task of proclamation. The verse underscores the surpassing urgency and priority of following Christ and announcing His reign.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 11
- 2 Tim 2:3–4Join me in suffering, like a good soldier of Christ Jesus.
- 1 Tim 5:6But she who lives for pleasure is dead even while she is still alive.
- John 21:15–17When they had finished eating, Jesus asked Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love Me more than these?” “Yes, Lord,” he answered, “You know I love You.” Jesus replied, “Feed My lambs.”
- Luke 15:32But it was fitting to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’”
- Rev 3:1“To the angel of the church in Sardis write: These are the words of the One who holds the seven Spirits of God and the seven stars. I know your deeds; you have a reputation for being alive, yet you are dead.
- 2 Tim 4:2Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and encourage with every form of patient instruction.
- 2 Tim 4:5But you, be sober in all things, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.
- Eph 2:1And you were dead in your trespasses and sins,
- Eph 2:5made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in our trespasses. It is by grace you have been saved!
- 1 Cor 9:16Yet when I preach the gospel, I have no reason to boast, because I am obligated to preach. Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel!
- 2 Cor 5:16–18So from now on we regard no one according to the flesh. Although we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
Luke shows Jesus the Savior for all — outsiders, the poor, the nations — the one who, on the Emmaus road, opened all the Scriptures to show they were about himself.
How Luke 9:60 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Greek word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.