Jesus said unto him, Let the dead bury their dead: but go thou and preach 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.”
- BSB But Jesus told him, “Let the dead bury their own dead. You, however, go and proclaim 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 2:3–4Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.
- 1 Tim 5:6But she that liveth in pleasure is dead while she liveth.
- John 21:15–17So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs.
- Luke 15:32It was meet that we should make merry, and be glad: for this thy brother was dead, and is alive again; and was lost, and is found.
- Rev 3:1And unto the angel of the church in Sardis write; These things saith he that hath the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars; I know thy works, that thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead.
- 2 Tim 4:2Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.
- 2 Tim 4:5But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry.
- Eph 2:1And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins;
- Eph 2:5Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)
- 1 Cor 9:16For though I preach the gospel, I have nothing to glory of: for necessity is laid upon me; yea, woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel!
- 2 Cor 5:16–18Wherefore henceforth know we no man after the flesh: yea, though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we him no more.
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.