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.”
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.
- 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.”
- 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 2:3–4You therefore must endure hardship, as a good soldier of Christ Jesus.
- 1 Tim 5:6But she who gives herself to pleasure is dead while she lives.
- John 21:15–17So when they had eaten their breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love me more than these?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I have affection for you.” He said to him, “Feed my lambs.”
- Luke 15:32But it was appropriate to celebrate and be glad, for this, your brother, was dead, and is alive again. He was lost, and is found.’”
- Rev 3:1“And to the angel of the assembly in Sardis write: “He who has the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars says these things: “I know your works, that you have a reputation of being alive, but you are dead.
- 2 Tim 4:2preach the word; be urgent in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with all patience and teaching.
- 2 Tim 4:5But you be sober in all things, suffer hardship, do the work of an evangelist, and fulfill your ministry.
- Eph 2:1You were made alive when you were dead in transgressions and sins,
- Eph 2:5even when we were dead through our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved),
- 1 Cor 9:16For if I preach the Good News, I have nothing to boast about; for necessity is laid on me; but woe is to me, if I don’t preach the Good News.
- 2 Cor 5:16–18Therefore we know no one after the flesh from now on. Even though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now we know him so 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.