And another also said, “Lord, I will follow You, but let me first go and bid them farewell who are at my house.”
Parallel translations
- WEB Another also said, “I want to follow you, Lord, but first allow me to say good-bye to those who are at my house.”
- 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.
- BSB Still another said, “I will follow You, Lord; but first let me bid farewell to my family.”
- NASB Another also said, “I will follow You, Lord; but first permit me to say goodbye to those at my home.”
- NLT Another said, “Yes, Lord, I will follow you, but first let me say good-bye to my family.”
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
Another man wishes to follow but first to say farewell to his household. A divided heart looks back even while professing to follow.
Overview
Like the previous case, the request seems reasonable, yet it betrays a heart not fully committed. The desire to return home first echoes Elisha's request, but Jesus calls for a higher, more immediate devotion. The verse exposes how lingering attachments can hinder wholehearted discipleship.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 6
- Luke 14:26“If anyone comes to me, and doesn’t disregard his own father, mother, wife, children, brothers, and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he can’t be my disciple.
- 1 Kgs 19:20Elisha left the oxen, and ran after Elijah, and said, “Let me please kiss my father and my mother, and then I will follow you.” He said to him, “Go back again; for what have I done to you?”
- Luke 14:18–20They all as one began to make excuses. “The first said to him, ‘I have bought a field, and I must go and see it. Please have me excused.’
- Matt 10:37–38He who loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; and he who loves son or daughter more than me isn’t worthy of me.
- Deut 33:9He said of his father, and of his mother, ‘I have not seen him.’ He didn’t acknowledge his brothers, nor did he know his own children; for they have observed your word, and keep your covenant.
- Eccl 9:10Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in Sheol, where you are going.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Commentaries & study tools
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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 9:61 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.