But Jesus told him, “Follow Me, and let the dead bury their own dead.”
Parallel translations
- WEB But Jesus said to him, “Follow me, and leave the dead to bury their own dead.”
- KJV But Jesus said unto him, Follow me; and let the dead bury their dead.
- NKJV But Jesus said to him, “Follow Me, and let the dead bury their own dead.”
- NASB But Jesus *said to him, “Follow Me, and let the dead bury their own dead.”
- NLT But Jesus told him, “Follow me now. Let the spiritually dead bury their own dead.”
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, 'Follow me, and leave the dead to bury their own dead,' calling for immediate, undivided commitment. Nothing, even pressing duties, may outrank discipleship.
Overview
Jesus' arresting words likely mean that the spiritually dead can tend to ordinary affairs, while those called to follow him must respond at once. This is not contempt for filial duty but a declaration of his absolute claim. Following Christ is a matter of life itself, and his call takes precedence over every competing loyalty.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 9
- 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.’”
- Col 2:13When you were dead in your trespasses and in the uncircumcision of your sinful nature, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our trespasses,
- Eph 5:14So it is said: “Wake up, O sleeper, rise up from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.”
- Eph 2:5made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in our trespasses. It is by grace you have been saved!
- Eph 2:1And you were dead in your trespasses and sins,
- John 1:43The next day Jesus decided to set out for Galilee. Finding Philip, He told him, “Follow Me.”
- 1 Tim 5:6But she who lives for pleasure is dead even while she is still alive.
- Matt 4:18–22As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, He saw two brothers, Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen.
- Matt 9:9As Jesus went on from there, He saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax booth. “Follow Me,” He told him, and Matthew got up and followed Him.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
Resources, by level
Commentaries & study tools
Free animated overview and word-study videos for this book.
Sermons and teaching on this passage from across YouTube.
Clear, readable, conservative exposition — the best free place to start on any passage.
Matthew Henry, Barnes, Gill, the Pulpit Commentary, Ellicott, Cambridge, and more — stacked on one page for this exact verse.
The beloved Puritan exposition of this whole book — warm, devotional, and verse by verse (free, CCEL).
Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.
Christ at the center
Matthew presents Jesus as the promised King — son of David, son of Abraham — the new Moses and true Israel in whom every prophecy reaches 'that it might be fulfilled.'
How Matthew 8:22 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.