But Jesus told him, “Follow me now. Let the spiritually 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.
- BSB But Jesus told him, “Follow Me, and let the dead bury their own 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.”
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 appropriate to celebrate and be glad, for this, your brother, was dead, and is alive again. He was lost, and is found.’”
- Col 2:13You were dead through your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh. He made you alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses,
- Eph 5:14Therefore he says, “Awake, you who sleep, and arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.”
- Eph 2:5even when we were dead through our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved),
- Eph 2:1You were made alive when you were dead in transgressions and sins,
- John 1:43On the next day, he was determined to go out into Galilee, and he found Philip. Jesus said to him, “Follow me.”
- 1 Tim 5:6But she who gives herself to pleasure is dead while she lives.
- Matt 4:18–22Walking by the sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers: Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew, his brother, casting a net into the sea; for they were fishermen.
- Matt 9:9As Jesus passed by from there, he saw a man called Matthew sitting at the tax collection office. He said to him, “Follow me.” He got up and followed him.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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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.