A.T. Robertson Commentary Luke 9:60

"But he said unto him, Leave the dead to bury their own dead; but go thou and publish abroad the kingdom of God." — Luke 9:60 (ASV)

Leave the dead to bury their own dead (αφες τους νεκρους θαψα τους εαυτων νεκρους). This paradox occurs so in Mt 8:22. The explanation is that the spiritually dead can bury the literally dead. For such a quick change in the use of the same words see Joh 5:21-29 (spiritual resurrection from sin in Joh 5:21-27, bodily resurrection from the grave, John 5:28,29) and Joh 11:25f. The harshness of this proverb to the scribe probably is due to the fact that he was manifestly using his aged father as an excuse for not giving Christ active service.

But go thou and publish abroad the kingdom of God (συ δε απελθων διαγγελλε την βασιλειαν του θεου). The scribe's duty is put sharply (Βυτ δο θου, συ δε). Christ called him to preach, and he was using pious phrases about his father as a pretext. Many a preacher has had to face a similar delicate problem of duty to father, mother, brothers, sisters and the call to preach. This was a clear case. Jesus will help any man called to preach to see his duty. Certainly Jesus does not advocate renunciation of family duties on the part of preachers.