A.T. Robertson Commentary Matthew 8:22

"But Jesus saith unto him, Follow me; and leave the dead to bury their own dead." — Matthew 8:22 (ASV)

Leave the dead to bury their own dead (αφες τους νεκρους θαψα τους εαυτων νεκρους). The spiritually dead are always on hand to bury the physically dead, if one's real duty is with Jesus. Chrysostom says that, while it is a good deed to bury the dead, it is a better one to preach Christ.