Charles Spurgeon Commentary Matthew 8:22

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

But Jesus said unto him, Follow me; and let the dead bury their dead.

Nothing, not even the duties of filial love, must be allowed to come in conflict with the command of Christ, Follow me. I take it that this is not so much a word to the common disciple as to a disciple called out to a special ministry: "Your ministry is to be your first, your main, your only occupation: follow me: and let the dead bury their dead. Let the politicians attend to the politics; let the reformers see to the reforms; but, as for you, keep to your own work, and follow me."

When God's ministers come to this point, that they have to win souls, and that this is their only business, then souls will be won. There are plenty of dead people to bury the dead, there are plenty of moral people to see after the ordinary affairs of morality. As for us, let us follow Christ, and keep to our one business.

Our Lord repeated His command, “Follow me.” Others could bury the dead. It was for the disciple to obey His orders. Men who are unrenewed are dead, and they are quite able to attend to such dead business as a funeral. Much of the concerns of politics, party tactics, committee meetings, social reforms, innocent amusements, and so forth, may be very fittingly described as burying the dead.

Much of this is very necessary, proper, and commendable work, but still only such a form of business as unregenerate men can do as well as the disciples of Jesus. Let them do it, but if we are called to preach the Gospel, let us give ourselves wholly to our sacred calling. Let not the higher worker entangle himself with what worldly people can do quite as well as he can. “Follow me.” is a precept which will need all our powers to carry it out, but by grace we will obey.