Expositor's Bible Commentary 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)

Since it was a religious, social, and family obligation to provide a decent funeral for one’s father, Jesus’ refusal to permit this is a striking example of the radical transfer of loyalty he demanded . “The dead” who are to perform the burial are usually thought to be the spiritually dead who do not follow Jesus but remain at home.