Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary Matthew 8:22

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

If the scribe was too quick in promising, this “disciple” was too slow in performing. Palestinian piety, basing itself on the fifth commandment (Exodus 20:12), expected sons to attend to the burial of their parents (cf. Genesis 25:9; 35:29; 50:13). Jesus’ reply used paradoxical language : Let the (spiritually) dead bury the (physically) dead. These verses seem to be a powerful way of expressing the thought in 10:37—even closest family ties must not be set above allegiance to Jesus and the proclamation of the kingdom .

In actuality we may well question whether Jesus was really forbidding attendance at the father’s funeral, any more than he was really advocating selfcastration in 5:27–30. In this inquirer he detected insincerity, a qualified acceptance of Jesus’ lordship. And that was not good enough. Commitment to Jesus must be without reservation. Such is the importance Jesus himself attached to his own person and mission.