What does Matthew 8:22 mean by "let the dead bury their own dead"?

[FightingPain]

Mathew 8:21-22
21Another of the disciples said to him, “Lord, let me first go and bury my father.” 22But Jesus said to him, “Follow me, and let the dead bury their own dead
What does he mean by letting the dead bury their own dead? Was he referring to the unbelievers as 'dead' and requesting his disciple to concentrate on serving the Lord instead?

 

[GoodGRACEshus]

The Nelson Study Bible explains Matthew 8:21-22 as follows:

“This passage most likely describes a follower whose father was still alive, because by Levitical law the man would not be out in public if his father had just died. His father was aged. So the man wanted to go to his home, wait for his father to die, and then follow Christ. Jesus’ answer means that we must never make excuses for refusing to follow Him. There is no better time than the present.”

 

[FightingPain]

The Nelson Study Bible explains Matthew 8:21-22 as follows:

“This passage most likely describes a follower whose father was still alive, because by Levitical law the man would not be out in public if his father had just died. His father was aged. So the man wanted to go to his home, wait for his father to die, and then follow Christ. Jesus’ answer means that we must never make excuses for refusing to follow Him. There is no better time than the present.”

Thank you so much for your reply, the verse is much more clearer now. God bless.

 

[GoodGRACEshus]

Thank you so much for your reply, the verse is much more clearer now. God bless.

You are so welcome!

 

[jacksknight]

Mathew 8:21-22
21Another of the disciples said to him, “Lord, let me first go and bury my father.” 22But Jesus said to him, “Follow me, and let the dead bury their own dead
What does he mean by letting the dead bury their own dead? Was he referring to the unbelievers as 'dead' and requesting his disciple to concentrate on serving the Lord instead?

Actually i believe you are quite right in your assumption of what it means. This is the way i have always understood it and have never heard any different.

 

[hedrick]

Jesus is well known for hyperbole and other non-literal speech. Obviously dead can't do anything.

I believe Jesus was emphasizing the importance of following him. Burying the dead was a very serious obligation. Following him take precedence even over that. There are ways to soften it, such as the suggestion that it means spiritually dead, or that the father hasn't died. There are exegetes in favor of both. But from what I know of Jesus' style, I think he meant the literal meaning, and the fact that it is literally absurd is beside the point.

I also wouldn't turn this into some kind of general commandment. He's not rejecting the requirement to bury people.

 

[Mark51]

I agree with your understanding. However, in this account, the son’s father was probably not dead. If he was, the son would not have been present listening to Jesus. The son was apparently delaying from following Jesus and putting God in his life. He had the excuse of wanting to wait until his father died first.

 

[Greg J.]

If one accepts the Nelson Study Bible's explanation, then "let the dead bury their own dead" would be a sharp calling out of the man's hypocrisy. Let those who are spiritually dead (i.e., not willing to follow Me) bury their own dead (pointing out that bodily death is the visible equivalent of spiritual death).

 

[Hieronymus]

@OP:

I have learnt it is a Jewish expression.
"But i have to bury my father." means: "I have too much things to do."

I was glad to learn that, otherwise it would have been a cold hearted reply of Christ (i.m.o.).
But He turned it into a rebuking, as the dead would be those who are preoccupied with worldy business.

 

[Achilles6129]

Mathew 8:21-22
21Another of the disciples said to him, “Lord, let me first go and bury my father.” 22But Jesus said to him, “Follow me, and let the dead bury their own dead
What does he mean by letting the dead bury their own dead? Was he referring to the unbelievers as 'dead' and requesting his disciple to concentrate on serving the Lord instead?

He was referring to those who aren't following him as spiritually dead. He meant that they were as spiritually dead as a physically dead person. And yes, he's telling the man to not worry about burying his father and to follow him instead. Christ makes several other statements that are much like this in Scripture and have to do with following him above all other things in life.

 

[ewq1938]

Luk 9:59 And he said unto another, Follow me. But he said, Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my father.
Luk 9:60 Jesus said unto him, Let the dead bury their dead: but go thou and preach the kingdom of God.

Mat 8:19 And a certain scribe came, and said unto him, Master, I will follow thee whithersoever thou goest.
Mat 8:20 And Jesus saith unto him, The foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head.
Mat 8:21 And another of his disciples said unto him, Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my father.
Mat 8:22 But Jesus said unto him, Follow me; and let the dead bury their dead.

This is certainly a reference to the spiritually dead burying those who have literally died. To follow Christ was to be spiritually alive and the preaching of the gospel was far more important than burying the dead, even a father.

 

[ToBeLoved]

I think this is similiar to Mary and Martha. Martha wanted Mary to help her in the kitchen, but Mary just wanted to be at the Savior's feet. Jesus knew His time was short and He is making a statement about being spiritual and knowing our true home is in heaven, not on this earth and to desire spiritual things and preach of the spiritual things.

 

[Hawkiz]

@OP:

I have learnt it is a Jewish expression.
"But i have to bury my father." means: "I have too much things to do."

I was glad to learn that, otherwise it would have been a cold hearted reply of Christ (i.m.o.).
But He turned it into a rebuking, as the dead would be those who are preoccupied with worldy business.

This^^

The 'world' will "take care of itself"... The sun will rise, the rain will fall, the crops will grow, but the time to pick up our cross and follow Him is NOW, regardless of how 'busy' we feel we are.

Peace in Christ
Hawkiz

 

[yeshuaslavejeff]

QUOTE="FightingPain, post: 69700644, member: 387486"]Mathew 8:21-22
21Another of the disciples said to him, “Lord, let me first go and bury my father.” 22But Jesus said to him, “Follow me, and let the dead bury their own dead
What does he mean by letting the dead bury their own dead? Was he referring to the unbelievers as 'dead' and requesting his disciple to concentrate on serving the Lord instead?/QUOTE
That sounds like a really good, sound, biblical perspective, yes.
Except maybe "requesting".....

The disciples were devoted to the Master - sometimes asked Him questions and maybe even argued with Him at times,
but He simply told them what to do.

He never ever said " 'would you' do this for Me " as if they had a choice if they wanted to remain His disciples.
Everyone who did not want to do what He told them to do,
most of His disciples , in fact, walked away from Him,
they left Him, because for them
"His Words were too hard" to do or to accept and to understand.

 

[FightingPain]

Thank you for these great answers, they have helped a lot.