As they were going along the road, someone said to Jesus, ‘I will follow you wherever you go.’ And Jesus said to him, ‘Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.’ To another he said, ‘Follow me.’ But he said, ‘Lord, first let me go and bury my father.’ But Jesus said to him, ‘Let the dead bury their own dead; but as for you, go and proclaim the kingdom of God.’ Another said, ‘I will follow you, Lord; but let me first say farewell to those at my home.’ Jesus said to him, ‘No one who puts a hand to the plough and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.’
Reflection
Earlier in the chapter Jesus had said that his followers need to take up their cross and follow (Luke 9:23).
To follow Jesus means rejection and persecution, and for some, at least it means leaving home and family.
One says that they will follow wherever Jesus goes. To this person Jesus describes in metaphors what it means becoming homeless.
Jesus and those going with him will need hospitality, but it will not always be provided. Those who follow will be worse off than the foxes who have holes and birds of the air who have nests.
It could be that these words are also hinting at political persecution, for word ‘fox’ appears later in the Gospel as Jesus describes Herod as a ‘fox’ (Luke 13:32).
The word ‘follow’ comes like a refrain. Jesus calls one to follow, but first the person wants to bury his father. Jesus tells him that the dead are to bury the dead, but he is to go and proclaim the Kingdom of God, whether this is a hyperbole or not Jesus is declaring that the call of discipleship has priority even over solemn and important duties to the family.
A third person says that they want to follow but Jesus tells him “No one who puts a hand to the plough and looks back is fit for the Kingdom of God”. There is a contrast with Elisha, commissioned by Elijah while ploughing a field, he is given permission to kiss his mother and father (1 Kings 19:19-21).
Jesus and his disciples are on a journey, and there is an utmost seriousness to this journey, they may well face persecution and hardship, they cannot risk the distractions of family and unfinished tasks.
We are not told whether any of the three potential disciples follow or not.
George Caird in his commentary on Luke writes ‘the most difficult choices in life are not between good and evil, but between the good and the best’.
Prayer
Gracious God, we thank you for those who have been called to follow Jesus, those through the ages. You continue call people to follow and be your disciples today. We thank you for your Spirit, who leads us and inspires us in all we do. In Christ’s name. Amen.
Today’s writer
The Revd Dr David Whiting, Retired Minister living in Sunderland
