Let the dead bury their dead: but go thou and preach the kingdom of God.

[RichardInNorway2025]

The verses Luke 9 59:60,

59 And he said unto another, Follow me. But he said, Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my father.

60 Jesus said unto him, Let the dead bury their dead: but go thou and preach the kingdom of God.

I still remember the first time reading, or probably hearing these verses being taken aback and confused. From our usual way of thinking the words of Jesus here are harsh or even cruel. Many decades later I read the opinion that "bury my father" means a future time when the man would be free of obligation to his father and family.

And on the other hand if Jesus himself asks "follow me" then it would be a jolly good idea to drop everything else, but would we?

I am interested if any of the wise people on here have looked into this and have some light to share?

 

[shittim]

He requires first place, we must be willing to leave all behind if He asks.
Ephesians and other places tell how our "family" changes to those who are His Own.
Many must leave/turn away from, their carnal, un-regenerated earthly family as He receives 1st place with every thought, word and deed.
blessings

 

[Fillan]

I guess one application could be that the man who had died, his eternal destination had already been decided, he was already in heaven or hell. On the other hand there are many whose eternal destination will depend on whether the truth of the gospel is presented to them, or not. So the Lord was telling him to stop procrastinating and get out into the harvest field. God Bless

 

[Gideon300]

Accordinbg

I guess one application could be that the man who had died, his eternal destination had already been decided, he was already in heaven or hell. On the other hand there are many whose eternal destination will depend on whether the truth of the gospel is presented to them, or not. So the Lord was telling him to stop procrastinating and get out into the harvest field. God Bless

According to one explanation I read, it was tradition for the son to spend one year with the family after the father's death. So it was not, "I'll be back in few days". Other scholars say that it depended on the responsibilities of the son. They had to ensure that the family was provided for, be it farming or a trade. How long would that take? Too long, according to Jesus!

 

[RichardInNorway2025]

Accordinbg

According to one explanation I read, it was tradition for the son to spend one year with the family after the father's death. So it was not, "I'll be back in few days". Other scholars say that it depended on the responsibilities of the son. They had to ensure that the family was provided for, be it farming or a trade. How long would that take? Too long, according to Jesus!

Thanks I had not seen that explanation.

 

[studentoftheword]

AI------ says it best

AI Overview

The saying "let the dead bury their dead," from the Bible (Matthew 8:22, Luke 9:60), means that followers of Christ should prioritize God's spiritual mission over worldly obligations, such as attending a father's burial. Jesus uses "dead" to refer to the spiritually dead – those not following him – and suggests that they can handle the physical task of burial, while the spiritually alive should focus on spreading the Kingdom of God and accepting Christ's gift of eternal life.

Origin and Context

• Bible Passage:
  The phrase comes from Jesus's interactions with men who wanted to follow him but were held back by worldly duties, particularly attending to their father's death and burial.
  
  
• The Situation:
  One man asked Jesus to let him first go and bury his father before he would follow him. In the first-century Jewish culture, this was a significant duty of the eldest son.
  

Meaning of "Dead"

• Spiritually Dead: The "dead" who are to bury the "dead" refers to people who are spiritually unaware and separated from God's eternal life.
• Physically Dead: The "dead" they are to bury are those who are physically deceased.

Key Interpretations

• Urgent Call to Follow Christ:
  Jesus emphasizes that proclaiming the Kingdom of God is a higher, more urgent priority than any earthly duty. The man should not delay in accepting the mission of proclaiming the Kingdom, as it is a matter of eternal life.
  
  
• Spiritual Life vs. Worldly Obligations:
  The statement highlights the contrast between being spiritually alive in Christ and being spiritually "dead" to God's truth. The spiritually alive are those who follow Jesus and accept his message of eternal life.
  
  
• Focus on the Present and Future:
  The saying encourages believers to focus on God's divine plan for their lives and not to be consumed by the past or earthly concerns.
  

In Summary

To "let the dead bury their dead" means to let those who are spiritually dead handle their own worldly tasks, even the burial of their physical dead, while those who are spiritually alive prioritize the spiritual mission of Christ. This implies a radical commitment to God's call, even if it requires setting aside traditional duties and earthly comforts.

 

[MsMediator]

The verses Luke 9 59:60,

59 And he said unto another, Follow me. But he said, Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my father.

60 Jesus said unto him, Let the dead bury their dead: but go thou and preach the kingdom of God.

I still remember the first time reading, or probably hearing these verses being taken aback and confused. From our usual way of thinking the words of Jesus here are harsh or even cruel. Many decades later I read the opinion that "bury my father" means a future time when the man would be free of obligation to his father and family.

And on the other hand if Jesus himself asks "follow me" then it would be a jolly good idea to drop everything else, but would we?

I am interested if any of the wise people on here have looked into this and have some light to share?

I think it simply means don't spend too much time on the burial of people who have already passed away. And, that it is okay to skip a funeral if there is something more important to do, especially Gospel related. I think He is just reducing the importance of burials; it is important but not that important. However, it doesn't mean we should not mourn, as there is a time for everything including mourning.

 

[homwardbound]

The verses Luke 9 59:60,

59 And he said unto another, Follow me. But he said, Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my father.

60 Jesus said unto him, Let the dead bury their dead: but go thou and preach the kingdom of God.

I still remember the first time reading, or probably hearing these verses being taken aback and confused. From our usual way of thinking the words of Jesus here are harsh or even cruel. Many decades later I read the opinion that "bury my father" means a future time when the man would be free of obligation to his father and family.

And on the other hand if Jesus himself asks "follow me" then it would be a jolly good idea to drop everything else, but would we?

I am interested if any of the wise people on here have looked into this and have some light to share?

I am not wise, God Father of in risen Son is. Whom was/is given to us all to believe and hear truth over error of verses mistranslated or not configured correctly

"Let the dead take care of the dead"
First birth on earth from man and woman, are we all born alive and yet dead to God, as in the first Adam, who failed in belief to God, that he would die?
All have died ever since to flesh and blood nature, except I think a couple. As in Elijah, and the King of Salem, Melchizedek.
Therefore we now have people first birth as are dead, and yet alive to the physical. Yet dead to God until belief to God to see truth over error, that does not quit. I know I have gone through going through since age 12, am 68 now.
I see and do reckon me dead to sin and alive to God by God not me or anyone else
Since many depend on each other, that might be the dead trying to take care of the dead!
However that is what I see, is happening through religion. Man trying to do right and be god themselves
Psalm 82 Ezekiel 18-19

 

[SomeDisciple]

I haven't been able to confirm it; but I read that having to "bury your father" is an idiom in the Aramaic. The contemporary equivalent of "I have a lot of stuff to do" (which does make sense- since there was a lot to attend to and put in order when a family patriarch died). It seems kinda morbid for casual speech; but, then again their speech came out of Babylon.

But anyway; people would use this as a generic excuse to delay doing other things; which makes Jesus' response seem a lot more reasonable. I don't even think I would say what Jesus said in the literal sense to somebody; and I'm not exactly sensitive-steve either.

 

[homwardbound]

I haven't been able to confirm it; but I read that having to "bury your father" is an idiom in the Aramaic. The contemporary equivalent of "I have a lot of stuff to do" (which does make sense- since there was a lot to attend to and put in order when a family patriarch died). It seems kinda morbid for casual speech; but, then again their speech came out of Babylon.

But anyway; people would use this as a generic excuse to delay doing other things; which makes Jesus' response seem a lot more reasonable. I don't even think I would say what Jesus said in the literal sense to somebody; and I'm not exactly sensitive-steve either.

I seem, turn to God Father of Son, be willing to learn from Daddy, PaPa, Father through risen Son. I, you, anyone is given the choice to decide to believe in Father and Son as risen for them or not. I see carrying my cross is all to Father, forsaking the self, first birth taught religion to do to get, that never worked for me.

Taking care of my own board in my own eye, before trying to remove a speck in another's eye, I need to see and am Learning to see as a blind man, (First birth) to second birth, revealed by God Father to me and all who sincerely believe God too.
I see, said the blind man to the deaf person, as the blind man picked up the hammer and saw. Then the deaf person heard, neither of them, did that by themselves
I am standing in trust to God to discern truth though me over error in this world still. I got a lot of bad habits, still getting peeled off me, like an onion, I have cried a lot.
I heard, hear Love all from Father the Holy Spirit of Truth, anyone else? as I have loved you first! Thank you lord, I need to be taught how and not take any credit to myself in learning this truth thank you
Phil 3:1-20