“But Jesus
Said to him.
‘Let the dead
Bury
Their own dead!
But as for you!
Go!
Proclaim
The kingdom of God!’”
εἶπεν δὲ αὐτῷ Ἄφες τοὺς νεκροὺς θάψαι τοὺς ἑαυτῶν νεκρούς, σὺ δὲ ἀπελθὼν διάγγελλε τὴν βασιλείαν τοῦ Θεοῦ.
Luke indicated that Jesus responded to this man (εἶπεν δὲ αὐτῷ) who wanted to bury his father. He told him to let the dead (Ἄφες τοὺς νεκροὺς) bury their own dead (θάψαι τοὺς ἑαυτῶν νεκρούς). He wanted him to go forth and proclaim (σὺ δὲ ἀπελθὼν διάγγελλε) the kingdom of God (τὴν βασιλείαν τοῦ Θεοῦ). This saying of Jesus is almost the same as in Matthew, chapter 8:22, indicating a possible Q source. Once again, this is a harsh saying about the discipleship of Jesus. Matthew indicated that Jesus’ response was not very compassionate. Quite the opposite, Jesus told his follower to follow him. Jesus added, that the dead should bury their own dead. This seems to deny any mourning period. Although the burying of a dead father was a sacred filial duty, Jesus put the role of discipleship above that. Is proclaiming the message of Jesus more important than the funeral of your father?
Eugene Finnegan Bible Project 