Luke 9:57Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

The individual who approached Jesus seeking to be His disciple carried a duplicitous intention. Observing the large crowds that accompanied the Lord, he speculated that Jesus was amassing wealth from them and believed that by aligning himself with Christ, he would gain riches for himself.

Desiring the divine gifts granted by God is truly a worthy mindset, one that leads to abundant blessings. However, although the Lord bestows generously, His gifts are not given indiscriminately; rather, they are reserved for those deemed worthy of His grace. In the same way that those adorned in royal splendor confer honors and responsibilities not upon the unrefined or ignorant, but rather upon those of noble lineage who have proven their merit through trials, God, who possesses complete knowledge, shares His blessings not with careless and pleasure-seeking individuals, but with those whose hearts are prepared to receive them.

The Lord, observing that this scribe expresses a desire to follow Him only with words and lacks true intention, gently admonishes him. Instead of pushing him away, He instead reveals the scribe's misguided thoughts, acting as a guide who corrects and disciplines. It is as though the Lord communicates that one who dwells in silence cannot truly walk with the Living Word; a companion of the silent cannot embrace the Eternal Word; dreaming of silence leads one away from obtaining the Word. In the scribe's arrogance, his ignorance is apparent, for had he understood the might of the Word, he would not have held a flawed notion of the spiritual truth.

It is illogical to perceive a person as genuine and earnest when he has pledged unwavering service in loyalty yet has faced rejection from the Lord. The Lord seeks not merely external compliance but rather a heart that is pure in its intentions. As stated above, "Whosoever shall receive this child in My name..." (Lk. 9:48).

Matthew addressed this topic in chapter ten, where it is further elucidated.

The individuals chosen for this new community were not to be obstructed or held back in their mission. When one person requested to bury his father and another wished to bid farewell to family, the Lord did not permit such delays.

Matthew shares an account related to this matter, while Luke presents the same two instances along with an additional third one, which he uniquely recounts in a different context. According to Luke, the latter occurred during the time of Christ's final journey from Galilee to Judea (9:57-62). Each of the Gospel writers, while narrating a specific event from the time they describe, may also convey another similar occurrence from a different period. The scribe was denied the opportunity to follow Christ; this refusal reveals the reason behind Jesus' decision: the scribe harbored worldly notions and Messianic expectations, believing that Jesus would soon proclaim Himself as the Messiah-King in a grand manner and hoped for a close position in His kingdom.

On the same day that the Lord was sharing parables with the people, He returned in the evening to the banks of the Sea of Galilee. The multitude had once more assembled around Him, and He sought to board a boat to journey to the opposite shore. During this moment, a scribe approached Him and declared, Teacher, I am willing to follow You wherever You lead.

The Savior experienced profound exhaustion and was filled with a strong longing for solitude and restoration. The ideal way to achieve this was to retreat to the less crowded shores of Perea, prompting Him to instruct His disciples to embark there. However, before the vessel departed, three individuals from the throng expressed their eagerness to become His devoted followers (Matt. 8:18-22; Luke 9:57-62). Among them was a scribe who, confident that his education and societal position rendered him an ideal candidate for the apostles, boldly declared, “Master, I will follow You wherever You go.”

The responses of the Lord to those desiring to follow Him are presented in Luke in a manner aligned with Matthew’s account. Luke’s narrative mirrors that of Matthew, though Matthew presents this discussion much earlier in his text. Additionally, the Gospel of Luke includes a third individual in this dialogue. As for the incident occurring “When they were on the way,” it took place along the shore of the Sea of Galilee, in proximity to Capernaum, according to Luke. This event corresponds with the time when the Lord intended to embark by boat to the other side, as noted in Matthew. The phrase “Some one said unto Him,” and so forth, can be further understood by referring to the commentary on Matthew 8:19.

As they traveled, one individual approached Jesus Christ, seeking His permission to become a follower. However, the Lord replied similarly to a previous occasion, indicating He had no place to rest (Matt. 8:19-20). Another person was called by the Lord with the command, “Follow me.” Yet, he expressed uncertainty and a lack of resolve, responding, “Lord, permit me first to go and bury my father.” The Lord replied, “Let the dead bury their own dead; but you go and proclaim the kingdom of God.” A different man expressed his willingness to follow the Lord, declaring, “I will follow you, Lord!