Luke 9:58Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

For anyone who examines such matters thoughtfully will easily comprehend that there was considerable ignorance in his approach and that it was marked by unwarranted arrogance. This individual sought not merely to follow Christ as many others among the Jewish crowds did; rather, he desired to elevate himself to a status of apostolic distinction. This was his true intention, seeking to claim an esteemed title for himself, while the esteemed Paul teaches that "no one takes this honor upon himself; he must be called by God, just as Aaron was." Aaron did not enter the priesthood on his own, but was called by God. Likewise, none of the holy apostles initiated their own appointment to apostleship; they received this honor from Christ. He commanded: "Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men." But this man, as previously mentioned, audaciously claimed such noble gifts for himself, and though no one summoned him, he sought to assume a position beyond his rightful authority. If someone were to approach an earthly monarch and declare: "I will promote myself to this or that honor, even if you do not bestow it upon me," it would indeed be a perilous proposition that could cost him his life. Who could doubt that such an outcome would ensue? In any case, one must await the judgment of the one who holds supreme authority. How could this man appoint himself among the disciples and adorn himself with apostolic rank without being summoned by Christ? Another reason He rightly rejected him is that He deemed him unworthy of such a lofty honor. The genuine following of Christ is undoubtedly beneficial for salvation, yet the one desiring to be deserving of such great glory must bear his cross. What does it mean to carry the cross? It signifies dying to the world, renouncing its empty pleasures, and resolutely rejecting a life of indulgence and sensuality. It is written: "Do not love the world or the things in the world; for all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh, the desires of the eyes, and pride in possessions—is not from the Father, but is from the world." And again: "Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore, whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God." Thus, the one who chooses to be with Christ loves that which is delightful and beneficial for salvation; but let him heed these words: separate yourselves from worldly desires; cleanse yourselves from ungodliness; purify yourselves from the corrupt love of pleasure, for they alienate you and hinder your communion with Christ. Remove the barriers that stand between you; dismantle the enmity; eradicate the obstacles that separate you, and then you shall be with Christ. But if the barrier between you and fellowship with Him remains intact, how can you truly follow Him? The fact that this was also true of this man is affirmed by the gentle correction He offered, not to scorn him, but rather to guide him toward becoming better and more committed to the paths of virtue. Hence He said, "Foxes have dens, and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head." The straightforward meaning of this statement is: animals and birds have their shelters, yet I possess nothing of what everyone longs for; I have no place to rest or lay My head. However, a deeper understanding reveals a more profound significance. The foxes and the birds of the air seem to symbolize wicked, cunning, and unclean forces—flocks of malevolent spirits. This terminology appears throughout inspired Scripture, for the blessed Psalmist remarks of certain men: "They shall become the possession of foxes." In the Song of Songs, it is written: "Catch for us the foxes, the little foxes that ruin the vineyards." Moreover, Christ refers to Herod, describing him as “that fox.” In another instance, He speaks of seeds that fell along the path, stating: "The birds of the sky came and devoured them." It is understood that He does not indicate literal birds, but rather the unclean and malevolent spirits that often, when the heavenly seed is sown in the hearts of men, snatch it away, preventing it from bearing fruit. Therefore, if foxes and birds find shelter within us, how can Christ come in? Where can He find rest? What harmony can exist between Christ and wickedness? For He abides with the saints and dwells among those who love Him while withdrawing from the unclean and impure. Cast out the beasts, pursue the foxes, expel the birds; cleanse your heart of their filth, so that the Son of Man may find a resting place within you—the Word of God who took on human form. For light cannot coexist with darkness, nor the holy with the unclean. It is entirely inconceivable for fragrance and corruption to coexist in the same vessel. A person cannot be endowed with apostolic honor, marked by virtuous and noble qualities, unless he has received Christ within him. Therefore, the wise Paul instructs: "Are you seeking proof of Christ, who speaks in us?" The one in whom Christ resides is the temple—not of any false deities—but of Him who is truly and inherently God. We have been taught that "we are temples of the living God." And for a divine temple, the most pleasing aroma is suitable; all virtue serves as a reasonable offering, entirely acceptable to the God of all. "Let us purify ourselves from every defilement of flesh and spirit." "Let us put to death the deeds of the body." Let us bar the entrance of impure spirits. Let no wicked and harmful entities dwell within us. Let our hearts be sacred and untainted, as far as is possible. In this manner, we will follow Christ as He bestows His grace upon us, and He will dwell within us joyfully. For then He will indeed have a resting place, and He will find solace in us as in the saints. For it is written: "Be holy, because I am holy." By dedicating ourselves to these earnest endeavors, we shall also arrive at the heavenly city, with the assistance of Christ, to whom and with whom, alongside God the Father, be glory and dominion with the Holy Spirit, forever and ever. Amen.

As a mortal, he would not have presumed to compare himself with the unfathomable strength of the Savior by declaring, "I follow Thee wherever Thou goest." To follow the Savior for mere instruction is indeed achievable by human nature due to His humanity. However, to consider oneself equal to Him and follow Him universally is both impossible and disrespectful for one making such a claim, as we cannot dwell with Him who is one with the Father. Is it feasible for beings of a different essence to do so? It is beyond our capacity to trail the Omnipresent everywhere, for He is boundless, while we are finite; He exists within and beyond the cosmos, while we, limited in our being, inhabit a particular measure. The Lord, being unchanging and steadfast, governs and moves all things at all times, while we, confined to our locations, reveal our limitations in comparison to His unchanging divine presence.

Through this, the Lord corrects the scribe, exposing his unpreparedness for the task at hand, and teaches about the greatness of His divine nature, stating, "Foxes have holes, etc." Essentially, He is conveying that all created beings are confined by the constraints of space, yet the Word of God possesses boundless authority; thus, instead of simply stating, "I follow Thee," it is imperative to affirm that you truly desire to be a disciple. To undertake the path of discipleship, one must abandon the realm of silence and embrace the Word, for one who dwells in silence cannot genuinely become a student of the Word.

I do not intend to leave unexplained why He instructs us not to obstruct those who are able to cast out unclean spirits in His name, while in Matthew, He says to such individuals, "I never knew you; depart from Me, ye that do iniquity" (Matt. 7:23). It is essential to recognize that there is no contradiction in these statements; rather, they imply that those in ministry are not only expected to fulfill their responsibilities but also to act with virtue. The name of Christ is of such magnitude that it assists even those who are distant from holiness, though it does not grant them grace. Therefore, no one should take pride in claiming grace for their deliverance from sin; the power to achieve this lies in the eternal name, not in the frailty of mankind. The adversary is vanquished not by our merits, but by the animosity we direct against him.

Let a person strive to the best of their ability, displaying genuine faith and remaining steadfast to the commandments, and then it will not be stated of him, "Foxes have dens." The fox symbolizes cunning, always plotting intrigue and resorting to deceit for the sake of gain. It leaves nothing untouched and uncovers everything, seeking prey even within human dwellings. The Lord draws a parallel between foxes and heretics. By calling out to the Gentiles, He expels heretics. The fox is crafty; it digs a hole and constantly tries to conceal itself within. Likewise, heretics, though incapable of constructing their own refuge, attempt to mislead others through trickery.

Jacob dwells securely in his abode. The heretic hides in his den, much like a sly fox scheming against the hen, of whom it is stated in the Gospel, "How often I wanted to gather your children as a hen gathers her chicks, and you were not willing. Behold, your house is left unto you desolate" (Matt. 23:37-38). They rightfully remain in their dens, having forfeited their own home. Such creatures are untamable; thus, the Apostle admonishes, "Heretic, after the first and second admonition, reject" (Titus 3:10). The fox is of no use and is not good for sustenance, unlike Christ, who declared, "My food is to do the will of My Father" (John 4:34), who is in heaven. Furthermore, He seeks to rid His harvest of foxes, as expressed: "Catch us the foxes, the little foxes that spoil the vines" (Song 2:15), meaning they devastate the delicate vineyard rather than the robust.

Samson, by tying torches to the tails of the foxes, allowed the oppressors to reap, illustrating how heretics strive to ignite chaos among others’ harvests, howling loudly rather than speaking eloquently (for he who denies the Word has no true voice). Though their mouths may be unrestrained now, ultimately, they will be bound, and the torches attached to their tails represent that they shall be consumed by fire.

Additionally, the birds of the air often symbolize the spirits of wickedness that take root in the hearts of the unrighteous. Due to the multiplication of iniquity (Matt. 24:12), the Son of Man finds no place to rest His head. When deceit triumphs, sincerity cannot find a home, and the divine cannot enter the human heart. The head of Christ is God (1 Cor. 11:3), and when He examines the human spirit and perceives its purity, He bestows upon it the power of His greatness, resulting in even greater grace being poured into the hearts of the righteous.

The scribe received a refusal from Jesus, which clarifies why Christ did not permit him to follow: the scribe harbored earthly notions and aspirations of Messianic glory, believing that Jesus would shortly declare Himself as the Messiah-King and hoping to secure a close position in His kingdom. This demonstrates the scribe's self-serving intent to join Jesus early on. Conversely, another individual—one of Jesus' broader disciples—was called by the Lord but requested leave to bury his father first. Christ responded to him: “Leave the (spiritually) dead to bury their (bodily) dead.” Each individual receives a response befitting their state of mind.

Clearly, this disciple is akin to the third person referred to by Luke; he was still inclined to look back, his hand on the plow, and had not yet wholly turned his heart away from earthly distractions for the sake of Christ. Granting him permission to return home to bury his father would likely place him in the company of those unsympathetic to Jesus, potentially leading to his ultimate loss. Conversely, if he demonstrates a profound act of self-denial for Jesus’ sake from the outset, he will solidify his path as a devoted follower of Christ.

But first, let me say goodbye to my family." The Lord responded, "No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God." To illustrate His point, the Lord used an analogy drawn from the simple realities of rural life that would resonate with His listeners: a farmer at work with his plow does not look back or to the side but maintains focus ahead, ensuring that his furrow remains straight; in this way, only will his labor be fruitful. Likewise, a follower of Christ must not cast his gaze back at worldly possessions or attachments that could divert him from the path of salvation he has chosen, nor should he rekindle the ties he once set aside out of love for God (Mt. 10:37).