Matthew 8:19Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Despite the profound affection the crowd felt for Christ and their earnest desire to accompany Him, a wealthy and exceedingly proud individual approached Him with the statement: Teacher, I will follow You wherever You go. This illustrates the essence of arrogance. He deemed it beneath him to associate with the ordinary folk, instead approaching Jesus with a sense of superiority. This reflects a common attitude among some of the Jewish people, who often exhibit a misplaced boldness. Subsequently, another person, when the crowd fell silent, stepped forward and inquired: ‘What is the first commandment?’ (Matthew 22:36).

A scribe is someone well-versed in the Scriptures of the Law. Observing numerous miracles, he assumed that Jesus was gaining from these wonders, prompting him to pursue Christ in hopes of obtaining wealth for himself.

If this legal expert, who only understood the written law that brings death, had proclaimed, "Lord, I will follow You wherever You go," he would not have been turned away by the Lord. However, because he perceived Jesus as just another teacher and adhered strictly to the written word—indicated in Greek by the term γραμματεύς—and lacked a spiritual understanding, there was no place for Jesus to lay His head.

This scribe, driven by a love of wealth, suspected that Jesus was amassing significant sums through His miracles and thought that by becoming one of His disciples, he could gain immense treasure. However, Christ, aware of his true intentions, responds appropriately to his desires, revealing His understanding of the situation.

The scribe declared, I will follow You wherever You lead. This reflects a fervent yet self-assured sentiment. The Lord was preparing to endure suffering, descend into the abyss, and ultimately rise to glory. Could human frailty truly accompany Him through all these trials? It represents a naive assumption rather than a genuine affirmation of faith, as the Lord had previously addressed the apostle Peter, who believed he could accompany the Saviour in every aspect: Where I am going, you cannot follow Me now (Jn 13:36). When Peter insisted that not even death could sever his bond with Jesus, he was met with a stern revelation of his impending denial, hearing that he would disown the Lord three times.

A Christian should be cautious not to align themselves too closely with Christ's message, which was directed toward a scribe eager to follow Him but reluctant to abandon worldly attachments: “Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay His head.” Flattery, deceit, hypocrisy, greed, and all forms of wicked desires resemble foxes that find their dens within the human heart, while birds take refuge there as well. In such hearts, the Son of Man finds no resting place; however, He dwells within the hearts of the meek, the humble, and those sorrowful for their sins, offering His grace to them.

St. John Chrysostom notes that just as the disciples remained with the Lord during His sermons on the Mount of Beatitudes, they also stayed close to Him in Capernaum, not only during His miraculous works but even in His moments of silence; they drew great benefit simply from His presence. If Moses possessed a radiant visage and Stephen had a face like an angel, one can only imagine the awe inspired by the appearance of the Savior. Many, overwhelmed with love and wonder, longed to gaze upon Him, remaining in His company continually. Who could turn away from someone who performed such wondrous acts? Who would not yearn to see a face that spoke such profound truths?

Those chosen for this new community were not to face any obstacles or limitations in carrying out the mission given to them. One individual was requested to bury his father, while another was asked to bid farewell to his loved ones; however, the Lord would not permit such delays.

In this passage, it is noted that Matthew shares a specific account, while Luke also recounts this instance along with a third example that he alone details, framed differently, occurring during Christ's final journey from Galilee to Judea (9:57-62). It is plausible that each Gospel writer, while narrating an actual event from their respective contexts, also includes another similar occurrence from a different timeframe. The scribe was denied permission to follow Jesus, which reflects the reason for this refusal: he harbored worldly notions and aspirations of a Messiah, expecting that Jesus would soon publicly affirm His status as the Messiah-King, and hoped to secure a prestigious position in His reign. The scribe's desire to join Jesus was driven by selfish ambition.

On the same day that the Lord shared parables with the people, He returned in the evening to the banks of the Sea of Galilee. A multitude surrounded Him once more, and He desired to board a boat to cross to the other side. At that moment, a scribe approached Him, saying, Teacher, I will follow You wherever You go.

Before the boat set sail from the shore, three individuals from the crowd expressed a wish to become devoted disciples of Christ. The first was a scribe who, with a sense of confidence rooted in his education and social status, boldly declared, “Master! I will follow You wherever You go.”

The term "Scribe" can be referenced in the notes on Matthew 2:4. The phrase "One" indicates a specific scribe. When it states “I will follow Thee,” it signifies a desire to be a close disciple of Christ (see Matt. 4:19-22). It is possible that this individual was a follower of Christ in a broader sense, as implied by the subsequent reference to “another of His disciples.” Despite the misguided views and behaviors of the scribes and Pharisees, there seemingly existed among them individuals with genuine sentiments. These individuals were astonished by the teachings and deeds of the Lord, showing a sincere desire to be His disciples. Nonetheless, it is likely that at times there were also self-serving motivations driving their intent to follow the Lord (cf. Chrysostom, Theophilus). This may explain why the Lord ultimately turned away the scribe mentioned in this context.

As the Lord journeyed toward the sea, a scribe came to Him, likely seeking temporal gains within the visible reign of the Messiah. He exclaimed: “Teacher, I will follow You, I will follow You, I will follow You, I will follow You, I will follow You, I will follow You.”