Matthew 8:21Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Do you notice the distinction? One boldly declares, ‘I will follow you, amoshe ashe goeshi’; while the other, even when requesting to perform a righteous act, humbly states, ‘Please allow me.’

Respecting one's parents is a virtuous act as long as it does not interfere with revering God. However, when a choice must be made between the two, one must cast aside parental honor if it obstructs the duty to please the Lord. God deserves to be worshiped with our utmost devotion, avoiding the error seen in Cain, who offered a less than best gift to God. Similarly, the ancient law prohibited priests from coming into contact with the dead, attending to household affairs, or being swayed by worldly emotions. This law serves as a foreshadowing, while Christ reveals the truth, enabling those who seek to serve God to not allow familial relationships to distract them from His presence.

What similarities can be found between the scribe and this disciple? The scribe refers to Him as teacher, while the disciple acknowledges Him as Lord. The disciple, in his devotion, desires to attend his father's funeral, whereas the scribe, eager to accompany Him wherever He leads, anticipates personal gain and seeks not merely a teacher but the advantages of a Master.

The identity of this disciple remains unspecified by the Evangelist; however, he displayed great wisdom. Notice that even in a situation that seemed both just and essential, he sought approval, choosing not to act independently. It was previously stated that he would follow faithfully wherever required.

In this passage, the sacred Evangelist illustrates the example of a soul in conflict: one of His disciples, who had already begun to follow Him, approached Him and said, "LORD! Allow me to first go and bury my father, so that I may fulfill my duty as a son and honor him." St. Chrysostom highlights the distinction here, noting that while one disciple boldly proclaims, "I will follow You wherever You go," this disciple, seeking permission for a righteous act, humbly requests, "Let me."

The individuals chosen for this new fellowship were not to be hindered or limited in their mission. There was one who wished to bury his father and another who sought to bid farewell to his family; the Lord granted them no permission for such delays.

Matthew presents an account regarding this matter, while Luke shares the same two incidents along with a third one that he recounts uniquely in a different context. According to Luke, this occurs during Christ’s final journey from Galilee to Judea. It is quite possible that each Evangelist recounts a genuine event from their specified time while also describing a similar case that transpired at another moment. The scribe was turned away, and from this denial, we understand why Jesus did not permit him to accompany Him: the scribe harbored worldly aspirations and Messianic expectations, believing that Jesus would soon proclaim Himself as the Messiah-King in a glorious manner, hoping to secure a prominent position in His kingdom.

This response evidently left a significant impact on many of Christ's followers, who were then recognized as His disciples; their expressions reflected a willingness to accompany Him. However, to assess the depth of their commitment, He addressed one of them, saying, "Follow me." This disciple had recently experienced the loss of his father and was preparing for the burial. Thus, he hesitated, contemplating his next steps. He believed it would be unacceptable to abandon the tradition of attending his father's service, so he chose to excuse himself temporarily, seeking permission to first fulfill his duty to bury his father, with the intention of returning later to follow Christ.

The second individual was already partially a disciple of the Savior but expressed a desire to fully embrace His following, provided he could first attend to the burial of his father. Christ responded firmly, “Follow me, and let the dead bury their own dead,” indicating that one must leave behind worldly concerns. Those who wish to be true followers of Christ must prioritize their commitment to Him above all, even above their own parents. They are called to let those who are spiritually dead manage the affairs of the physically deceased.

“In reference to the disciples”: in a broad sense. - “Before”: prior to my unending commitment to follow You, meaning before I become steadfast and inseparable from You, Your disciple. - “To bury the father”: Jewish tradition mandated that the deceased be buried on the same day as their passing (Acts 5:6 ff.), and it was considered a holy obligation for children to attend the funerals of their parents (Gen. 25:9, Tob. 4:3).

One of the disciples of the Lord approached Him and said, "Master, please allow me to first go and bury my father." The Saviour, understanding that earthly concerns would fully divert this individual—who had already begun to follow Him—from the mission of God, responded: "Follow me, and let the spiritually dead care for their own."