Matthew 8:22Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Because Christ not only healed the body, but purified the soul also, He desired to shew forth true wisdom, not only by curing diseases, but by doing nothing with ostentation; and therefore it is said, Now when Jesus saw great multitudes about him, he commanded his disciples to cross over to the other side. This He did at once teaching us to be lowly, softening the ill-will of the Jews, and teaching us to do nothing with ostentation.

Once an individual has dedicated themselves to God, they should not revert to secular pursuits. While it is important to honor one's parents, loyalty to God must take precedence. In this context, the parent represents someone lacking faith, illustrated by the phrase “leave the dead,” referring to the unfaithful, “to bury their dead.” If this person was not allowed to bury their father, how lamentable it is for those who, having embraced monastic life, turn back to worldly concerns.

Otherwise; The Son of man hath not where to lay his head; that is, in your faith. The foxes have holes, in your heart, because you are deceitful. The birds of the air have nests, in your heart, because you are proud. Deceitful and proud follow Me not; for how should guile follow sincerity?

This Scribe of the Law who knew but the perishing letter, would not have been turned away had his address been, ‘Lord, I will follow Thee.’ But because he esteemed the Saviour only as one of many masters, and was a 1man of the letter (which is better expressed in Greek, γραμματεὺς) not a spiritual hearer, therefore he had no place where Jesus might lay His head. It is suggested to us that he sought to follow the Lord, because of His great miracles, for the sake of the gain to be derived from them; and was therefore rejected; seeking the same thing as did Simon Magus when he would have given Peter money.

Christ restrained him, not by denying him the opportunity to honor his parents, but by instructing him that one who aspires to the things of heaven should not revert to worldly matters. One should not forsake the living to attend to the dead or prioritize one's parents over God. He understood that others would take care of the burial, emphasizing that it would not be wise to abandon what is truly essential. It is likely that the deceased was an unbeliever; hence, He said to let the dead care for their own, as they belong to a faith distinct from yours. This deceased individual is not of your concern, for what connection exists between the faithful and the faithless? (2 Cor. 6:15).

The name disciples is not to be supposed to be confined to the twelve Apostles; for we read of many disciples besides the twelve.

Otherwise; The fox is a crafty animal, lying hid in ditches and dens, and when it comes abroad never going in a straight path, but in crooked windings; birds raise themselves in the air. By the foxes then are meant the subtle and deceitful dæmons, by the birds the proud dæmons; as though He had said; Deceitful and proud dæmons have their abode in your heart; but my lowliness finds no rest in a proud spirit.

For this very reason (Matt. 10:37), He denied the request of the man who sought to attend his father's burial, not as a means to show disregard for his father, certainly not in a moment of mourning, nor to negate familial bonds or diminish love. Rather, this serves as a continual reminder to prioritize the salvation of the soul above all earthly attachments and desires.

From this we may also take occasion to observe, that lesser goods are to be sometimes forfeited for the sake of securing greater.

What happened between the command of the Lord given, and their crossing over, the Evangelist purposes to relate in what follows; And one of the Scribes came to him and said, Master, I will follow thee whithersoever thou goest.

Death exists in three dimensions: physical, spiritual, and eternal. Physical death is the separation of the soul from the body, a fate that awaits both the righteous and the wicked, from which no one can escape. The Scriptures address this aspect of death, stating, ‘It is appointed unto men once to die’ (Hebrews 9:27). The eternal death represents the ultimate demise from which condemned souls will never escape, desiring to dissolve into nothingness due to the severe and unending anguish they endure. Christ speaks of this eternal fate: ‘But the fearful and unfaithful, and the wicked and murderers, and the lovers and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall perish in the lake burning with fire and brimstone. This is the second death’ (Rev. 21:8).

Yet Christ did not permit this either. JESUS responded, “Get behind me and attend to those who are spiritually dead.” In other words, He instructed him to abandon those who are spiritually deaf to His message, who fail to comprehend His mission, and who do not have faith in Him, thus remaining dead in their transgressions—He urged him to leave them to attend to their physical dead. The Lord recognized that the worries of this life could easily divert this hesitant individual from God’s work; since he was already following Christ, He sought to prevent him from being consumed by these distractions.

But Jesus denied the request for permission, saying, "Let the dead bury their own dead." According to Bishop Michael, the term "dead" here carries two distinct meanings: initially, it refers to being spiritually dead, while in the second instance, it denotes physical death. In Jewish tradition, the term "dead" applies to individuals who are indifferent to matters that hold significance for others. Consequently, being dead to the world, the law (Romans 7:4), and sin (Romans 6:2) signifies a state in which these forces exert no influence or control over a person, enabling them to live as if these concerns do not exist. Such individuals are spiritually unresponsive, akin to those who are dead to religion and cannot hear its call.

The second individual was already partially a disciple of the Lord but sought to become a complete follower, provided he could first attend to the burial of his father. Christ's authoritative response was, “Follow me, and let the dead bury their own dead”; in other words, he should entrust worldly matters and concerns to those who are spiritually unawakened. Anyone who desires to follow Christ must be prepared to forsake even their own parents. They must allow the spiritually dead to manage their earthly obligations.

“Follow me”: become my disciple (Matt. 4:19-22). The phrase “Leave the dead” illustrates two distinct meanings of the term “dead.” Initially, it refers to being spiritually dead, and subsequently, it denotes physical death. In Jewish thought, the term “dead” pertains to someone who is indifferent to a particular matter, or more accurately, to one who is unaffected by it. Thus, being dead to the world, the law (Rom. 7:4), and sin (Rom. 6:11), indicates that these elements hold no sway over a person, granting him liberation from their influence, as if they did not exist. A corpse in a grave is unresponsive to the joys or sorrows of existence.