Luke 9:59He said to another man, "Follow me." But the man replied, "Lord, first let me go and bury my father." 60Jesus said to him, "Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and proclaim the kingdom of God."
In your opinion, was He referring to those “dead in spirit”, that is, those that are not able to understand the spiritual message anymore? Did they have to be those to bury their “own dead”? Is this the sense of the sentence?
2006-10-17 07:51:38 · 22 answers · asked by Gospel of Thomas 2 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
I don't get it.
So, if everyone accepts Jesus, we are going to have to hire Muslims to run our cemeteries? Won't they use this money for terrorism?
2006-10-17 08:28:29 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
I've been told that the man did not literally mean that his father had died already -- he was using a figure of speech. He was asking if he could stay at home and live with his father UNTIL his father died and was buried (this could be several years in the future since his old father was still living).
As for the point that Jesus was making, I think that Jesus was making a play on the man's words (I.E.:a pun) to emphasize his point. Either the man could accept God's call and go do what God wanted, or he could maintain the status quo, stay at home with his family, and remain spiritually dead because he refused a command directly from God.
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Actually, "Hannah" gave a very good answer. She must have read the same Bible commentaries that I do.
2006-10-17 08:08:50 · answer #2 · answered by Randy G 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
This is a very interesting scripture, isn't it? This is what I learned when someone helped me reason on it. It is unlikely that this man's father was literally dead, else he would not have been there in the first place. He would have no doubt been home with his family tending to such responsibility. Christ encouraged him to become a follower and he was saying, in effect, let me wait until my father has passed and I will be free to concentrate on discipleship. To which Jesus responded, let the dead (spiritually dead) bury the dead (literally dead) and you teach God's kingdom. Compare the excuse given by the one in verse 61.
Jesus was making plain that becoming his follower was a serious matter but so many were making excuses. That is why Christ said what he did in verse 62. You must be prepared to leave behind all things to be my follower. But if you are looking at what you have left behind, you are not fit to be my follower. If your hand is on the plow (being my follower) and you are looking behind, you will not do a very good job.
Hannah
2006-10-17 08:05:47 · answer #3 · answered by Hannah J Paul 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Many seem to think it is the "spiritually dead" who can bury their dead relatives; let those who are "spiritually alive" go and spread the Gospel.
Sometimes it seems rather harsh, as though the "spiritual" are not to have concern and affection for their relatives.
The sense of the sentence, though, seems to many to be:
"first let me go and bury my father"; it was more as an excuse to not "follow" Christ. It would seem a very reasonable request ... first to go and bury his father -- if his father was dead or since unto death. The realty, most commentators think, is that the man's father was alive and well, maybe had 20 to 40 years yet to live. The son said, let me wait until my father dies ..."
2006-10-17 08:38:25 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
This is the traditional explanation of the passage. Because these people are not saved, they have the seed of death in them and are the real dead men walking.
However, the man may have been talking about his father who was very much alive but advanced in years.
All of us are or were dead in our sins. But the same power that raised Christ from the dead can bring our spirits back to life.
2006-10-17 08:00:02 · answer #5 · answered by freelancenut 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I have heard them referred to as "dead in Christ", meaning those who had not/not yet accepted Christ's teachings. If that was His intent, He was telling the man that he should follow Christ, instead of being concerned with earthly problems, and let people of the world (non-Christians) bury his father.
2006-10-17 08:13:21 · answer #6 · answered by John C 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes. What Jesus is implying is that to let those of this world handle their own issues, let them deal with their own problems, let them bury their own dead. While the body of Christ has other more important thngs to do, like proclaim the kingdom! Kind of like saying, instead of mourning, we should be celebrating, instead of being in sorrow, we should have joy. For it is not about us, but about the one in us.
2006-10-17 08:07:03 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
It is those who are dead spiritually, not inclined to participate in the ministry Eph 2:1, 1Timothy 5:6
2006-10-17 08:04:59 · answer #8 · answered by linniepooh 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's a play of words. The dead (those dead in spirit, who won't receive the gospel) bury their dead (their dead relatives).
2006-10-17 20:22:00 · answer #9 · answered by todaywiserthanyesterday 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You are correct. Those who don't understand the spiritual message are unbelievers. Their spirit man is dead. These people are caught up in the things of this world and carnality.
Shalom
2006-10-17 08:04:45 · answer #10 · answered by Pashur 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Jesus is simply saying (meaning) Let the dead bury the dead.
Those people (dead) are sinners. Let sinners bury sinners.
If you are ALIVE you follow GOD (CHRIST). Those in Christ are alive for evermore.
John 3:16 For God so loved the world he gave his only begottenson that whoso ever believe on him shall never perish but have everlasting life.
Jesus had asked them to follow him--to believe him- but they chose to stay in the world of sin (dead).
Thus the dead are people who don't follow Christ and are thus DEAD IN SIN LIVING IN THE WORLD OF SIN>
When you accept Jesus-you leave that world on sin--meaning you are no longer dead in the world (sin) but alive in Christ.
2006-10-17 08:02:23 · answer #11 · answered by cork 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋