Bible Question: My wife and I were discussing this verse and she stated that she couldn't understand why Jesus said let the dead bury the dead.I tried to explain but couldn't to her satisfaction :) could you help me please...the fact that it would be respectfull to bury your father has her feeling as though it would be disrespectfull not to bury your father. |
Bible Answer: Mt 8:19 And a certain scribe came, and said unto him, Master, I will follow thee whithersoever thou goest. 20 And Jesus saith unto him, The foxes have holes, and the birds of the air [have] nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay [his] head. 21 And another of his disciples said unto him, Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my father. 22 But Jesus said unto him, Follow me; and let the dead bury their dead. The scribe which came to Jesus, said to Jesus: " suffer me first to go and bury my father." It has been said that the scribes father was not yet dead. The scribe was merely stating, let me first remain with my father until the day when he dies, so that I may bury him, then I will come and follow you. So this scribe was only making an excuse for not following Jesus, and attempting to post-pone obedience. Jesus said in other places: Mt 10:37 He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and: Mark 10:29-30 And Jesus answered and said, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my sake, and the gospel's, But he shall receive an hundredfold now in this time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions; and in the world to come eternal life. Luke 14:26 If any [man] come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple. (Jesus wasn't saying we should hate our relatives, but that we should not love them more that God. The Lord demands first place in our hearts) Concerning Jesus words "let the dead bury their dead" Here is the meaning: Let those who are physically alive, but remain spiritually dead bury those of theirs who die physically. It's not that the person wouldn't be buried. Those who are dead spiritually, but alive physically would see to his burial at the proper time. Hope this helps |