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: Ok, I understand first of all the reaction of your lovely wife. But you must understand somethings before going any further. In biblical texts, there were what we call in theology (literary genres). Some figures of speech were used quite often in that time. Now watch this. The fact that Jesus made this allusion about the dead put in the tomb isn't so much an act of lack of compassion from Him. If you read the context of that verse, you'll notice that Jesus was challenging the crowds to follow Him without any conceivable excuses. Therefore, it was a shocking and loving warning from Him that meant: "If you want to follow me, but consider again the priority of your family first, you are not proper to my Kingdom." Keep in mind that Jesus was not against those who buried their parents and /or friends. Just take the example of the death of Lazarus in John 11. Nothing is said on the part of Jesus that He disregarded their doings. No, Jesus was not saying: "It is wrong to bury your dead ones, because you have to follow me first". It was just a challenge to bring the point home in the mind of whoever wanted to follow Him in keeping, at the same time, the excuses of their choices just in the beginning of their walk with God. Otherwise, God first, men after. That was the point of Jesus. |