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How can "the dead bury their own dead" as Jesus said?

See also Luke 9:60 New International Version
Jesus said to him, "Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and proclaim the kingdom of God.

Matthew 8:22

ESV - 22 And Jesus said to him, "Follow me, and leave the dead to bury their own dead.

Clarify Share Report Asked March 07 2021 My picture Jack Gutknecht Supporter

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Mini Tim Maas Supporter Retired Quality Assurance Specialist with the U.S. Army
Jesus made this comment to a man who ostensibly wanted to follow Him as His disciple, but who wanted to wait to do so until after his father had died and been buried. (In other words, he apparently gave greater weight to his perceived obligations to his father than to being Christ's follower.)

In telling the man to let the dead bury their own dead, Jesus was seeking to correct those misplaced priorities by saying that only those who were spiritually dead would attach a higher importance to such concerns (even when those concerns were related to one as close as one's father) than to following Him, and to receiving the eternal life that only He could provide.

March 07 2021 0 responses Vote Up Share Report


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