Matthew 8:22
A plain-spoken deep dive on this verse. Read the chapter →
But Jesus told him, “Follow Me, and let the dead bury their own dead.”
Commentaries
Excerpts gathered from published commentaries to ground the reading.
HEALING OF A LEPER. ( = Mar 1:40-45; Luk 5:12-16). (Mat 8:1-4) When he was come down from the mountain, great multitudes followed him.
Open source ↗The evangelist having, in the foregoing chapters, given us a specimen of our Lord's preaching, proceeds now to give some instances of the miracles he wrought, which prove him a Teacher come from God, and the great Healer of a diseased world. In this chapter we have, I. Christ's cleansing of a leper (Mat 8:1-4). II. His curing a palsy and fever (Mat 8:5-18). III. His communing with two that were disposed to follow him (Mat 8:19-22). IV. His controlling the tempest (Mat 8:23-27). V. His casting out devils (Mat 8:28-34).
Open source ↗8:22 Let the spiritually dead bury their own dead: Jesus’ opponents would have misconstrued this instruction as blatant disregard for the fifth commandment to honor one’s parents (Exod 20:12), but in essence it is a restatement of the first commandment (Exod 20:1-3). It was warranted by Jesus’ messianic authority and the impact of the Kingdom upon normal human life, including family ties and commitments (see Matt 10:34-39; 12:46-50; 19:29; Zech 13:3; Luke 14:26-27).
Open source ↗Original language
The Hebrew and Greek words behind this passage, with Strong's numbers — from openscriptures (CC BY-SA).
Cross-references
Other passages the community most often connects to this one. Tap to read.
But it was fitting to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’”
When you were dead in your trespasses and in the uncircumcision of your sinful nature, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our trespasses,
So it is said: “Wake up, O sleeper, rise up from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.”
made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in our trespasses. It is by grace you have been saved!
And you were dead in your trespasses and sins,
The next day Jesus decided to set out for Galilee. Finding Philip, He told him, “Follow Me.”
But she who lives for pleasure is dead even while she is still alive.
As Jesus went on from there, He saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax booth. “Follow Me,” He told him, and Matthew got up and followed Him.