Scripture: Luke 9: 59-62

⁵⁹ He said to another person, “Come, follow me.” The man agreed, but he said, “Lord, first let me return home and bury my father.” ⁶⁰ But Jesus told him, “Let the spiritually dead bury their own dead!^[l] Your duty is to go and preach about the Kingdom of God.” ⁶¹ Another said, “Yes, Lord, I will follow you, but first let me say good-bye to my family.” ⁶² But Jesus told him, “Anyone who puts a hand to the plow and then looks back is not fit for the Kingdom of God.”

Scripture Commentary:

Jesus tells two men, “Come, follow me.” One man asks Jesus to let him bury his father first. The other wants to say goodbye to his family. Jesus tells the first man to go and bury his father, then follow him and spread the message of God’s kingdom. He tells the second man that he is not worthy to spread God’s word.

The first man is fulfilling his burial duties to his father. Jesus tells us that there are requirements to follow God. Those requirements do not include forsaking responsibility to family. The first man had a duty to family that needed to be fulfilled. Jesus’s response was to go and fulfill that duty, then go and spread God’s message.

The second person was just going to say goodbye, and maybe have a goodbye party. He had nothing urgent or important that had to be done.

Two people, two requirements. One was accepted and the other rejected. God knows our heart, soul and mind. If you are truthful to God in your request, He will honor it with love and understanding.

In John 14:13, Jesus tells us, “You can ask for anything in my name, and I will do it, so that the Son can bring glory to the Father.”

Read the Entire Chapter of the Scriptures Referenced:

Luke 9

John 14

Read Other Commentary From the Book of Luke:

Be a Reflection of the Light of Jesus

How Hard Is It To Forgive?

Scripture: Matthew 26: 14 – 15, 25

¹⁴ Then Judas Iscariot, one of the twelve disciples, went to the leading priests ¹⁵ and asked, “How much will you pay me to betray Jesus to you?” And they gave him thirty pieces of silver. ²⁵ Judas, the one who would betray him, also asked, “Rabbi, am I the one?” And Jesus told him, “You have said it.”

Scripture Commentary:

The question: “How much will you pay me to betray Jesus to you?” The answer: thirty pieces of silver. That was the price of a slave during that time. It’s ironic that Jesus Christ, the servant for man, was also our slave servant. He came into the world to take our sins onto himself, giving us the only true path to God, Our Father.

Jesus chose Judas to be one of his disciples although he knew what Judas would do. The deed was foretold in Psalm 41: 9 (Even my best friend, the one I trusted completely, the one who shared my food, has turned against me.)

The second question asked is “Rabbi, am I the one?” Jesus replied, “You have said it.”

God will ask each of us a question.

What have you done in His name? Your reply can be nothing or Lord, I have finished the assignment you gave me. When you accepted Jesus as your Lord and Savior, you received your assignment. If you’ve done nothing, sitting on the sidelines, then you did what Satan had for you. As a child of God, you are to love and help those in need.

Jesus paid the price for you.

Read the Entire Chapter of the Scriptures Referenced:

Matthew 26

Psalm 41

Read Other Commentary From the Book of Matthew:

Will You Be Prepared When Christ Returns?

Not Everyone Has a Relationship with God. What About You?