57 And it came to pass, that, as they went in the way, a certain man said unto him, Lord, I will follow thee whithersoever thou goest. 58 And Jesus said unto him, Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head. (Luke 9:57-58 KJV)
William Burkitt’s Commentary
Observe here, 1. A person resolving to follow Christ, a good resolution if made deliberately and wisely, not for sinister ends, or secular advantages, which it is to be feared was the case here, by our Saviour’s answer; for, says he, Foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests, but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head.
As if Christ had said, “My condition in the world is very poor, I have no house of residence that I call my own; the birds of the air have their fixed nests, and the beasts of the earth have their dens and holes, but I have no fixed habitation; therefore if you think to follow me for the sake of worldly advantage, you will find yourself greatly disappointed.”
Learn hence, that such men will find themselves miserably mistaken, and greatly disappointed, who expect to gain anything by following of Christ, but their souls’ salvation. It was a common opinion among the Jews, that the disciples of the Messiah should get wealth and honor by following him.
It is likely what this person said proceeded from this opinion; accordingly, Christ discourages him from such expectation, by laying before him his mean, poor, and low condition, in which he was to be followed by his disciples; as if Christ had said, “If you expect temporal advantages by following of me, you will be much mistaken, for I have nothing I can call my own.”
BURKITT | Luke 9:1-6 | Luke 9:7-9 | Luke 9:10-11 | Luke 9:12-17 | Luke 9:18-22 | Luke 9:23-24 | Luke 9:25 | Luke 9:26 | Luke 9:27 | Luke 9:28-36 | Luke 9:37-42 | Luke 9:43-45 | Luke 9:46-48 | Luke 9:49-50 | Luke 9:51 | Luke 9:52-53 | Luke 9:54 | Luke 9:55-56 | Luke 9:57-58 | Luke 9:59-60 | Luke 9:61-62 |