61 And another also said, Lord, I will follow thee; but let me first go bid them farewell, which are at home at my house. 62 And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God. (Luke 9:61-62 KJV)
William Burkitt’s Commentary
Here we have another person that promised to follow Christ but desired leave first to settle the affairs of his family and take leave of his friends.
Our Saviour tells him if he would be one of his ministers, he must be like a ploughman, who looks forward, and not backward, or he will never make his furrows right, they will either be too deep or too narrow, he must mind his plough and nothing else.
Thus must they that are called to the work of the ministry, mind it wholly, attend to that alone; their whole time, their whole strength, must be devoted to it; the things of the world are things behind them, they must not look back upon them.
Nothing can justify a minister concerning himself with the encumbrances of worldly business, but only perfect necessity for the support of himself and family.
Again, ploughing work is hard work, a strong and steady hand is required for it; he that ploughs must keep on, and make no balks of the hardest ground he meets with: verily no difficulties must discourage either ministers or people in the way of their duty.
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 |