18 Now when Jesus saw great multitudes about him, he gave commandment to depart unto the other side. 19 And a certain scribe came, and said unto him, Master, I will follow thee whithersoever thou goest. 20 And Jesus saith unto him, The foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head. 21 And another of his disciples said unto him, Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my father. 22 But Jesus said unto him, Follow me; and let the dead bury their dead. (Matthew 8:18-22 KJV)
The Cost of Following Jesus
Christ moved to the other side of the Sea of Tiberias and instructed his disciples to prepare their boats (Mt 8:18). The influence of the Sun of Righteousness was not to be confined to one place but spread throughout the region. He needed to go about doing good, as the needs of souls called to him, “Come over and help us” (Ac 16:9). Though the great crowds showed their desire to have him stay, he knew others were just as eager, and they also needed him. His popularity in one place was not a reason to stay but a reason to go. By moving, he tested whether the crowds were truly zealous enough to follow him. Many are willing to listen if the message is convenient, but few will go the extra mile.
As Christ prepared to cross over, two individuals wanted to follow him—not as casual listeners but as close disciples. Most people were hesitant to commit fully, but these two seemed eager. However, their hearts were not completely right. Their cases show the common hindrances that keep many from fully following Christ.
The first was too hasty in promising. He was a scribe, a learned man, usually found opposing Christ. Yet, he made a strong profession: “Teacher, I will follow you wherever you go” (Mt 8:19). His statement seemed sincere, showing readiness, determination, and a willingness to follow Christ anywhere. However, Jesus’ response revealed that the man had not fully counted the cost. The scribe likely saw the miracles and assumed Christ would establish an earthly kingdom, hoping to secure a place in it. Many make rash resolutions for religion, stirred by sudden emotions, but without real commitment.
Jesus tested his sincerity, saying, “The Son of Man has no place to lay his head” (Mt 8:20). Christ, though the Son of God, lived in deep poverty, lacking even the basic security that animals have—foxes have holes, and birds have nests, but he had no settled home. He and his disciples depended on the charity of others (Lu 8:2). He accepted poverty to humble himself, fulfill Scripture, and teach his followers not to seek worldly wealth but to set their hopes on eternal riches (2Co 8:9).
One might expect Jesus to encourage a scribe’s willingness, but he saw the man’s heart. He wanted disciples who understood the cost, not those drawn by worldly gain. The scribe likely left disappointed when he realized following Christ would not bring him wealth. Christ does not accept followers who seek only personal advantage.
The second person was too slow in acting. He was already a disciple (Mt 8:21) but was hesitant to make a deeper commitment. He asked for time to bury his father before fully following Christ. Whether his father had just died or was simply aging and near death, his request seemed reasonable. However, Jesus saw that he was using family duties as an excuse. An unwilling heart always finds a reason to delay. Even good responsibilities, like caring for family, must not come before God’s calling.
Jesus replied, “Follow me, and let the dead bury their dead” (Mt 8:22). This meant that spiritually dead people could handle such worldly matters. The disciple had a higher calling and could not let anything—even family ties—take priority over serving Christ. In the Old Testament, Nazarites and high priests were forbidden from mourning even for their closest relatives because they were set apart for God (Nu 6:6-8; Le 21:11-12). Jesus similarly required his followers to love him above all else (Lu 14:26). Our duty to God must come first, even before family obligations.