Matthew 8:18-22

Two Disciples Are Faced Up With The Cost Of following Jesus (8:18-22).

Jesus' command to His disciples to prepare to go to the other side of the Sea of Galilee (Matthew 8:18) sparks off the need for some of His followers to face up to the question of discipleship. The question now is, are they going to follow Him all the way? We are given two as an example. The first is a Scribe, an interpreter of the Law (although not necessarily a Pharisee), and the second is one on whom Jesus has His eye, but who is wavering. Luke tells us of the same incidents but without putting them in a particular context.

Analysis.

a Now when Jesus saw great crowds about Him, he gave commandment to depart to the other side (Matthew 8:18).

b And there came a scribe, and said to Him, “Teacher, I will follow you wherever you go' (Matthew 8:19).

c And Jesus says to him, “The foxes have holes, and the birds of the heaven have nests” (Matthew 8:20 a).

d “But the Son of man has not where to lay His head” (Matthew 8:20 b).

c And another of the disciples said to Him, “Lord, allow me first to go and bury my father” (Matthew 8:21).

b But Jesus says to him, “Follow me” (Matthew 8:22 a).

a “And leave the dead to bury their own dead” (Matthew 8:22 b).

Note that in ‘a' Jesus is leaving the country, and in the parallel He tells the disciple to leave the country with Him, and leave the dead to bury their own dead. In ‘b' the Scribe declares that he will follow Jesus wherever He goes (even into Gentile territory) and in the parallel Jesus calls another to follow Him. In ‘c' the foxes have holes and the birds of the air nests, each has its home, and in the parallel the disciple wants to cling on to his home. Centrally in ‘d' is the fact that the Son of Man has come in humility and suffering.