Matthew 8:22

A THREEFOLD FOLLOWING

‘But Jesus said unto him, follow Me; and let the dead bury their dead.’

Matthew 8:22

Whither must we follow Christ?

I. Along the road He trod.—That was the road of self-denial, self-abnegation, of poverty, of homelessness, of the base man’s hatred and the proud man’s scorn.

II. On the road of toil.—It was the first law of Eden, ‘Work’; and though the work was changed to toil by a penal decree, even that toil by faithful obedience has been transformed into an honour and a blessing.

III. In the strength of enthusiasm.—He must be baptized with the Holy Ghost and with fire. And herein, too, he must let the dead bury their dead. For the dead of this world hate this fiery spirit. ‘Above all, no zeal,’ said the witty, crafty, successful statesman. ‘Fervent in spirit,’ said St. Paul.

—Dean Farrar.