A certain man said to Jesus. This must have happened many times. See notes on Matthew 8:18-22. Matthew identifies this man as a teacher of the Law. I will follow you. That is, become a disciple and travel with Jesus. But the Son of Man. The Messiah (see note on Matthew 10:23). Jesus tests this man's sincerity by pointing out the hardships. Jesus had no permanent home, and often spent the night out in the open. He said to another man. A disciple. See note on Matthew 8:21. Let the dead bury their own dead. This disciple may have been an apostle who wanted to stay with his father until his father's death. Preaching the Kingdom of God has the very highest priority. Let the world take care of its own duties. And then keeps looking back. This was not just "saying good-bye" to his family. This man feels he cannot leave his family. A believer, ready to be buried with Christ in baptism, who goes home to talk it over with unbelieving relatives, has a good chance of being talked out of doing it. See Matthew 10:34-39 and notes there.

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Old Testament