“Follow” Matthew 8:18-22

What it takes to follow Christ has been a struggle that has been debated since He called others to follow. Jesus showed us that He has a supernatural compassion for others. And His desire to save us brought Him to show us how we can experience Him in a real way, and enter into His salvation by totally trusting in what Christ did for us not just on the cross but since before there was an existence.

Now for contexts sake lets read the text for today

Matthew 8:18–22 “ And when Jesus saw great multitudes about Him, He gave a command to depart to the other side. 19 Then a certain scribe came and said to Him, “Teacher, I will follow You wherever You go.” 20 And Jesus said to him, “Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head.” 21 Then another of His disciples said to Him, “Lord, let me first go and bury my father.” 22 But Jesus said to him, “Follow Me, and let the dead bury their own dead.””

Matthew 8:18 “ And when Jesus saw great multitudes about Him, He gave a command to depart to the other side.”

We see this same event in Luke 9:57–62, however with only minor differences. great multitude: we know that Jesus can draw a crowd. We’ll see over 5k when feeds them and so on. When the numbers grow to great, it could be impossible even for jesus to function.

this travel to the other side picks up in v23. He would often teach from boat to create a block, so that the crowd wouldn't force themselves to Him.

His command to depart is to them, its for us to hear but for them to obey.

Matthew 8:19–20 “ Then a certain scribe came and said to Him, “Teacher, I will follow You wherever You go.” 20 And Jesus said to him, “Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head.””

First time in Matt he says Son of Man is most repeated title for self that He gives. In Gospels: 29 times in Matt, 14 in Mark, 24 in Luke, 13 in John 88 times total in NT

from Daniel 7 (hold/turn) is a note that is messiah but more. This is why scholar following I think. Daniel 7 is kinda terrifying but glorious as well. we don’t have time for the terrifying part, read on your own but lets hit the part about Jesus

Daniel 7:13–14 “ “I was watching in the night visions, And behold, One like the Son of Man, Coming with the clouds of heaven! He came to the Ancient of Days, And they brought Him near before Him. 14 Then to Him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, That all peoples, nations, and languages should serve Him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion, Which shall not pass away, And His kingdom the one Which shall not be destroyed.” (back)

No doubt any that knew the scriptures could see this but Jesus weaved it well keeping them from fully pressing till it was time.

Ok, now there are some strange interpretations of this foxes and birds. The metaphysical ones and the straight and practical ones, but lets take a look

a bible scholar comes to him, (This tells us wasn't just poor and crazy Aunt Linda following Him) and says, I will go wherever you will go. now disciples in Judea generally had a home base, the group or school would provide shelter, food, etc.

Jesus has no such place. He literally says, these simple creatures have a home, but we will have no home here. To become a disciple of Christ is to have our home where? In Him, in Heaven. We are bid to come and die. Period. Matthew 16:24 “ Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.” the cross was the most vile of death sentences. And Jesus says being His disciple, this is the cost. Die. This is so profound and why Paul would say later - Romans 6:7–9 “ For he who has died has been freed from sin. 8 Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him, 9 knowing that Christ, having been raised from the dead, dies no more. Death no longer has dominion over Him.” Its metaphysical but lived out.

In this death, we are no longer Pilgrim's wandering in search of faith but Ephesians 2:19 “ Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God,” if we are pilgrims now, it is because we have a new home.

Paul would say 1 Corinthians 4:11 “ To the present hour we both hunger and thirst, and we are poorly clothed, and beaten, and homeless.” Sure it went great sometimes, but what about when it doesn't? In all things praise and thanks.

The power involved in what Jesus has come to do, where we need to look to, is incredible - Hebrews 12:2 “ looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”

If Jesus says following Him means giving it all up. Its worth it, just do it.

Matthew 8:21–22 “ Then another of His disciples said to Him, “Lord, let me first go and bury my father.” 22 But Jesus said to him, “Follow Me, and let the dead bury their own dead.””

This was a little tough for me. As it was for this guy I imagine.

The patriarch, the dad was the central figure in the Jewish home (usually). Biblically, the Patriarchal figure is constant. It centered around the father. The father led, had ultimate authority and was due honor.

Jesus who has just said, we are crossing is told give me a minute, I gotta make sure my dads funeral arrangements are in order. Think about it. When my wife says take out the trash when does she mean? 2-3 days from now, no.

does jesus tell his guys, hey have a group discussion on going to the other side? maybe write a song about it?

is jesus just a boss? no. who/what is Jesus? Messiah, God made flesh, king of kings, lord of lords. When he says, hey, lets go across - then what do you do? we’ll jump like a spider when a drill sergeant cracks off. Why do we hesitate so with Jesus. What better reason could a nice jewish have to hit pause than taking care of his family and burying daddy?

What are they? What “was” the son? Dead. Romans 5:12 “ Therefore, just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned—” The command was Go. Not wait. Jesus was getting on the boat. You were coming or you were left.

Luke adds - when a guy argues the big asian company honor thing Luke 9:61–62 “ And another also said, “Lord, I will follow You, but let me first go and bid them farewell who are at my house.” 62 But Jesus said to him, “No one, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.””

Following Jesus worshipping God is not a club! You are either completely in or you aren’t! Literally the figure for us being in Him is by dying to this world! If I really think that Jesus is right and the doctrine or command is plain and plainly understood, then the requirement is obdeience. Period.

Quit playing these games of who has free-will, etc. did you just say He is Lord but not mean it? Is he your king or just your scout leader. We only obey when its convenient. No wonder the world welcomes so many churches into its halls, we aren't any different.

In Closing: Christ doesn't call us to a relaxed walk on the beach, but to war. Paul told Timothy in this regard, 2 Timothy 2:3–4 “ You therefore must endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. 4 No one engaged in warfare entangles himself with the affairs of this life, that he may please him who enlisted him as a soldier.”

The great contrast between this and the centurion who was said to have such great faith and now these who would seek to disobey not having the right priority in life in regards to the king of kings.

We cry liberty and not under the law but must remember “The demand for absolute liberty brings men to the depths of slavery.” (Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Cost of Discipleship [Magnolia, Mass.: Peter Smith, 1983]).

But I want to be a great captain of industry. Or father/mother. Or sibling. Or sports hero, etc. the answer is follow Christ. Obey him absolutely because you love Him absolutely. Quit playing games and get real. Be a follower of abundant faith.

Romans 6:11–14 “ Likewise you also, reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord. 12 Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body, that you should obey it in its lusts. 13 And do not present your members as instruments of unrighteousness to sin, but present yourselves to God as being alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God. 14 For sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under law but under grace.” Romans 6:23 “ For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

I think I’ll listen to the guy that did all that for me. (Pray).