The Call

The Call Matthew 8:21-22(nasb). '21Another of the disciples said to Him, "Lord, permit me first to go and bury my father." 22But Jesus *said to him, "Follow Me, and allow the dead to bury their own dead." ' Luke 9:59-60(nasb) '59And He said to another, "Follow Me." But he said, "Lord, permit me first to go and bury my father." 60But He said to him, "Allow the dead to bury their own dead; but as for you, go and proclaim everywhere the kingdom of God." ' ~ The call to follow Jesus demands radical, immediate commitment and takes precedence over family duties, traditions, or legitimate concerns.~ Luke 9:61-62(nasb) '61Another also said, "I will follow You, Lord; but first permit me to say good-bye to those at home." 62But Jesus said to him, "No one, after putting his hand to the plow and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God."'  Putting your hand to the plow represents committing to discipleship-deciding to follow Jesus and engage in the work of the kingdom (proclaiming it, living it out, serving God).  Looking back symbolizes divided attention, hesitation, longing for the old life, family ties, comforts, or worldly priorities that pull one away from full commitment.  Not fit (or suitable) for the kingdom of God means such a person is not properly equipped or useful for kingdom service/work. The Greek word here (euthetos) implies being "well-suited" or "useful"-not necessarily about losing salvation, but about being ineffective or disqualified from fruitful participation in advancing God's kingdom. 1. Deny Yourself, Take Up Your Cross Daily, and Follow Me (Luke 9:23; also Matthew 16:24; Mark 8:34) * Jesus tells the crowd and His disciples: "If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me." * Meaning: Self-denial means setting aside personal desires, ambitions, and comforts for Christ's sake. "Taking up the cross" refers to embracing suffering, persecution, or even death if necessary-symbolizing total surrender, as the cross was an instrument of execution. This is ongoing ("daily"), not a one-time event. * This is perhaps the most direct summary of discipleship's cost: losing one's life to find true life in Christ. 2. Hate Father, Mother, Wife, Children, Brothers, Sisters-Yes, Even Your Own Life (Luke 14:26; parallel in Matthew 10:37) * "If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life also, he cannot be my disciple." * Meaning: "Hate" here is Semitic hyperbole (exaggeration for emphasis), meaning to love less by comparison or to prioritize Jesus supremely over family ties (see Matthew 10:37: "Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me"). It doesn't mean literal hatred but radical loyalty-Jesus must come first, even if it strains or divides family relationships (as seen in Matthew 10:34-36, where He says He brings a sword, not peace, to families). 3. Bear Your Own Cross (Luke 14:27) * "Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple." * Meaning: Echoing the earlier teaching, this stresses willingness to endure shame, rejection, suffering, or martyrdom for following Jesus. In the Roman world, carrying a cross meant heading to execution-Jesus calls disciples to a life of potential sacrifice. 4. Count the Cost: Parable of the Tower Builder and the Warring King (Luke 14:28-33) * Jesus gives two parables to illustrate thoughtful commitment: o A man building a tower who calculates resources first, lest he start and be mocked for incompletion. o A king going to war who assesses his army's strength against the enemy, lest he be defeated. * Conclusion: "So therefore, any one of you who does not renounce all that he has cannot be my disciple" (v. 33). * Meaning: Discipleship isn't impulsive. It demands evaluating the full price-potentially giving up possessions, security, status, or control-and committing to finish. Partial commitment leads to ridicule or failure. ~Spiritual Excuses plagues the modern day church a) The modern day church wants to mix in worldly things with spiritual things... b) They look at the word and want to only follow what suits them c) They are comfortable with the status quo, ~We are called to follow and spread the good news a) Not hang onto the past life b) Salvation is transformation