Let The Dead Bury Their Dead (Matt [8]18-22)
Let The Dead Bury Their Dead
Text: Matthew 8:18-22
Place Preached - (Mississauga International Baptist Church)
Date Preached - (07/22/01)
Introduction:
What does it mean to follow Jesus? (GIVE EXAMPLES of what some folk think) Is it important to follow Jesus? (YES) Does Christ expect us to follow Him? (YES)
The central thought of our text is that there is a cost involved, there is a price to pay in order to follow Jesus. There are sacrifices to be made
In another passage Jesus put it this way…
Luke 14:26-27 If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple.
27 And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple.
An attitude of anti-sacrifice prevails in today’s North American Christianity. No-cost discipleship. The idea is “Jesus didn’t expect much of His disciples, why should we?” Come-As-You-Are philosophy. People who come as they are, leave as they were, unchanged!!
The two men to whom Jesus spoke in Matthew 8 evidently misunderstood this foundational aspect of following Christ.
The first one responded in haste, and the other with needless delay.
A third similar example is given in…
Luke 9:61-62 And another also said, Lord, I will follow thee; but let me first go bid them farewell, which are at home at my house.
62 And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.
Last week we looked at the Scribe. He was not ready to count the cost.
We asked “Will you walk on? Will you follow Christ?”
Our purpose was... 1). To show what it is to walk where Jesus walks. 2). To show you that it is possible.
Now we come to the disciple who needlessly delayed following Christ.
He was a DISCIPLE - lit., "a learner": in a wide sense, of Jews who became His adherents, some being secretly so.
A "disciple" was not only a pupil, but an adherent; hence they are spoken of as imitators of their teacher.
What was His reasons as given for delaying to follow Jesus.
“Bury My Father” - 3 OPTIONS
1. His father was now dead and awaiting burial. (BRIEF DELAY)
- There was a 30 day period of special mourning.
This is a common (but wrong) understanding based on the customs of our culture.
2. His father was dead and awaiting final burial – Explain (Up to a YEAR DELAY)
The son would return to the tomb one year after the initial burial. By now the flesh had rotted off the bones. He would then rebury his father’s bones in a special box in a slot in the tomb’s wall.
3. His father was not yet dead & the son was waiting to fulfill obligation to him (INDEFINITE DELAY)
What the young man really meant was that he could not leave because he would have to care for his father until he died. The father was the son's responsibility.
The Lord Jesus told the young man who had come to Him to let someone else take care of his father or let the father take care of himself.
TODAY’S TOPIC – Delay in Following Jesus
Some live by… “Why do today, what can be put off until tomorrow?”
EXAMPLES:
Full-time Christian Service
John 4:35 Say not ye, There are yet four months, and then cometh harvest? behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest.
Is everyone called to full-time Gospel work? No. Are we all full-time Christians? Yes! There is no off-duty!!
Salvation
The Roman governor Felix who had Paul before him - “He heard him concerning the faith in Christ” – Acts 24:24
Acts 24:25 And as he reasoned of righteousness, temperance, and judgment to come, Felix trembled, and answered, Go thy way for this time; when I have a convenient season, I will call for thee. (STUDY)
Repentance
Christian Growth
Matters of Obedience
Baptism – Tithing – Church Attendance
Responsibilities of Marriage and the Family
Some will let the opportunity to be a follower of Christ slip away: WHY?
The answers to this question are what we will examine in today’s message. In fact, we will look at the very heart of the matter.
I. A Look at the Heart of a Delaying Disciple vs.21
We will get a glimpse into his heart if we pay close attention to what he is saying.
Matthew 12:34 O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.
A. A Contradiction of Terms
“Lord” vs. “Me First”
God and self cannot rule at the same time!!
Luke 6:46 And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?
Peter’s example was similar…
Acts 10:14 But Peter said, Not so, Lord; for I have never eaten any thing that is common or unclean.
Now Paul had it right…
Acts 9:6 And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do.
B. A Confusion of Priorities
“Me First”
C. A Convenient Excuse
“go and bury my father”
He might as well have said – “if the planets line up” or “after I have made my first million”.
He had no intention of following Christ; not now, not ever.
“Later” is many times, if not most, as good as a “NO”
If he hadn’t the one convenient excuse, he would have found another. The devil (& your sinful heart) will supply as many excuses as you need.
“I’ll follow the Lord if someone else does first”
“If they do their part, I’ll do mine”.
Andrew Murray – “There is no more subtle temptation than to wait with what God calls us to do till we are first informed what others are to do, or what God is to do with the rest of the world.”
John 21:21-22 Peter seeing him saith to Jesus, Lord, and what shall this man do?
22 Jesus saith unto him, If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee? follow thou me.
Christ’s answer to the Question “What shall this man do?” is always “What is that to thee? follow thou me”
II. A Look at the Command of a Serving Saviour vs.22
Christ does not ask us to follow where He has not walked. He will not command us to do what He will not. In all areas He is our great example!!
He is a serving Saviour!!! (Give Examples)
His command is……
“Follow Me, and let the dead bury their dead”
A. Simplicity of the Imperative
“Follow Me”
Others heard the call and followed.
LOOK UP & READ Matthew 4:18-22
Matthew 9:9 And as Jesus passed forth from thence, he saw a man, named Matthew, sitting at the receipt of custom: and he saith unto him, Follow me. And he arose, and followed him.
1. Simple because of it’s Direction – “FOLLOW”
Christ is not asking us to do something alone, or apart from Him.
Most would rather follow than lead in unknown areas.
ILLUS: Cave experience near Pembrooke (Summer 2000). We had a narrow passage to walk through alone (Cindy was 7 months pregnant – She’s Not Going!) The Kids are hesitant – So Dad leads the way and the children follow.
2. Simple because of it’s Object – “CHRIST”
God does not call us to follow a man.
1 Corinthians 11:1 Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ.
This is the One who went to Calvary for you & I. This is the One who gave us the Comforter; the Holy Spirit!!
3. Simple, but not Easy!!
Matthew 19:29 And every one that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my name's sake, shall receive an hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting life.
B. Significance of the Implications
“let the dead bury their dead”
1. The Spiritually dead will always bury the Physically dead.
Ephesians 2:1 And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins;
In the OT the high priests and Nazarites were not to touch a dead body even if it were that of Mother or Father Lev 21:11.
2. There are many urgencies in life.
LOOK UP & READ Haggai 1:1-5
3. There is only one great necessity.
Luke 9:59-60 And he said unto another, Follow me. But he said, Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my father.
60 Jesus said unto him, Let the dead bury their dead: but go thou and preach the kingdom of God.
4. There are many who will attend to the urgent, but few respond to the great necessity.
Conclusion: (Review)
APPLICATION
Young Person – Life’s Vocation?
Couple – What is most important to you? – Career? Money?
Parents – What are you emphasizing in your child’s life?
