Luke 9:57-62

Observations:

vv. 57-58, As Jesus presses on after being rejected by the Samaritan village (and dealing with the ignorance and inability of His chosen twelve), Luke tells us that He and His twelve continued on the road and somewhere along the road, someone says to Jesus that He will follow Him wherever He goes. Jesus responds, “The foxes have holes and the birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head.”

In a context where the mission to Jerusalem is at the forefront of Jesus’ mind, and He now has no place to lay His head after being rejected by the Samaritan village, He begins to breakdown the cost of following Him to those He seems to pass by. To the one who would follow Jesus wherever He would go, Jesus offers no promise of security or physical protection from shame, ridicule, or rejection.

vv. 59-60, He says to another person on the road, “Follow Me.” Yet the man says he must first go and bury his father. Jesus responds, “Allow the dead to bury their own dead; but as for you, go and proclaim everywhere the kingdom of God.”

In this interaction, Jesus calls a man to follow Him, to partake in the ministry of the Kingdom of God.

Respect for parents was of utmost importance in Jewish society. To “honor your father and your mother” is among the greatest commandments. Equally important was providing a proper burial for a loved one, a responsibility that took priority over even the study of the Law. The Talmud makes the surprising statement that “he who is confronted by a dead relative is freed from reciting the Shema, from the Eighteen Benedictions, and from all the commandments stated in the Torah.”262 Though this text is late, its spirit permeates earlier documents. According to the Old Testament, even priests, who would normally be defiled by touching a dead body, could bury immediate family members (Lev. 21:1–3).

Jesus probably means to let those who are spiritually dead bury the physically dead. Some commentators have sought to soften Jesus’ words by suggesting that the man is requesting a long delay until his father dies (which could take years), or that he is referring to the reburial of bones in a common family grave (a “gathering to the fathers”) after the flesh has rotted off the bones (which could take a year). It seems more likely, however, that the man’s father has already died or is near death. Jesus’ reply is meant to be truly radical and countercultural.

This is akin to Jesus instructing His disciples to hate their mother and father, meaning that if a choice is to be made, God must have first place in our lives.

vv. 61-62, Jesus is approached by another man who states that he will follow Him, but he must first say goodbye to those at home. Jesus responds, “No one, after putting his hand to the plow and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.”

In this interaction, Jesus is approached by another man

The statement echoes Elisha’s request when he was called to be Elijah’s successor (1 Kings 19:19–20). Jesus responds by playing off this same Old Testament text, since Elisha was plowing in his family’s field when Elijah met him: “No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God” (Luke 9:62). The farmer must keep looking forward in order to plow a straight furrow. Likewise, a disciple constantly distracted by past associations cannot provide effective service for the kingdom of God. Jesus demands an even more rigorous commitment from his disciples than Elijah and an even more dramatic break with family.

Those who cling to life on earth as it is are not ready for the reformation that salvation brings. Jesus saves not just to grant us a place in heaven but to transform us here and now into new people, separated from the world (2 Cor. 5:17; Gal. 2:20; 6:14; Titus 2:11–14).

We cannot hang on to the old life and be prepared for the reality of discipleship.

The idea of plowing, notably in the rugged terrain of Palestine, in comparison to discipleship is poignant, as the task of plowing demands eyes focused on what lays ahead. As it is with discipleship, eyes focused on what the difficult road ahead; to look back risks falling away from the path Christ paved.

Exegetical Idea/Big Idea:

We have no promises from Jesus that we will find physical comfort in following Him.

We are given no priority greater than following Jesus when He calls us. (Surpasses cultural/societal expectations and traditions)

Our eyes must stay forward toward the call by which God calls us.

Big Idea:

Discipleship (life in Christ) is a costly call to living, one that does not promise nor guarantee comfort or security. There is no greater priority that comes before following Jesus. The demand to remain steadfast and focused is intrinsic to the Christian’s calling. Christian living is a life of spiritual discipline. And while discipline for the moment may be painful and unpleasant, it will later yield the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it. Heb 12:11

Homiletical Idea

As Christians, let us not lose sight of the weightiness that is our call to discipleship (conformity to Christlikeness), lest we render the costly grace by which we have been saved cheap. Let us be bold and relentless in our following of Jesus, holding nothing back from the God who created us for good works which He prepared beforehand (Eph 2:10).

Liturgical Idea

What should we praise God for? (Rejoice)

What should we confess to God? (Repent)

What should we ask God for? (Request)

What should we lift up to God? (Sacrifice)

What should we live out for God? (Service)

Intro:

Recap:

Luke 9:51-56, As Christians we must recognize the mission of Jesus Christ before we seek to implement it, lest we make the mistake of trying to push our own agenda. Christ’s mission was contextualized by the will of the Father; by their soon-to-be reunion bound in the ascension. Likewise, we too must live a life contextualized by the promised return of our Savior (1 Thes 5).

Prayer

Read Luke 9:57-62

Head- What does it mean?

(15-20 min.)

vv. 57-62, The Cost of Discipleship

vv. 57-58,

vv. 57-58, As Jesus presses on after being rejected by the Samaritan village (and dealing with the ignorance and inability of His chosen twelve), Luke tells us that He and His twelve continued on the road and somewhere along the road, someone says to Jesus that He will follow Him wherever He goes. Jesus responds, “The foxes have holes and the birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head.”

In a context where the mission to Jerusalem is at the forefront of Jesus’ mind, and He now has no place to lay His head after being rejected by the Samaritan village, He begins to breakdown the cost of following Him to those He seems to pass by. To the one who would follow Jesus wherever He would go, Jesus offers no promise of security or physical protection from shame, ridicule, or rejection.

Summarize:

We have no promises from Jesus that we will find physical comfort in following Him.

vv. 59-60,

vv. 59-60, He says to another person on the road, “Follow Me.” Yet the man says he must first go and bury his father. Jesus responds, “Allow the dead to bury their own dead; but as for you, go and proclaim everywhere the kingdom of God.”

In this interaction, Jesus calls a man to follow Him, to partake in the ministry of the Kingdom of God.

Respect for parents was of utmost importance in Jewish society. To “honor your father and your mother” is among the greatest commandments. Equally important was providing a proper burial for a loved one, a responsibility that took priority over even the study of the Law. The Talmud makes the surprising statement that “he who is confronted by a dead relative is freed from reciting the Shema, from the Eighteen Benedictions, and from all the commandments stated in the Torah.”262 Though this text is late, its spirit permeates earlier documents. According to the Old Testament, even priests, who would normally be defiled by touching a dead body, could bury immediate family members (Lev. 21:1–3).

Jesus probably means to let those who are spiritually dead bury the physically dead. Some commentators have sought to soften Jesus’ words by suggesting that the man is requesting a long delay until his father dies (which could take years), or that he is referring to the reburial of bones in a common family grave (a “gathering to the fathers”) after the flesh has rotted off the bones (which could take a year). It seems more likely, however, that the man’s father has already died or is near death. Jesus’ reply is meant to be truly radical and countercultural.

This is akin to Jesus instructing His disciples to hate their mother and father, meaning that if a choice is to be made, God must have first place in our lives.

Summarize:

We are given no priority greater than following Jesus when He calls us. (Surpasses cultural/societal expectations and traditions)

vv. 61-62,

vv. 61-62, Jesus is approached by another man who states that he will follow Him, but he must first say goodbye to those at home. Jesus responds, “No one, after putting his hand to the plow and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.”

In this interaction, Jesus is approached by another man

The statement echoes Elisha’s request when he was called to be Elijah’s successor (1 Kings 19:19–20). Jesus responds by playing off this same Old Testament text, since Elisha was plowing in his family’s field when Elijah met him: “No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God” (Luke 9:62). The farmer must keep looking forward in order to plow a straight furrow. Likewise, a disciple constantly distracted by past associations cannot provide effective service for the kingdom of God. Jesus demands an even more rigorous commitment from his disciples than Elijah and an even more dramatic break with family.

Those who cling to life on earth as it is are not ready for the reformation that salvation brings. Jesus saves not just to grant us a place in heaven but to transform us here and now into new people, separated from the world (2 Cor. 5:17; Gal. 2:20; 6:14; Titus 2:11–14).

We cannot hang on to the old life and be prepared for the reality of discipleship.

The idea of plowing, notably in the rugged terrain of Palestine, in comparison to discipleship is poignant, as the task of plowing demands eyes focused on what lays ahead. As it is with discipleship, eyes focused on what the difficult road ahead; to look back risks falling away from the path Christ paved.

Summarize:

Our eyes must stay forward toward the call by which God calls us.

Big Idea:

Discipleship (life in Christ) is a costly call to living, one that does not promise nor guarantee comfort or security. There is no greater priority that comes before following Jesus. The demand to remain steadfast and focused is intrinsic to the Christian’s calling. Christian living is a life of spiritual discipline. And while discipline for the moment may be painful and unpleasant, it will later yield the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it. Heb 12:11

Heart- Do I buy it?

(15-20 min)

Open the discussion for any questions.

(Let group answer these questions)

What verses stood out to you and why?

What personal reflections did this reading trigger?

What should we praise God for? (Rejoice)

What should we confess to God? (Repent)

What should we ask God for? (Request)

What should we lift up to God? (Sacrifice)

What should we live out for God? (Service)

As Christians, let us not lose sight of the weightiness that is our call to discipleship (conformity to Christlikeness), lest we render the costly grace by which we have been saved cheap. Let us be bold and relentless in our following of Jesus, holding nothing back from the God who created us for good works which He prepared beforehand (Eph 2:10).

Hands- So What? How then should I live?

(10-15 min)

Walk with God: What does discipleship look like personally in your walk with God?

Keep Christ first: What does discipleship look like personally when we keep Christ first?

Keep sin out of your life: What does discipleship look like personally when you are keeping sin out of your life?

Personally,

It is not only submitting to the will of God, but to the authority of spiritual leaders within your local church.