THE COST OF FOLLOWING JESUS

Passage: Luke 9:57-62

Key verse: 60

NIV

The Cost of Following Jesus(A)

57 As they were walking along the road,(B) a man said to him, “I will follow you wherever you go.”

58 Jesus replied, “Foxes have dens and birds have nests, but the Son of Man(C) has no place to lay his head.”

59 He said to another man, “Follow me.”(D)

But he replied, “Lord, first let me go and bury my father.”

60 Jesus said to him, “Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and proclaim the kingdom of God.”(E)

61 Still another said, “I will follow you, Lord; but first let me go back and say goodbye to my family.”(F)

62 Jesus replied, “No one who puts a hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God.”

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Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway

ESV

The Cost of Following Jesus

57 As they were going (A)along the road, (B)someone said to him, “I will follow you wherever you go.” 58 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.” 59 To another he said, “Follow me.” But he said, “Lord, let me first go and bury my father.” 60 And Jesus[a] said to him, “Leave (C)the dead to bury their own dead. But as for you, go and (D)proclaim the kingdom of God.” 61 Yet another said, “I will follow you, Lord, (E)but let me first say farewell to those at my home.” 62 Jesus said to him, (F)“No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.”

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Footnotes
  1. Luke 9:60 Greek he
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway

1. Foxes have holes (57-58)

The cost of following Jesus is only exceeded by the incalculable worth of citizenship in God's kingdom. Disciples give up the false hope and superficial security of the world in order to have a room in the Father's house. Security in Christ is eternal; it is the only real security.

2. Go, proclaim the kingdom of God (59-60)

The most urgent business of Jesus' disciples is proclaiming the gospel. Family ties are strong and precious, but proclaiming the gospel is a life and death matter in a dying world, and our first priority must be obedience to our Lord's command.

3. One who puts his hand to the plow (61-62)

If one's decision and commitment are made before God, then there should be no inner reservations and no looking back.

Prayer: Lord, I like the easy life and I love my family and friends; but help me to put a higher priority on following you, so that I may share in your kingdom.

One Word: Discipleship--costly but worth it