THE COST OF FOLLOWING JESUS

Passage: Luke 9:57-62

Key verse: 62

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. Jesus had no place to lay his head (57-59) As Jesus and his disciples walked along, a man told Jesus that he would follow him wherever he went. The man had desire to follow but he seems not to have understood the cost. Following Jesus requires giving up earthly comfort and earthly security. Even animals have shelter but Jesus did not have a place to lay his head. Disciples should not expect anything more. 2. Commitment to the kingdom of God (6 -62) Jesus then said to another man to follow him. The man first wanted to go and bury his father. God commands us to honor our father and mother. But the man used this as a cover not to immediately obey and make the kingdom his priority. Another man said that he would follow but after saying good-bye to his family. Jesus compared this to a person who puts his hand to the plow but then looks back. The plow will quickly go off course and could even break. Likewise, discipleship requires full commitment and no turning back.

Prayer: Lord, I repent of my desire for comfort and ease. Help me to be your fully committed disciple.

One Word: Follow Jesus and don't turn back