Luke 9:57-62 Meaning: The Hard Truth About Following Jesus
57As they went on the way, a certain man said to him, “I want to follow you wherever you go, Lord.”
58Jesus said to him, “The foxes have holes and the birds of the sky have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head.”
59He said to another, “Follow me!” But he said, “Lord, allow me first to go and bury my father.”
60But Jesus said to him, “Leave the dead to bury their own dead, but you go and announce God’s Kingdom.”
61Another also said, “I want to follow you, Lord, but first allow me to say good-bye to those who are at my house.”
62But Jesus said to him, “No one, having put his hand to the plow and looking back, is fit for God’s Kingdom.”
57And it came to pass, that, as they went in the way, a certain man said unto him, Lord, I will follow thee whithersoever thou goest.
58And Jesus said unto him, Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head.
59And he said unto another, Follow me. But he said, Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my father.
60Jesus said unto him, Let the dead bury their dead: but go thou and preach the kingdom of God.
61And another also said, Lord, I will follow thee; but let me first go bid them farewell, which are at home at my house.
62And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.
57And as they went on the way, a certain man said unto him, I will follow thee whithersoever thou goest.
58And Jesus said unto him, The foxes have holes, and the birds of the heaven have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head.
59And he said unto another, Follow me. But he said, Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my father.
60But he said unto him, Leave the dead to bury their own dead; but go thou and publish abroad the kingdom of God.
61And another also said, I will follow thee, Lord; but first suffer me to bid farewell to them that are at my house.
62But Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.
57And it came to pass, as they are going on in the way, a certain one said unto him, `I will follow thee wherever thou mayest go, sir;'
58and Jesus said to him, `The foxes have holes, and the fowls of the heaven places of rest, but the Son of Man hath not where he may recline the head.'
59And he said unto another, `Be following me;' and he said, `Sir, permit me, having gone away, first to bury my father;'
60and Jesus said to him, `Suffer the dead to bury their own dead, and thou, having gone away, publish the reign of God.'
61And another also said, `I will follow thee, sir, but first permit me to take leave of those in my house;'
62and Jesus said unto him, `No one having put his hand on a plough, and looking back, is fit for the reign of God.'
57And it came to pass as they went in the way, one said to him, I will follow thee wheresoever thou goest, Lord.
58And Jesus said to him, The foxes have holes and the birds of the heaven roosting-places, but the Son of man has not where he may lay his head.
59And he said to another, Follow me. But he said, Lord, allow me to go first and bury my father.
60But Jesus said to him, Suffer the dead to bury their own dead, but do thou go and announce the kingdom of God.
61And another also said, I will follow thee, Lord, but first allow me to bid adieu to those at my house.
62But Jesus said to him, No one having laid his hand on [the] plough and looking back is fit for the kingdom of God.
Meaning in one sentence
Why does Jesus warn a willing follower about having no place to lay his head? Three encounters reveal the cost of true discipleship.
Context
Jesus has set his face toward Jerusalem. He knows what awaits him there, rejection, suffering, and death. The journey is not a casual walk; every step carries weight. As they travel, three different people approach him with offers to follow. One is eager and impulsive. One is already called but asks for a delay. One wants to follow, after he ties up loose ends at home. Each one reveals a different obstacle to wholehearted discipleship. Luke gathers these encounters to show what it really means to say yes to Jesus when he is heading toward the cross.
Key Words
The Greek word for follow here is akoloutheō, not just walking behind someone but attaching yourself as a disciple, sharing their life and destiny. Each would-be follower uses this word eagerly, but Jesus presses deeper. The second man wants permission to go first and bury his father. The word for first (prōton) reveals the real issue: something else holds priority. Then Jesus speaks of putting a hand to the plow (arotron). The verb having laid (epibalōn) pictures a farmer gripping the handles, committing his full weight to the furrow. The word for looking back (blepōn eis ta opisō) is more than a glance, it is a longing gaze toward what is behind. And the word for fit (euthetos) means well-placed, suitable, useful. A divided heart is not useful for the kingdom.
How Christians Read This Verse
Christians across traditions read this passage with sober respect. Many Protestant commentators emphasize the radical nature of discipleship, that Jesus calls for total allegiance, even over family ties. Catholic and Orthodox readers often see here a call to examine attachments that subtly replace God as first in our hearts. Some traditions apply the plow image especially to ministers and missionaries, while others insist it applies to every believer. All agree that Jesus is not being harsh for harshness’ sake. He is honest because love demands honesty. He wants followers who know what they are getting into, so they do not put their hand to the plow and then turn back.
A common misunderstanding
Some read Jesus’ words to the second man as a cold rejection of family duty. In fact, Jesus is not banning attendance at funerals. He uses a wordplay: those who are spiritually dead can handle the burial of the physically dead. The disciple’s calling, to proclaim the kingdom, is urgent and cannot be postponed by even the most sacred social obligation. The problem is not the burial itself; it is the heart that puts anything, even a good thing, ahead of Jesus’ call.
Living This Out
This week, pay attention to your but first. The third man said, “I will follow you, Lord, but first let me bid farewell to my family.” That sounds reasonable, even wise. But Jesus saw the hesitation beneath the request. Ask yourself: where do I have a but first with Jesus? A relationship I would not leave? A comfort I cannot imagine giving up? A plan I am not willing to set aside? The plow is in your hands. You do not have to have everything figured out, you just have to keep your eyes ahead, trusting the One who leads.
Main takeaway: Following Jesus means putting your hand to the plow and never looking back, because he alone is worth our whole heart.
For Families
For ages 5, 8
When you follow Jesus, you don't look back at what you left. You keep your eyes on Him. He loves you and has good things ahead for you.
For ages 9, 12
Imagine holding a plow in a field. If you keep looking behind you, the furrow goes crooked. Following Jesus is like that, you can't keep looking back at what you gave up or what you wish you still had. He wants your full attention, not a divided heart. It's not always easy, but He is worth it.
Questions People Ask
What does 'let the dead bury their own dead' mean?
Jesus is using a wordplay. The 'dead' who can bury the physically dead are those who are spiritually dead, people who have not responded to God's call. The disciple has a higher calling: to proclaim the kingdom of God. Jesus is not being cruel; he is showing that even a sacred duty like burying a parent must not delay obedience to God's urgent mission.
Why did Jesus say foxes have holes but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head?
Jesus is being honest about the cost of following him. The eager volunteer might have expected a comfortable life with Jesus, perhaps hoping for a prominent position. Jesus warns him: I have no permanent home, no security in this world. If you follow me, you must be ready for that same instability. It is a test of whether the man's enthusiasm is based on a true understanding of what lies ahead.
Does this passage mean Christians cannot attend a parent's funeral or say goodbye to family?
No. The issue is not the actions themselves but the heart's priority. The second man was already called by Jesus but asked to delay, his father may not have even died yet (the phrase could mean 'wait until he dies and I bury him'). The third man's request to say goodbye sounds like Elisha's request in 1 Kings 19, but Jesus saw that this man would not return. The point is not to forbid family duties but to expose a divided heart that puts anything ahead of following Christ.
For pastors & researchers
Greek interlinear, 8 commentaries & word study