The Significance of “Now when Jesus saw great multitudes about him, he gave commandment to depart unto the other side. And a certain scribe came, and said unto him, Master, I will follow thee whithersoever thou goest. And Jesus saith unto him, The foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head. And another of his disciples said unto him, Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my father. But Jesus said unto him, Follow me; and let the dead bury their dead.”

The phrase “Now when Jesus saw great multitudes about him, he gave commandment to depart unto the other side. And a certain scribe came, and said unto him, Master, I will follow thee whithersoever thou goest. And Jesus saith unto him, The foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head. And another of his disciples said unto him, Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my father. But Jesus said unto him, Follow me; and let the dead bury their dead.” in Matthew 8:18-22 is a more powerful reminder used by Jesus from the Message on the Heaven. It depicts two encounters Jesus has with potential followers in a story about Jesus interacting with two people who wanted to follow him, challenging readers to contemplate what it means to truly follow Jesus or any ideal that requires significant commitment.

Context of the Phrase

The reminder takes place after Jesus delivers the Sermon on the Mount, a foundational teaching in Christianity, which caused large crowds to follow him, eager for more teachings and demonstrations of God’s power in Jesus’ authority. It’s preceded by people bring those who are sick and demon-possessed to Jesus for healing. In this time period, illness was often seen as a punishment from God or caused by demons. So, when evening arrives, a large crowd often gathers, bringing those suffering from illness and demonic possession. Jesus is now surrounded by a large crowd seeking his teachings and healings. It explores the concept of discipleship and what it means to truly follow Jesus, as well as the calling of his first disciples.

Significance of the Phrase

The reminder challenges those considering following Jesus to understand his demands and prioritize his teachings over mundane joys and concerns. It emphasizes unwavering dedication, demanding sacrifice and saving urgency in the interaction of Jesus with two people who wanted to follow him.

Here are some key points:

Dedication of Jesus: Jesus emphasizes the commitment required to follow him. It’s not a comfortable life, he himself has nowhere to sleep. A life devoted to spreading God’s message may lack material comforts.
Sacrifice of Disciple: Jesus’ response to the scribe highlights the sacrifices required to be his disciple and the demanding nature of following him. True devotion requires sacrificing earthly comforts for his commitment.
Urgency of Mission: Jesus’ response to the disciple who wants to bury his father emphasizes the importance of his saving mission. True commitment requires spreading God’s message take priority over worldly obligations.

Application of the Phrase

The reminder depicts two encounters Jesus has with potential followers in the interaction of Jesus with two people who wanted to follow him, challenging readers to contemplate what it means to truly follow Jesus or any ideal that requires significant commitment, as well as applying to consider the level of dedication one has to their faith or any pursuit.

Here are some key points:

Unwavering Dedication: It can be seen as a call to fully dedicate oneself to a cause or faith.
Demanding Sacrifice: It can also be seen as a call to fully commit to one’s faith, even if it requires harsh sacrifice.
Saving Urgency: It reminds us to prioritize what truly matters in life, as well as prompts us to reflect on what one prioritizes in life.

In summary, the reminder teaches that following Jesus requires a deep level of commitment and a willingness to prioritize his teachings above worldly concerns.