Bible Commentary

Matthew 8:21

Matthew 8:21

The Pulpit Commentary · Joseph S. Exell and contributors · Public Domain

And another of his (Revised Version, the) disciples said unto him. Disciples in the wider sense (, note),whether the twelve had or had not been chosen. In the latter case, the man may have been Thomas (Trench, loc.

cit.), but hardly Philip (Clem. Alex.) after . Yet it is precarious to see in him the despondency of Thomas (; , ) merely because his father is dead, and he has scruples about immediately following Christ.

Lord, suffer me first. The man's words imply a consciousness of a call. His heart told him that he ought to go, but he asks for a delay, and, in fact, a real difficulty seems to hinder him from going.

St. Luke places the Lord's "Follow me" before the man's request; but here, as in textual criticism, proclivi scriptioni praestat ardua. To go and bury my father. Then lying dead. Of all filial duties perhaps the most bind-ins (cf.

Tobit 4:3; 14:10, 11).

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