“And another also said, Lord, I will follow thee; but let me first go bid them farewell, which are at home at my house.”– Luke 9:61 (KJV)
“Another said, ‘Yes, Lord, I will follow you, but first let me say good-bye to my family.'” – Luke 9:61 (NLT)
“Another said, ‘I’m ready to follow you, master, but first excuse me while I get things straightened out at home.'” – Luke 9:61 (MSG)
What Does Luke 9:61 Mean?
In this passage, a man approaches Jesus and expresses his desire to follow Him. However, he places a condition on this commitment: he wants to first go back and say farewell to his family. This request highlights a common struggle we face—balancing our commitments to our loved ones with the call to follow Christ wholeheartedly.
The essence of Luke 9:61 reveals a tension many of us experience when we feel the tug of God’s calling on our lives. We may find ourselves eager to serve God, yet hesitant due to obligations or relationships that demand our attention. The man’s request is not inherently wrong; saying goodbye to family is a reasonable desire. However, it underscores a deeper theme: the call to discipleship often requires us to confront our priorities. Are we willing to put God’s call above our earthly relationships?
Luke 9:61 Explanation and Commentary
Jesus is clear throughout the Gospels that following Him is not just about saying the right words or showing up at church. It’s a profound commitment that may challenge us to reevaluate our lives. When the man expresses his willingness to follow Jesus, he also reveals a hesitation that many of us can identify with. How many of us have been in situations where we wanted to follow Jesus more closely, but some of our other relationships or responsibilities held us back?
This passage invites us to examine our hearts. What is it that we feel God is calling us to do? Is there something that stands in the way of fully following Him? For many, it is family or job obligations. We may think that we are being responsible by prioritizing our loved ones or our work. Yet, Jesus challenges us to look beyond that. By asking him to prioritize discipleship, Jesus is inviting the man—and us—to experience the fullness of life He offers. It means putting God at the center of our lives, allowing Him to shape our decisions.
Jesus continues to call us to put Him first, and this does not mean neglecting our family or responsibilities. Instead, God’s call might redirect how we fulfill those responsibilities. We can still care for our families while serving God. The man in Luke 9:61 hesitated because he believed that he needed to wrap up his business; Jesus reminds us that the Kingdom of God takes precedence.
Context of Luke 9:61
To understand Luke 9:61, we need to look at the surrounding context. Earlier in this chapter, Jesus sends out His disciples to preach the Kingdom of God and perform miracles. This shows that there is an urgency to the mission of spreading the Gospel. Jesus is effectively preparing His followers for the realities of walking with Him.
As we read through the Gospel of Luke, we observe that Jesus consistently teaches about the nature of discipleship. He often emphasizes that following Him comes with costs, sacrifices, and decisions that require us to leave behind certain comforts and securities.
In the preceding verses, we see Jesus speaking about the nature of following Him, entailing self-denial and cross-bearing. He mentions that those who wish to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for His sake will find it (Luke 9:24). This serves as a strong backdrop for the request made in verse 61. It sets up a profound challenge: Are we willing to lay down our preferences and comforts for something greater?
Breaking Down the Key Parts of Luke 9:61
Each part of this verse carries meaning. The man initially expresses that he will follow Jesus—he has the desire and intent that many of us have. That’s the first step we often take towards Christ. However, he adds a condition that he first needs to go home and say goodbye.
This conditionality reveals a hesitation and a struggle that we often encounter. It is natural for us to want to care for those we love. In our hearts, we understand the importance of family, yet we are also confronted with our commitment to Christ. Jesus wants us to follow Him without unnecessary delay or doubts, signifying our faith in Him should be paramount to all other commitments.
Also, the phrase “let me first” implies a priority problem. When we place “first” our earthly ties over our heavenly commitment, we begin to lose the essence of what it means to serve Jesus. It’s about undivided loyalty. This doesn’t mean that we abandon our families but rather that we re-evaluate how we can honor God in our familial relationships.
Lessons to Learn From Luke 9:61
From this passage, we learn that there are often obstacles in our path to fully following Jesus. We recognize that it’s easy to allow worldly obligations to detract from our commitment to Christ. In God’s eyes, having a willing heart is essential, and He desires that we trust Him even when it seems challenging to leave some things behind.
Another lesson we find here is centered around priorities. Are our priorities aligned with God’s? We are challenged to look closely at what takes precedence in our lives. When faced with a decision, we should seek to honor God in everything, and that requires us to meditate on His word and listen to His guidance.
Ultimately, we are reminded through this passage that discipleship may entail sacrifice. Walking in faith means stepping out of our comfort zones, perhaps leaving behind comforts we hold dear in our hearts. Following Christ is a journey that can provide us with unimaginable peace, joy, and fulfillment that goes beyond temporary pleasures.
Final Thoughts
In closing, Luke 9:61 calls each of us to reflect on our relationship with God and the distractions that may hinder our walk with Him. We are invited into a profound commitment to Christ—a commitment that may require action from us.
This journey is not merely an individual pursuit; it profoundly impacts our families and communities. As we make the commitment to follow Christ first, we will find ourselves better equipped to express love and service to our families. We are empowered to be the kind of examples God calls us to be, making His love known while still honoring our relationships with those around us.
If you find yourself intrigued by the teachings of Christ and wish to explore more, consider checking out other relevant passages, such as Matthew 11 and stories from Genesis 186. There is a wealth of knowledge waiting for you to discover.