Bible Strands
Matthew 8:21
Another of His disciples requested, “Lord, first let me go and bury my father.”
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — Another of Jesus’ disciples addresses Him immediately after a previous follower acknowledges the cost of discipleship. The text records a direct request to delay following Jesus in order to go and bury his father.
The words — Ἕτερος (Heteros) means "another," identifying a separate individual from the previous speaker. κύριε (kurie) translates to "Lord," establishing the petitioner’s address to Jesus’ authority.
The thread — The request to postpone following Jesus for family duties appears in Luke 9:59 and aligns with the theme of leaving relatives for Christ’s sake in Matthew 19:29. Leviticus 21:11 supplies the cultural and ritual context regarding defilement and burial obligations.
Why it lands — The text presents a direct choice between a legitimate family obligation and immediate obedience to Jesus. It requires the reader to prioritize following Christ above all other commitments without delay.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Greek words
King James Version
And another of his disciples said unto him, Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my father.
Cross-references
- Luke 9:59 Then He said to another man, “Follow Me.” The man replied, “Lord, first let me go and bury my father.”
- Matthew 19:29 And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or fields for the sake of My name will receive a hundredfold and will inherit eternal life.
- Leviticus 21:11 He must not go near any dead body; he must not defile himself, even for his father or mother.
- Numbers 6:6 Throughout the days of his separation to the LORD, he must not go near a dead body.
- 1 Kings 19:20 So Elisha left the oxen, ran after Elijah, and said, “Please let me kiss my father and mother goodbye, and then I will follow you.” “Go on back,” Elijah replied, “for what have I done to you?”
- Deuteronomy 33:9 He said of his father and mother, ‘I do not consider them.’ He disregarded his brothers and did not know his own sons, for he kept Your word and maintained Your covenant.
- Haggai 1:2 that this is what the LORD of Hosts says: “These people say, ‘The time has not yet come to rebuild the house of the LORD.’”
- 2 Corinthians 5:16 So from now on we regard no one according to the flesh. Although we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer.