The Cost of Discipleship

Three people speak of following Jesus, and he answers with the cost of that path: no settled place, no delay for burial, no divided loyalty, and no backward glance after taking up the plow. He calls for undivided movement toward the kingdom of God.

A⁵⁷s they were walking along the road, someone said to Jesus, “I will follow You wherever You go.” ⁵⁸Jesus replied, “Foxes have dens and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay His head.” ⁵⁹Then He said to another man, “Follow Me.” ⁶⁰But Jesus told him, “Let the dead bury their own dead. You, however, go and proclaim the kingdom of God.” ⁶¹Still another said, “I will follow You, Lord; but first let me bid farewell to my family.” ⁶²Then Jesus declared, “No one who puts his hand to the plow and then looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.”