Matthew 8:22

Matthew 8:22 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)But Jesus said unto him, Follow me; and let the dead bury their dead.
• New International Version (NIV)But Jesus told him, “Follow me, and let the dead bury their own dead.”
• English Standard Version (ESV)And Jesus said to him, "Follow me, and leave the dead to bury their own dead."
• New King James Version (NKJV)But Jesus said to him, “Follow Me, and let the dead bury their own dead.”

Context of Matthew 8:22

20Jesus replied, ‘Wild animals and birds have their own places to live. But I, the Son of Man, have no place of my own to lie down and rest.’ 21Another man who was one of Jesus' disciples said to him, ‘Sir, I want to come with you. But first, let me go home and bury my father. Then I will come with you.’ Jesus said to him, ‘No! You must come with me now. Let those people who are dead themselves bury their own dead people.’ 23Then Jesus got into a boat. His disciples also went with him. 24Immediately a great storm began to blow across the lake. Water began to go into the boat and fill it. Jesus was sleeping.

Matthew 8:22 word by word

Ὁ δὲ Ἰησοῦς λέγει αὐτῷ· ἀκολούθει μοι, καὶ ἄφες τοὺς νεκροὺς θάψαι τοὺς ἑαυτῶν νεκρούς.¶Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• ·ὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• Butδέde · thenG1161
• JesusἸησοῦςIēsous · JesusG2424
• saidλέγωlegō · to sayG3004
• unto himαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846
• Followἀκολουθέωakoloutheō · to followG190
• meἐγώegō · I/weG1473
• andκαίkai · andG2532
• letἀφίημιaphiēmi · to release: leaveG863
• the deadνεκρόςnekros · deadG3498
• buryθάπτωthaptō · to buryG2290
• theirἑαυτοῦheautou · themselfG1438

Cross-references for Matthew 8:22

• Matthew 4:18One day, Jesus was walking along the shore of Lake Galilee. He saw two men who were brothers. One man was called Simon, and he was also called Peter. His brother's name was Andrew. Their job was to catch fish. They were throwing their nets into the lake to catch fish.
• Matthew 9:9Jesus went away from that place. While he walked, he saw a man called Matthew. Matthew's job was to take taxes from people. He was sitting in his office. Jesus said to him, ‘Come with me and be my disciple.’ So Matthew stood up and he went with Jesus.
• John 1:43The next day, Jesus decided to go to Galilee. He met Philip, and Jesus said to Philip, ‘Follow me.’
• Luke 15:32We thought that your brother was dead. But now he has returned to us alive. We thought that he had left us for all time. But now he has come home. So we must all be happy together.” ’
• Ephesians 2:1Remember how you lived before. You did wrong things and bad things. As a result, you were dead in your spirits.
• Ephesians 5:14Everything that becomes clear to see is in the light. That is why it says: ‘Wake up, you people who are asleep! Rise up from among the dead people! Then Christ will shine his light on you.’
• Colossians 2:13At one time, you were dead in your spirits, because of the wrong things that you did. God had not cut off your old nature. You did not belong to his people. But now God has caused you to become alive with Christ. He has forgiven us for all the wrong things that we have done.
• 1 Timothy 5:6But some widows only want to enjoy themselves. For a widow like that, her spirit is already dead, even while she is still alive.

Commentaries on Matthew 8:22

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 22Let the dead bury their dead - It was usual for the Jews to consider a man as dead who had departed from the precepts of the law; and, on this ground, every transgressor was reputed a dead man. Our Lord's saying, being in common use, had nothing difficult in it to a Jew. Natural death is the separation of the body and soul; spiritual death, the separation of God and the soul: men who live in sin are dead to God. Leave the spiritually dead to bury their…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 22Let the dead bury their dead - The word “dead” is used in this passage in two different senses. It is apparently a paradox, but is suited to convey the idea very distinctly to the mind. The Jews used the word “dead” often to express indifference toward a thing; or, rather, to show that that thing has no “influence” over us. Thus, to be dead to the world; to be dead to the law Romans 7:4; to be dead to sin Romans 6:11, means that the world, law, and sin…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 18-22Verses 18-22 One of the scribes was too hasty in promising; he proffers himself to be a close follower of Christ. He seems to be very resolute. Many resolutions for religion are produced by sudden conviction, and taken up without due consideration; these come to nothing. When this scribe offered to follow Christ, one would think he should have been encouraged; one scribe might do more credit and service than twelve fishermen; but Christ saw his heart, and…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 22Let the dead bury their own dead. Those who opposed Jesus might have seen these words as ignoring the commandment to honor parents (Exodus 20:12). But it actually reinforces the first commandment (Exodus 20:1–3). The authority of Jesus as the Messiah justified this statement. Living for the kingdom of heaven influences normal human life, including family ties and commitments (see Matthew 10:34–39; 12:46–50; 19:29; Zechariah 13:3; Luke 14:26–27).Read the comment

Topics related to Matthew 8:22

• Character
• Decision
• Jesus, the Christ
• Self-Denial

In the dictionaries

• Jesus
• Jesus, Jesus Christ, Christ Jesus
• Gnashing
• Heal
• Hole
• Immediately
• Rebuke
• Sickness
• Speak
• Torment

Commentaries on Matthew 8

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Catena Aurea
• Illustrated New Testament
• Burkitt’s Expository Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Family Bible Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• John Lightfoot Commentary
• Luther’s Commentary on Selected Bible Passages
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• The People’s New Testament
• Robertson’s Word Pictures
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• The Fourfold Gospel and Commentary on Acts
• Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings