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.”
• New King James Version (NKJV)But Jesus said to him, “Follow Me, and let the dead bury their own dead.”
• New Living Translation (NLT)But Jesus told him, “Follow me now. Let the spiritually dead bury their own dead.”

Context of Matthew 8:22

20And Jesus said to him, "Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head." 21Another of the disciples said to him, "Lord, let me first go and bury my father." And Jesus said to him, "Follow me, and leave the dead to bury their own dead." 23And when he got into the boat, his disciples followed him. 24And behold, there arose a great storm on the sea, so that the boat was being swamped by the waves; but he was asleep.

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 4:18While walking by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon (who is called Peter) and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen.
• Matthew 9:9As Jesus passed on from there, he saw a man called Matthew sitting at the tax booth, and he said to him, "Follow me." And he rose and followed him.
• John 1:43The next day Jesus decided to go to Galilee. He found Philip and said to him, "Follow me."
• Luke 15:32It was fitting to celebrate and be glad, for this your brother was dead, and is alive; he was lost, and is found.'"
• Ephesians 2:1And you were dead in the trespasses and sins
• Ephesians 5:14for anything that becomes visible is light. Therefore it says, "Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you."
• Colossians 2:13And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses,
• 1 Timothy 5:6but she who is self-indulgent is dead even while she lives.

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