The Cost of Discipleship
Luke 9:57-62
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Luke.9.57 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- Και: CONJ
- πορευομενων: VERB,pres,mid/pass,ptcp,gen,pl
- αυτων: PRON,gen,pl,m
- εν: PREP
- τη: ART,dat,sg,f
- οδω: NOUN,dat,sg,f
- ειπεν: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,sg
- τις: PRON,nom,sg,?
- προς: PREP
- αυτον·Ακολουθησω: PRON,acc,sg,3+VERB,fut,act,ind,1,sg
- σοι: PRON,dat,sg,2
- οπου: ADV,rel
- εαν: CONJ
- απερχη: VERB,pres,mid/pass,subj,3,sg
Parallels
- Matthew 8:19 (verbal): A near-verbatim parallel: a man tells Jesus he will follow him wherever he goes (same profession of willingness to follow).
- Luke 9:61 (structural): Immediate literary parallel in Luke: another would-be follower asks to delay following to say farewell at home, highlighting differing responses to the call in the same context.
- Luke 9:23 (thematic): Jesus' general summons and condition for discipleship—'If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself'—frames what following Jesus truly involves, contrasting simple professions of willingness in 9:57.
- Mark 10:21 (thematic): Jesus' invitation to the rich young man to 'come, follow me' coupled with the demand to sell possessions and give to the poor underscores the cost and demands implicit in the offer to follow, a theme at issue in 9:57.
- Matthew 4:19 (verbal): An early, concise call to discipleship—'Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men'—echoes the basic summons to follow Jesus found in Luke 9:57, highlighting the call's vocational and transformative dimension.
Alternative generated candidates
- As they went along the road, someone said to him, 'I will follow you wherever you go.'
- And as they were going on the road, someone said to him, "I will follow you wherever you go."
Luke.9.58 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- και: CONJ
- ειπεν: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,sg
- αυτω: PRON,dat,sg,m
- ο: ART,nom,sg,m
- Ιησους·Αι: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- αλωπεκες: NOUN,nom,pl,f
- φωλεους: NOUN,acc,pl,m
- εχουσιν: VERB,pres,act,ind,3,pl
- και: CONJ
- τα: ART,acc,pl,n
- πετεινα: NOUN,nom,pl,n
- του: ART,gen,sg,n
- ουρανου: NOUN,gen,sg,masc
- κατασκηνωσεις: NOUN,nom,pl,f
- ο: ART,nom,sg,m
- δε: CONJ
- υιος: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- του: ART,gen,sg,n
- ανθρωπου: NOUN,gen,sg,m
- ουκ: PART,neg
- εχει: VERB,pres,act,ind,3,sg
- που: ADV
- την: ART,acc,sg,f
- κεφαλην: NOUN,acc,sg,f
- κλινη: NOUN,acc,sg,f
Parallels
- Matthew 8:20 (quotation): Nearly identical saying—Jesus contrasts foxes' holes and birds' nests with the Son of Man having nowhere to lay his head (verbal parallel in Synoptic tradition).
- Psalm 102:7 (Hebrew 102:6 / LXX 101:7) (allusion): Imagery of isolation and homelessness—'I am like a lonely bird on the housetop' resonates with the theme of lacking a settled home.
- Hebrews 13:14 (thematic): Expresses the same theme of earthly homelessness and pilgrimage: 'we have no lasting city here,' pointing to the transient, alien status of the believer/servant on earth.
- 2 Corinthians 5:1-2 (thematic): Paul's contrast between the earthly tent and a heavenly dwelling echoes the theme of not having a permanent earthly home and awaiting a promised abode.
Alternative generated candidates
- Jesus said to him, 'Foxes have dens and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.'
- And Jesus said to him, "Foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests; but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head."
Luke.9.59 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ειπεν: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,sg
- δε: CONJ
- προς: PREP
- ετερον·Ακολουθει: ADJ,acc,sg,m + VERB,pres,act,imp,2,sg
- μοι: PRON,dat,sg,1
- ο: ART,nom,sg,m
- δε: CONJ
- ειπεν·Κυριε: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,sg + NOUN,voc,sg,m
- επιτρεψον: VERB,aor,act,imp,2,sg
- μοι: PRON,dat,sg,1
- απελθοντι: VERB,aor,act,ptcp,dat,m,sg
- πρωτον: ADV
- θαψαι: VERB,aor,act,inf
- τον: ART,acc,sg,m
- πατερα: NOUN,acc,sg,m
- μου: PRON,gen,sg,1
Parallels
- Matthew 8:21-22 (verbal): Near-identical exchange: a would-be disciple asks to bury his father and Jesus responds (in Matthew) with the same demand for priority in following him and the saying about leaving the dead to bury their own dead.
- Luke 9:60 (structural): Immediate continuation of the same pericope in Luke: Jesus' reply 'Let the dead bury their own dead...' directly follows 9:59 and clarifies the radical urgency and cost of discipleship.
- Luke 5:27-28 (thematic): Call of Levi (the tax collector) where the man immediately leaves his former life to follow Jesus—illustrates the theme of leaving behind family/profession to respond to Jesus' call.
- Matthew 4:18-22 (thematic): Call of Peter and Andrew (and similarly in Mark 1:16-20) where they promptly abandon their nets to follow Jesus—another instance emphasizing immediate, decisive response to the call to discipleship.
Alternative generated candidates
- He said to another, 'Follow me.' But he replied, 'Lord, let me first go and bury my father.'
- And he said to another, "Follow me." But he said, "Lord, permit me first to go and bury my father."
Luke.9.60 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ειπεν: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,sg
- δε: CONJ
- αυτω·Αφες: PRON,dat,sg,m;VERB,imp,aor,act,2,sg
- τους: ART,acc,pl,m
- νεκρους: NOUN,acc,pl,m
- θαψαι: VERB,aor,act,inf
- τους: ART,acc,pl,m
- εαυτων: PRON,gen,pl,3
- νεκρους: NOUN,acc,pl,m
- συ: PRON,nom,sg,2
- δε: CONJ
- απελθων: VERB,aor,act,ptc,nom,m,sg
- διαγγελλε: VERB,pres,act,imp,2,sg
- την: ART,acc,sg,f
- βασιλειαν: NOUN,acc,sg,f
- του: ART,gen,sg,n
- θεου: NOUN,gen,sg,m
Parallels
- Matthew 8:22 (verbal): Nearly identical wording — “Let the dead bury their dead” — and the same call to immediate discipleship over customary filial duties.
- Luke 9:62 (structural): Immediate literary follow-up in Luke: Jesus underscores the same demand for uncompromising commitment to discipleship (no looking back), reinforcing the urgency of proclaiming God’s kingdom.
- Luke 14:26 (thematic): Another Lukan saying that stresses radical priority of allegiance to Jesus over family ties (even ‘hating’ father and mother), thematically linked to leaving family obligations to follow the kingdom.
- Matthew 10:37–39 (thematic): Jesus teaches that love for him must exceed familial love and that true discipleship may involve loss of life — a parallel ethic to putting kingdom proclamation above burial obligations.
- Mark 8:34 (thematic): Call to take up one’s cross and follow Jesus, denying oneself — a parallel demand for absolute, costly commitment to discipleship and mission.
Alternative generated candidates
- But Jesus said to him, 'Let the dead bury their own dead; but you, go and proclaim the kingdom of God.'
- But he said to him, "Let the dead bury their own dead; but as for you, go and proclaim the kingdom of God."
Luke.9.61 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ειπεν: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,sg
- δε: CONJ
- και: CONJ
- ετερος·Ακολουθησω: ADJ,m,sg,nom + VERB,fut,act,ind,1,sg
- σοι: PRON,dat,sg,2
- κυριε·πρωτον: NOUN,voc,sg,m + ADV
- δε: CONJ
- επιτρεψον: VERB,aor,act,imp,2,sg
- μοι: PRON,dat,sg,1
- αποταξασθαι: VERB,aor,mid,inf
- τοις: ART,dat,pl,n
- εις: PREP
- τον: ART,acc,sg,m
- οικον: NOUN,acc,sg,m
- μου: PRON,gen,sg,1
Parallels
- Matthew 8:21-22 (verbal): A nearly identical incident: a would-be disciple asks to bury his father and Jesus replies with a sharp rebuke about following him ("let the dead bury their own dead"). Verbal and situational parallel.
- Luke 9:60 (structural): Immediate literary continuation of the same episode in Luke: Jesus' response to the request appears here ("Let the dead bury their own dead"). Shows the same scene and narrative structure.
- Luke 9:23 (verbal): Lukan teaching closely related in theme and phrasing: Jesus calls for self-denial and taking up one’s cross daily as the cost of following him, underscoring the priority of discipleship over other obligations.
- Luke 14:26-33 (thematic): Extended Lukan discourse on the cost of discipleship (renouncing family, counting the cost, giving up possessions). The passage parallels Luke 9:61 thematically by emphasizing uncompromising commitment to follow Jesus.
Alternative generated candidates
- Still another said, 'I will follow you, Lord, but first let me go and say farewell to those at my home.'
- And another also said, "I will follow you, Lord; but let me first say farewell to those at my house."
Luke.9.62 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ειπεν: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,sg
- δε: CONJ
- ο: ART,nom,sg,m
- Ιησους·Ουδεις: PROPN,nom,sg,m+PRON,nom,sg,m
- επιβαλων: VERB,aor,act,part,nom,sg,m
- την: ART,acc,sg,f
- χειρα: NOUN,acc,sg,f
- επ᾽αροτρον: PREP,acc+NOUN,acc,sg,n
- και: CONJ
- βλεπων: VERB,pres,act,part,nom,sg,m
- εις: PREP
- τα: ART,acc,pl,n
- οπισω: ADV
- ευθετος: ADV
- εστιν: VERB,pres,act,ind,3,sg
- τη: ART,dat,sg,f
- βασιλεια: NOUN,nom,sg,f
- του: ART,gen,sg,n
- θεου: NOUN,gen,sg,m
Parallels
- Luke 9:57-61 (structural): Immediate pericope: a series of sayings about following Jesus without delay or hesitation (includes the refusal to look back and related demands for single-minded commitment).
- Luke 14:25-33 (thematic): Extended teaching on the cost of discipleship (renouncing family/possessions and calculating the cost); parallels the requirement of uncompromising commitment and not turning back.
- Matthew 10:37-39 (thematic): Jesus stresses supreme loyalty and self-denial (love of family subordinate to him; take up your cross and follow); conveys the same demand that a disciple not be divided in loyalty.
- Philippians 3:13-14 (thematic): Paul’s call to ‘forget what lies behind and strain forward’ toward the goal echoes the motif of not looking back after committing to the way of Christ.
- Hebrews 12:1-2 (thematic): Imagery of laying aside every weight and running the race with endurance, fixing eyes on Jesus, parallels the call to persevere and not be distracted or turn back from discipleship.
Alternative generated candidates
- Jesus said to him, 'No one who puts a hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God.'
- But Jesus said to him, "No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God."
As they went along the road, someone said to him, 'I will follow you wherever you go.'
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.'
He said to another, 'Follow me.' But he replied, 'Lord, let me first go and bury my father.'
Jesus said to him, 'Let the dead bury their own dead; but you, go and proclaim the kingdom of God.'
Yet another said, 'I will follow you, Lord, but first let me say farewell to those at my home.'
Jesus said to him, 'No one who puts a hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.'