Luke 9:57

Luke 9:57, in plain English

As they were walking along, someone said to Jesus, 'I will follow You wherever You go.' It sounded great, but Jesus was about to test the depth of that commitment.

Why it's here

Enthusiasm is wonderful, but Jesus wanted people to count the cost before signing up. He never tricked anyone into following Him. He laid out the full price and let people decide.

Who's speaking

An unnamed person makes a bold pledge to Jesus.

Where it sits in the story

A stranger walked up and made the boldest promise: I will follow You anywhere. It was exactly the kind of enthusiasm Jesus would not take at face value. He needed the man to understand what 'anywhere' actually meant.

The scholarly reading

An unnamed man offers akolouthēsō soi hopou ean aperchē ('I will follow You wherever You go'), making an unconditional pledge of discipleship while they are poreuomenōn ('walking along the road'). The road setting emphasizes discipleship as a journey.

Language and setting

This is the first of three would-be disciples in Luke's unique Travel Narrative section. The man's initiative contrasts with the others whom Jesus calls. His bold declaration invites Jesus' reality check about the cost of following Him.

Voice

An unnamed person makes a bold declaration of commitment to Jesus.

Significance

As they walked along the road, an enthusiastic stranger volunteered to follow Jesus anywhere, making a sweeping promise of total commitment that Jesus would immediately test with a sobering reality check.

55But Jesus turned and rebuked them.

56And He and His disciples went on to another village.

57As 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.”

Read all of Luke 9 — Peter confesses, the Transfiguration blazes, and Jesus sets his face toward Jerusalem. Everything from here moves toward the cross.