Luke 9:61

Luke 9:61, in plain English

Another person said, 'I will follow You, Lord, but first let me say goodbye to my family.' Just one more thing before full commitment.

Why it's here

There is always one more thing: one more goodbye, one more task, one more delay. Jesus was about to expose how 'just one more thing' can become an excuse that never ends.

Who's speaking

A third potential follower makes a conditional offer.

Where it sits in the story

One more volunteer: I will follow You, but just let me say goodbye to everyone at home first. It seemed small and reasonable. But 'first let me' can become a life-long delay.

The scholarly reading

A third person offers to follow but requests first apotaxasthai tois eis ton oikon mou ('to bid farewell to those in my household'). This echoes Elisha's request to Elijah in 1 Kings 19:20, where Elisha was permitted to say goodbye before following.

Language and setting

The allusion to Elisha's call is significant: Elijah allowed the farewell, but Jesus does not. This implies Jesus' authority exceeds even Elijah's and that the kingdom's urgency has escalated beyond old prophetic models.

Voice

A third volunteer offers to follow Jesus with one condition.

Significance

A third person declared willingness to follow Jesus but asked permission to first say goodbye to family, echoing Elisha's request to Elijah. Jesus' stricter response would signal that His call surpassed even prophetic precedent.

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.”

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