Jul 09, 2023   •  

Jesus, The Demanding Savior

In Matthew 8:18–22, two would-be disciples approach Jesus. Both express interest in and admiration for Jesus and want to follow him. They appear to be promising candidates for discipleship. However, Jesus draws the first individual’s attention to the fact that to follow him, he must embrace a life of insecurity and, by implication, find security exclusively in Jesus (8:20). The second individual wants to follow Jesus but first asks permission to bury his father. Such a request is reasonable and is in accordance with the fifth commandment (cf. Exod. 20:12), but Jesus tells him that he must follow him above caring for his parents.

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