Matthew 8:22

An Understandable Version (2005 edition)

But Jesus answered him, “Become my follower, and let the [spiritually] dead bury them” [i.e., let a person’s relatives care for their own family members until they die].

Cross References

Luke 15:32

But it was [only] proper that we celebrate and have a good time, for this brother of yours was dead [spiritually], but is [now] alive again; he was lost [from me] but [now] is found.’”

Colossians 2:13

And when you were [spiritually] dead because of your sins and your lack of being physically circumcised [Note: This refers to their having been unconverted Gentiles and therefore outside of a relationship with God], God made you alive [again] together with Christ, having forgiven us for all of our sins.

Ephesians 5:14

So, it says, “You who are asleep, wake up and rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you [i.e., illuminate you].” [Note: The foregoing words may have been an early saying, used at someone’s immersion, which included the ideas of “rising up” (See Col. 2:12) and “illumination” (See Heb. 6:4) ].

Ephesians 2:5

restored [spiritual] life to us with Christ, even though we were [spiritually] dead because of our sins --- it is by God’s unearned favor that you have been saved.

Ephesians 2:1

And you [Gentiles] were once [spiritually] dead because of your shortcomings and sins.

1 Timothy 5:6

But the widow who devotes herself to unrestrained pleasure is [spiritually] dead, even while still living.

John 1:43

[Then] on the next day He [i.e., Jesus, but some think it refers to Peter or Andrew] decided to travel into Galilee, [and there] He found Philip. Jesus said to Philip, “Become my follower.”

Matthew 9:9

As Jesus moved on from there, He saw a man named Matthew sitting at the toll booth [i.e., collecting taxes]. He said to him, “Become my follower.” And he got up and followed Him.

Matthew 8:21

Then another one of His disciples said to Him, “Allow me to go and bury my father first.”

Mark 2:14

And as He walked along He saw Levi [i.e., the same person as Matthew. See Matt. 9:9], the son of Alphaeus, sitting at the toll booth [i.e., collecting taxes]. He said to him, “Become my follower.” And he got up and followed Him.

Luke 9:59

And [then] He said to another person, “Become my follower.” But he replied, “Lord, allow me to go and bury my father first.”

Luke 9:60

But Jesus replied to him, “Let the [spiritually] dead bury their own dead [i.e., let them care for their family members until they die], but you go and proclaim the [coming] kingdom of God.”

Luke 15:24

For my son here was dead [spiritually], but is [now] alive again. He was lost [from me], but [now] is found.’ And they began to celebrate.

John 21:19

Now Jesus said this to indicate the kind of death Peter would experience in honoring God. [Note: Some see the “stretching out your hands,” verse 18, as a reference to crucifixion]. And after saying this, Jesus said to him, “Be my follower.”

John 21:22

Jesus said to him, “If I want him to remain [alive] until I return, what [business] is that of yours? You be my follower.”