Let the Dead bury their Dead

 

In Matthew chapter 8, Jesus Himself did majorly two things – He first ministered to God and He then ministered to the people. The first verse in that Matthew chapter 8 said “then he was come down from the mountain, great multitudes followed him.” But in our day and time, there is a triviality in our own as against the template the One Who is the author and the finisher of our faith. We will rather minister to the people first and thereafter minister unto God. Or probably just ministering to the people without ministering to the Lord at all.

Meanwhile in Acts 13: 1&2, it says “now there were in the church that was at Antioch certain prophets and teachers; as Barnabas, and Simeon that was called Niger, and Lucius of Cyrene, and Manaen, which had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them.” This scripture made us understand that it was as they ministered to the Lord that the Lord spoke on how the work should be done. I’m only saying this so that we can fully understand the essence of ministering to the Lord before ministering to the people.

It must be clearly understood that the former before the latter is intentional. The former enables, directs and empowers on how, where, when and to what extent will the latter be done. Having the latter ones former or rather not having the actual former in plan will result in underperformance and an unacceptable deeds. More so, it must be said that ministering to the Lord is receiving life and all other spiritual blessings from the our Source. It is in the fellowship with our Source that the precise words to say will be given. Without having to constantly receive from the Lord, especially before ministering to the people is a sign of self-sufficient and independence. I just have explain all these before going to what focal scripture.

I’m sure you remember John 5:19 that says “then answered Jesus and said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do: for what things soever he doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise.” This scripture in itself explains all that has been said previously.

Now to our focal scripture, Matthew 8:21-22 that says “and another of his disciples said unto him, Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my father. But Jesus said unto him, Follow me; and let the dead bury their dead.” The very first thing that must be said and established is that all that Jesus said and did were deliberate. I was wondering why Jesus said unto the centurion (a commander over a hundred soldiers) – “I will come and heal him.” I later realized that Jesus wanted the level of faith in the man to be made known unto the people around. He was probably the first person in the book of Matthew to believe in long distance prayer, I guess.

Pardon me for diverting a little bit from the focal scripture. Now we will look into it carefully. What brought about that phrase was that one of Jesus’ disciples came to him supposedly professing to have made of his mind to TOTALLY follow him henceforth. But Jesus knew the state of his heart, He said to him to “follow Him; and let the dead bury their dead.”

Our focus on this phrase is particularly in its meaning and the implications of making this kind of statement. The spiritual meaning of this phrase is that that particular disciple of Jesus had access to life or probably already have life but wants to do a thing that is potent enough to make him lose the life he has or can access to. I’m not saying that having a very funeral ceremony for ones bereaved older person (s). Even Joseph had a befitting funeral ceremony for Jacob his father. We should celebrate our bereaved older person(s) much as we can. But considering the contextual emphasis of this text, he wants something entirely physical to disrupt the continuous flow or access of life.

The implications of adhering to this kind of statement is that the continuous flow of life pauses or even stops. Such a person will be disconnected from God, the Source of all things. Another implication is that such a person will completely lack the present revelation position of what God is saying at the moment. There could be certain circumstances that will require us to decide whether to cling unto life and things of its nature or things that either kill the life received or even repels one from things that have life in themselves.

Shalom!