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Matthew 8:18-22

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18When Jesus saw the crowd around him, he gave orders to cross to the other side of the lake.

19Then a teacher of the law came to him and said, “Teacher, I will follow you wherever you go.”

20Jesus replied, “Foxes have dens and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head.”

21Another disciple said to him, “Lord, first let me go and bury my father.”

22But Jesus told him, “Follow me, and let the dead bury their own dead.”

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1)       In accordance with verses 19 and 20 what did Jesus intend for the teacher of the law to do in pointing out to him that he would be following Jesus into homelessness?

o   Jesus intended for the teacher of the law to first count the cost before making such a generous pledge to follow him wherever he goes.

 

2)       In accordance with verse 21 had the disciple’s father just died and why?

o   No, he

§  Would be very busy handling the funeral.

§  And would not hang around for a conversation.

 

o   If

o   His father had just died.

 

3)       How did the disciple prioritize between taking care of his father and heeding Jesus’ call to follow him?

o   He prioritized

§  Taking care of his father.

§  Over

§  Heeding Jesus’ call.

 

4)       Was it legitimate for the disciple to take care of his father?

o   Yes.

 

5)       According to what Jesus said in verse 22 what did he mean to say in his response to the man’s seemingly legitimate excuse not to follow him?

o   Jesus meant to say that the man who was spiritually alive should

§  Follow him.

§  And let the spiritually dead worry about taking care of those who would eventually die a physical death.

 

6)       By suggesting an alternative arrangement for the care of the disciple’s father in verse 22, what did Jesus tell him to do in terms of rearranging his priority?

o   Jesus told him to prioritize

§  Heeding his call.

§  Over

§  Taking care of his father.

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Matthew 8:18-22

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