Matthew 8:19-21 NIV

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 8:21

Verse 21 21.Lord, permit me to go first and bury my father. We have said, that the scribe was rejected by Christ as a follower, because he made his offer without consideration, and imagined that he would enjoy an easy life. The person whom Christ retains had an opposite fault. He was prevented from immediately obeying the call of Christ by the weakness of thinking it a hardship to leave his father. It is probable that his father was in extreme old age: for the mode of expression, Permit me to... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 8:1-34

MESSIAH 'S WORK AS COMPLEMENTARY TO HIS TEACHING . We return in this section to matter which resembles that of Mark and Luke, and undoubtedly belongs to the Framework ( vide Introduction). St. Matthew has given a lengthy summary of the teaching of the Christ, and he now supplements it by a summary of his daily work. He is not concerned with the chronological connexion of the incidents here narrated, for this is evidently to him a matter of but secondary importance. He... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 8:18-22

The hasty and the reluctant. We have here two types of possible disciples of Christ. Each has its defects, though they are opposite in character. I. THE HASTY DISCIPLE . One of the scribes, one of the official teachers of religion, is enraptured at what he sees of the gracious Galilaean ministry. He will follow Christ anywhere. 1 . The scribe ' s offer. It is well that he is attracted to Christ. Being attracted, he naturally desires to follow the great Teacher and Healer,... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 8:18-27

The departure from Capernaum. I. ITS ATTENDING CIRCUMSTANCES . 1 . The multitudes. The Lord departs from them. It was not so when he saw the multitudes at the mount of the Beatitudes. He taught them then; now he departs. The enthusiasm and excitement had become very great; all the city was gathered together in wondering expectation. Perhaps they were wishing, like the five thousand after the miraculous feast, to take him by force to make him a King. He was a King, indeed, but his... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 8:18-27

Christian discipleship. To avoid the pressure of the crowd gathered by the fame of his miracles—perhaps to disperse the crowd, lest the jealous Romans might suspect sedition—Jesus gave commandment to cross the lake. Therefore a disciple—a scribe, desiring to come into more constant communion with Jesus—said, "Teacher, I will follow thee," etc. (verses 19, 20). Another, following as a disciple (tradition says it was Philip, some say Thomas), said, "Lord, suffer me first," etc. (verses 21-22).... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 8:19

And a certain scribe came; Revised Version, and there came a scribe. Contrast the order in Matthew 8:2 . There the leper was recognized as such before ever he came near, an emphasis being laid on him and his actions by the addition of "Behold;" here the official position is of but secondary importance. A certain ; a (Revised Version); εἶς . The Hebrew numeral not uncommonly stands for an indefinite article (cf. Matthew 9:18 . [Westcott and Hort]; Matthew 26:69 ). Trench's " ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 8:19-22

Parallel passage: Luke 9:57-62 . The would-be followers. Notice that St. Luke read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 8:20

And Jesus saith unto him, The foxes have holes . The Asiatic fox ( Vulpes corsac ) is decidedly smaller than our European species, but has the same habits. And the birds of the air (Revised Version, heaven ) have nests . So the Old Latin and the common text of the Vulgate ( nidos ), but birds do not generally live in nests, nor is "nests" so natural a meaning for κατασκηνώσεις as" shelters" (cf. Trench, loc. cit. ) . The renderings in the true text of the Vulgate ( ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 8:20

The testing of would-be disciples. These cases are more fully given by Luke ( Luke 9:57-62 ). Our Lord did not aim to be the founder of a sect, and he never showed any interest in mere numbers. He made each offer of discipleship either a test of the real religious condition of the individual, or else an opportunity for laying down or illustrating the great principles, responsibilities, and duties of his kingdom. Two cases are before us in connection with this text. Both men illustrate the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 8:20

Christ's name for himself. Christ had a distinctive name for God. He almost always speaks of him as the Father. Christ had as distinctive a name for himself. It embodies the apprehension of him that anybody and everybody might gain; and not that particular apprehension which would come only to more intimate, and more spiritually taught, disciples. The name "Son of man" is used seventy-one times in the New Testament, and in every case but one by our Lord himself. The martyr Stephen also... read more

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 8:21

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 8:1-34

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 8:18-22

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 8:18-27

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 8:18-27

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 8:19

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 8:19-22

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 8:20

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 8:20

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 8:20

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