Sell Everything & Let the Dead Bury the Dead

Let the Dead Bury the Dead

Selling all that you have and letting the dead bury their dead is part of two interactions Jesus had with different people. It is important to understand that in these interactions Jesus was talking to Jewish people whose relationship with God was governed by the old covenant—the Law of Moses.

This is important because we are not ethnic Jews and we are not governed by that covenant. Our covenant with God (which is also for the Jews now) is the covenant of grace. The Law of Moses does not govern us.

Let me talk about the dead burying their dead first.

Luke 9:57–62 “As they were going on the road, someone said to Him, “I will follow You wherever You go.” And Jesus said to him, “The foxes have holes and the birds of the sky have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head.” And He said to another, “Follow Me.” But he said, “Lord, permit me first to go and bury my father.” But He said to him, “Allow the dead to bury their own dead; but as for you, go and proclaim everywhere the kingdom of God.” Another also said, “I will follow You, Lord; but first permit me to say goodbye to those at my home.” But Jesus said to him, “No one, after putting his hand to the plow and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.” (NASB 2020)

According to the editors of The NET Bible, In the first case, “Jesus’ reply is simply this: Does the man understand the rejection he will be facing? Jesus has no home in the world (the Son of Man has no place to lay his head).” The NET Bible, (Biblical Studies Press, 2005).

The point is that this prospective disciple would be walking away from something that Jesus apparently knew was his source of security. Jesus always preached that these things had to be laid aside in favor of faith in Him because they represent things that people put their trust in. In truth, nothing other than Jesus is trustworthy. Everything else has no guaranteed permanence.

As for the others mentioned in this passage, notice that they said they would follow Him after they did something else. Jesus is pointing out to them that they have a choice. They can follow Him, or they can run around doing the things the world thinks are important. Their faith cannot be placed in how they appear to their families or their society. It must be in Jesus. In other words, righteousness does not come from morally exemplary behavior, it comes from Jesus Christ.

The story is the same with the rich young ruler who was told to sell all he had. Here is the passage.

Luke 18:18–27 “18 A ruler questioned Him, saying, “Good Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?”

19 But Jesus said to him, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good except God alone. 20 You know the commandments, ‘DO NOT COMMIT ADULTERY, DO NOT MURDER, DO NOT STEAL, DO NOT GIVE FALSE TESTIMONY, HONOR YOUR FATHER AND MOTHER.’ ” 21 And he said, “All these things I have kept since my youth.” 22 Now when Jesus heard this, He said to him, “One thing you still lack; sell all that you possess and distribute the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.” 23 But when he had heard these things, he became very sad, for he was extremely wealthy. 24 And Jesus looked at him and said, “How hard it is for those who are wealthy to enter the kingdom of God! 25 For it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God!” 26 Those who heard Him said, “And so who can be saved?” 27 But He said, “The things that are impossible with people are possible with God.” (NASB 2020)

The man asked Jesus how to have eternal life. Jesus knew that this man’s security for the future lay in his great wealth. This is a problem for many people and that is why Jesus says that it is extremely difficult for rich people to enter the Kingdom of God.

The response of those that heard Him say this was to throw up their hands and say, well then, who can be saved?! The response Jesus gives is the heart of this passage. He says that this is not possible for people to do, but it is possible for God.

That means that none of us can possibly save ourselves. None of us can do what is necessary to give ourselves eternal life. Since that is the case, our trust must be in God alone and not in wealth, social standing, moral excellence, or anything else.

None of those things can give us eternal life. Only He can to that.