Follow Me, and Leave the Dead to Bury Their Own Dead
Categories: Sermon Outlines, Topical Sermon OutlinesSUBJECT: Passage
TITLE: FOLLOW ME, AND LEAVE THE DEAD TO BURY THEIR OWN DEAD
PROPOSITION: Jesus demands that we follow Him upon His terms, not ours.
OBJECTIVE: To help others understand this passage.
INTRODUCTION:
1. Read: Matthew 8:18-22.
2. Regarding the text:
1) This tells us about two men who thought they wanted to follow Jesus.
2) One man did not understand the deep commitment necessary and Jesus put him off with materialism.
3) The other man seemed to understand, and seemed truly to want to follow Jesus, but on his own terms, not Jesus’ terms.
4) Jesus COMMANDS him to follow.
5) Notice:
a. This follower speaks in the “imperative mood;” he COMMANDS Jesus,
b. He uses the word “first,” meaning it was more important to him, not order in time.
c. In the original language the time element is “indefinite,” meaning the father was NOT DEAD.
d. The father may not have even been dying,
e. So this man commands Jesus to allow him to follow on his own terms: no CROSSES; no COMMITMENT; no DEDICATION.
6) Jesus’ response is equally “dogmatic!”
7) As clear now as they were then, Jesus said, “Follow me, and leave the dead to bury their own dead.”
3. Let us notice these two points.
DISCUSSION: In Matthew 8:22 we have –
I. COMMAND.
1. “Follow me.”
1) Jesus returned command for command.
2) By this, Jesus made this into a matter of AUTHORITY.
3) Which AUTHORITY must be followed?
2. Jesus made this same command more than once:
1) Matthew 9:9.
2) John 1:43.
3) Matthew 4:19.
4) John 21:19.
3. We are commanded to follow Christ and his authority.
1) Matthew 28:18.
2) Colossians 3:17.
3) No other person.
4) No other authority.
II. CO-ORDINATE.
1. “Leave the dead to bury their own dead.”
1) 1 Timothy 5:6.
2) Revelation 3:1.
3) Luke 15:24, and 32.
2. Death means “separation,” James 2:26.
3. Jesus said there were some “dead” people who were supposed to “bury their own dead.” Who were they?
1) They were the other family members.
2) Why did Jesus say they were dead?
3) These Jewish parents had done a good job rearing their children.
4) The father cared for the family.
5) They probably never missed a synagogue meeting.
6) The children were always in synagogue school.
7) But they were dead.
4. How could they be so religious and be spiritually dead? Maybe:
1) Only social religion.
2) They accepted rabbis’ authority over God’s word.
3) They thought “sincerity alone” would save them.
4) They were not sanctified to God and HIS religion.
5. This is a great lesson on the temporary nature of life, 2 Corinthians 5:1-10; 1 Corinthians 15:44.
6. What is “FIRST,” most important to Jesus? (1) Acts 20:28; (2) Ephesians 5:25-26.
7. What should be most important to us?
1) Matthew 6:33;
2) 1 Corinthians 15:1-4.
CONCLUSION:
1. In Matthew 8:22, we have:
1) COMMAND; and
2) CO-ORDINATE.
2. “Follow ME, and leave the dead to bury their own dead.”
3. Leviticus 10: 1-7.