"Follow Me; and allow the dead to bury their own dead." Matthew 8: 22 

In reading the passage in Matthew 8: 19-22, we may conclude that Jesus' words to this enthusiastic " seeker"   seem harsh. Here we have a potential disciple! A man professing interest in Jesus! Grab him, lets get him baptized and put him on a committee! Yay, add to the church membership numbers! Wow, Praise the Lord!  Look at this guys enthusiasm, " Teacher, I will follow You wherever You go."   

Jesus doesn't react like we think He would. Instead He tells the guy, "Follow Me and allow the dead to bury their own dead." This sounds weird  to our modern day ears. Like Wow Jesus, You won't allow the guy to bury his dead father? But that is not what is being conveyed at all. In modern vernacular, what the man was saying is simply this: , "Let me go home and care for my father until he dies, and when I inherit the estate,  then I will catch up with you."

Don't we do the same today? Oh Jesus, I love You and want to serve You.  But let me get my household in order first. Let me get my kids out of high school and when I have more free time.... Let me finish this project at the office, then I am all Yours. I need to get my health right first, I need to______( fill in the blank with the excuse of your choice).

Jesus does not want a "show" of enthusiasm. He wants our heart. He demands a true, honest commitment to Him. Following Christ cannot be half hearted and lukewarm ( see Revelation 3: 15-16 ) He says to this man and to us, Count the cost. 

Many find a religious comfort zone. However, being religious is not the same as being in relationship with the Lord. Jesus words in Matthew 7:22-23 are a warning to all who think that an outward religious behavior will suffice as a substitution for following the Master," Many will say to Me on that day, Lord, Lord did we not prophesy in Your name and in Your name cast out demons and in Your name perform many miracles? And I will declare to them, " I never knew you; DEPART FROM ME YOU WHO PRACTICE LAWLESSNESS". 

Jesus wants us to follow Him NOW, and any obligations we have must come AFTER Him, not before!