Luke 9:61

“And another also said, etc.] “To him”, as the Syriac and Arabic versions add, that is, to Christ; the Ethiopic version reads, “and a third said to him”; for this is the third person mentioned in this relation of Luke's; only two are spoken of by Matthew, but a third is added here: Lord, I will follow thee; he moves it himself, to be a disciple of his, and a preacher of his Gospel, only with this condition: but let me first go bid them farewell, which are at home at my house: as Elisha desired Elijah, that he might go and kiss his father and his mother and then he promises he would follow him, (<111920>1 Kings 19:20). The Syriac version adds, “and I will come”; and the Persic, “and give…”

“INCIDENTS ILLUSTRATIVE OF DISCIPLESHIP. (Luk 9:57-62) I will follow . . . but--The second disciple had a "but" too--a difficulty in the way just then. Yet the different treatment of the two cases shows how different was the spirit of the two, and to that our Lord addressed Himself. The case of Elisha (Kg1 19:19-21), though apparently similar to this, will be found quite different from the "looking back" of this case, the best illustration of which is that of those Hindu converts of our day who, when once persuaded to leave their spiritual fathers in order to "bid them farewell which are at home at their house," very rarely return to them. (Also see on Mat 8:21.)”

“Bid them farewell - To take leave, inform them of the design, and set things at home in order. Jesus did not suffer this, because he probably saw that he would be influenced by a love of his friends, or by their persuasions, not to return to him. The purpose to be a Christian requires “decision.” Men should not tamper with the world. They should not consult earthly friends about it. They should not even allow worldly friends to give them “advice” whether to be Christians or not. God is to be obeyed rather than man, and they should come forth boldly, and resolve at once to give themselves to his service. return to 'Top of Page'”

“Suffer me first to bid them farewell that are in my house - As Elisha did after Elijah had called him from the plough, Kg1 19:19; to which our Lord's answer seems to allude. Luke 9:62”

“9:61-62 let me say good-bye to my family: The statement echoes Elisha’s request of Elijah (1 Kgs 19:19-20). Jesus required an even more complete commitment from his disciples. • puts a hand to the plow and then looks back: The ancient farmer guided a light plow with his left hand and his oxen with the right. Looking away would turn the plow out of its path. For a believer, looking back meant placing earthly concerns ahead of God.”

“but: Luk 14:18-20, Luk 14:26; Deu 33:9; Kg1 19:20; Ecc 9:10; Mat 10:37, Mat 10:38 Luke 9:62”