Three People Who Wanted To Be Followers

(Matthew 8.19-22)

⁵⁷ Along the way someone said to Jesus, “I'll follow you anywhere!”

⁵⁸ Jesus said, “Foxes have dens, and birds have nests, but the Son of Man doesn't have a place to call his own.”

⁵⁹ Jesus told someone else to come with him. But the man said, “Lord, let me wait until I bury my father.”^[a]

⁶⁰ Jesus answered, “Let the dead take care of the dead, while you go and tell about God's kingdom.”

^61 (A) Then someone said to Jesus, “I want to follow you, Lord, but first let me go back and take care of things at home.”

⁶² Jesus answered, “Anyone who starts plowing and keeps looking back isn't worth a thing to God's kingdom!”

^8 (A) Dear friends, don't forget that for the Lord one day is the same as 1,000 years, and 1,000 years is the same as one day. ⁹ The Lord isn't slow about keeping his promises, as some people think he is. In fact, God is patient, because he wants everyone to turn from sin and no one to be lost.

^10 (B) The day of the Lord's return will surprise us like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a loud noise, and the heat will melt the whole universe.^[a] Then the earth and everything on it will be seen for what they are.^[b]

¹¹ Everything will be destroyed. So you should serve and honor God by the way you live. ¹² You should look forward to the day when God judges everyone, and you should try to make it come soon.^[c] On that day the heavens will be destroyed by fire, and everything else will melt in the heat. ^13 (C) But God has promised us a new heaven and a new earth, where justice will rule. We are really looking forward to this!

¹⁴ My friends, while you are waiting, you should make certain the Lord finds you pure, spotless, and living at peace. ¹⁵ Don't forget that the Lord is patient because he wants people to be saved. This is also what our dear friend Paul said when he wrote you with the wisdom God had given him. ¹⁶ Paul talks about these same things in all his letters, but part of what he says is hard to understand. Some ignorant and unsteady people even destroy themselves by twisting what he said. They do the same thing with other Scriptures too.

¹⁷ My dear friends, you have been warned ahead of time! So don't let the errors of evil people lead you down the wrong path and make you lose your balance. ¹⁸ Let the gift of undeserved grace and the understanding that come from our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ help you keep on growing. Praise Jesus now and forever! Amen.^[d]