Luke 9:51-62

New Testament for Everyone

⁵¹ As the time came nearer for Jesus to be taken up, he settled it in his mind to go to Jerusalem. ⁵² He sent messengers ahead of him. They came into a Samaritan village to get them ready, ⁵³ and they refused to receive him, because his mind was set on going to Jerusalem. ⁵⁴ When the disciples James and John saw it, they said, “Master, do you want us to call down fire from heaven and burn them up?” ⁵⁵ He turned and rebuked them, ⁵⁶ and they went on to another village.

⁵⁷ As they were going along the road a man addressed Jesus.

“Wherever you’re going,” he said, “I’ll follow you!”

⁵⁸ “Foxes have lairs,” Jesus replied, “and the birds in the sky have nests; but the son of man doesn’t have anywhere to lay his head.”

⁵⁹ To another person he said, “Follow me.”

“Master,” he replied, “let me first go and bury my father.”

⁶⁰ “Let the dead bury their dead,” said Jesus. “You must go and announce God’s kingdom.”

⁶¹ “I will follow you, Master,” said another, “but first let me say goodbye to the people at home.”

⁶² “Nobody,” replied Jesus, “who begins to plow and then looks over his shoulder is fit for God’s kingdom.”