Read & explore together
The Cost of Following Jesus
These sayings show that following Jesus is serious. In Matthew and Luke, people speak about following him, and Jesus answers with words about hardship, urgency and wholehearted commitment.
Understanding the passage
Understanding the passage
In Matthew, Jesus gives an order to depart to the other side, and two conversations follow. In Luke 9, similar sayings appear as they go on the way. In Luke 14, Jesus turns to great multitudes and speaks directly about being his disciple. These settings are presented separately here.
Matthew 8:18–22; Luke 9:57–62; Luke 14:25–27Main takeaway
Jesus teaches that discipleship may involve insecurity, urgent obedience and undivided commitment to him.
Explore the teaching
Open a card to explore the full explanation and its Bible references.
01A willing follower hears a hard truthIn Matthew 8:19-20 and Luke 9:57-58, a man says he will follow Jesus wherever he goes. Jesus answers with a picture from everyday life: foxes have holes and birds have nests, yet the Son of Man has no place to lay his head.
Explanation
In Matthew 8:19-20 and Luke 9:57-58, a man says he will follow Jesus wherever he goes. Jesus answers with a picture from everyday life: foxes have holes and birds have nests, yet the Son of Man has no place to lay his head. Following him is not presented as comfort or security.
02Follow me comes firstIn Matthew 8:21-22, a disciple asks to go first and bury his father. Jesus replies, “Follow me”.
Explanation
In Matthew 8:21-22, a disciple asks to go first and bury his father. Jesus replies, “Follow me”. In Luke 9:59-60, Jesus himself says, “Follow me!”, and then adds, “you go and announce God’s Kingdom.” The sayings stress the urgency of responding to Jesus’ call.
03Looking back does not fit the taskLuke 9:61-62 adds another conversation. A man wants to follow Jesus, but first to say good-bye to those at his house.
Explanation
Luke 9:61-62 adds another conversation. A man wants to follow Jesus, but first to say good-bye to those at his house. Jesus answers with a farming image: a person with a hand on the plough should not keep looking back. The picture points to steady, forward commitment in God’s Kingdom.
04Jesus speaks to the crowds about discipleshipIn Luke 14:25-27, Jesus turns to great multitudes and speaks plainly about being his disciple.
Explanation
In Luke 14:25-27, Jesus turns to great multitudes and speaks plainly about being his disciple. He says a person must disregard even close family and his own life in comparison with coming to Jesus, and must bear his own cross and come after him. The words show the cost is very high.
Read the accounts alongside one another
Keep each reading’s setting and wording in view.
Scroll across to compare the readings.
| Book | Included readings | Explore in this guide |
|---|---|---|
| Matthew | Matthew 8:18–22 | A willing follower hears a hard truth Follow me comes first |
| Luke | Luke 9:57–62 Luke 14:25–27 | A willing follower hears a hard truth Follow me comes first Looking back does not fit the task Jesus speaks to the crowds about discipleship |
Questions to explore
Pause, look back at the verses and talk together.
01What does Jesus’ saying about foxes and birds teach about following him?
Look at the contrast between animals having places to stay and the Son of Man having nowhere to lay his head.
02How does Luke 9 describe the urgency of Jesus’ call?
Read the Bible passages
World English Bible ClassicScripture quotation · Public domain
Matthew 8:18–22
18Now when Jesus saw great multitudes around him, he gave the order to depart to the other side.
19A scribe came and said to him, “Teacher, I will follow you wherever you go.”
20Jesus said to him, “The foxes have holes and the birds of the sky have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.”
21Another of his disciples said to him, “Lord, allow me first to go and bury my father.”
22But Jesus said to him, “Follow me, and leave the dead to bury their own dead.”
Luke 9:57–62
57As they went on the way, a certain man said to him, “I want to follow you wherever you go, Lord.”
58Jesus said to him, “The foxes have holes and the birds of the sky have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head.”
59He said to another, “Follow me!” But he said, “Lord, allow me first to go and bury my father.”
60But Jesus said to him, “Leave the dead to bury their own dead, but you go and announce God’s Kingdom.”
61Another also said, “I want to follow you, Lord, but first allow me to say good-bye to those who are at my house.”
62But Jesus said to him, “No one, having put his hand to the plow and looking back, is fit for God’s Kingdom.”
Luke 14:25–27
25Now great multitudes were going with him. He turned and said to them,
26“If anyone comes to me, and doesn’t disregard his own father, mother, wife, children, brothers, and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he can’t be my disciple.
27Whoever doesn’t bear his own cross and come after me, can’t be my disciple.