The Parable Of:

“Let The Dead Bury The Dead”

( TheConditionof theDead)

135

TheParableof:

“Let The Dead Bury The Dead”

(Matthew 8:19-22)

19 And a certain scribe came and said unto him,

Master, I will follow thee whithersoever thou goest.

20 And Jesus saith unto him, The foxes have holes and

the birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath

not where to lay his head.

21 And another of his disciples said unto him, Lord

suffer me first to go and bury my father.

22 But Jesus said unto him, Follow me; and let the

dead bury their dead.

In this parable the “Main Theme” seems to be about

“Following Jesus“. In the first part of the parable,

a “scribe” says that he will “follow Jesus”, and in the second part “another disciple” says that he will

“follow Jesus” after he buries his father.

The “answers” that Jesus gives in both parts of the

parable don’t seem to make sense, on the surface.

In the first part of the parable Jesus says:

“foxes have holes and the birds of the air have nests;

but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head.”

What do the “holes” of foxes and the “nests” of birds

And Jesus himself “not having aplace to sleep” have to

do with “following Him”?

136

In the second part of the parable Jesus says:

“Let the dead bury their dead”. How can a dead person

bury another dead person? The dead person would

have to be alive in order to bury another dead person!

Is Jesus trying to teach us that thedeadarereally alive

or is he trying to teach us just theopposite, that the

deadarereally deadandcan’t do anything!

Also, is there a connection or relationship between

Having “noplacetosleep” and whether the

“deadare reallydeadoralive“? This parable implies

that thereisaconnectionand that it isimportantto

knowwhat that connection isso that we can

“follow Jesus“.

Let’s see if we can discover any “connection” between:

1. Having “noplace to sleep”

and

2. Whether the “dead are really dead or alive”

We will start with the first part of the parable and

think about thePhysical:

1. Foxes haveholes

2. Birds of the air havenests

3. Jesus hasno place to sleep

The fox “sleeps”belowthe surface of the ground,

in a hole in theearth.

The bird “sleeps”abovethe surface of the ground,

in a nest in theair.

Jesus hasno placeto “sleep”.

Thus, there arethreepossibleplacesto ”sleep“:

1.Belowthe surface of the earth

2.Abovethe surface of the earth

3.No whereorno place

137

In the second part of the parable Jesus says:

“Let the dead bury the dead”.

When a person is ”buried“, they are usually placed

belowthe surface of the ground, in a hole in the earth.

Sometimes, when a person is ”buried” they are placed

abovethe surface of the ground, in a vault in the air.

The third way that a person is ”buried” is by cremation

or being burned with fire until only ashes remain. These

ashes are usually “scattered” in the air or over water and

sodo not end up inany place.

Thus, there arethreepossibleplacesto be ”buried”

when you are ”dead“:

1.Belowthe surface of the earth

2.Abovethe surface of the earth

3.No whereorno place

When we compare what we have learned about

(places to ”sleep“) and (places to be”buried“),

there seems to be a definite ”connection” or relationship

between: ”sleep” and ”death“.

Thus, in this parable, Jesus has ”connected” the subjects

of: ”sleep” and ”death” and ”following Him“.

In order to ”follow Jesus” we need to discover what the

Biblesays about the subjects of: ”death“and”sleep“.

Since the parable used the word ”dead“, we will use the

Concordance to look upBible textsthat talk about the

“dead” in order to learn more about that subject.

138

THE BIBLE CONCEPT OF DEATH

WHAT IS DEATH LIKE?

139

140

141

142

We have just learned some amazing things from the Bible concerning ”death” or the ”dead”!

The Bible comparesdeathtosleep. When someone is ”asleep” they haveno knowledgeofanythingthat is going on around them. That is what the Bible says ”death” is like,no knowledge of anything.

TheBiblesconcept of ”death” iscompletely differentfrom thepopularconcept about ”death“, which teaches that wehave knowledgeof things going on around us after we die.

The ” main theme” of this parable is ”following Jesus” and the subject is ”death“.

Let’s see whatJesusbelieved about ”death“, so that we can”follow Him“.

John 11:11-14

11 These things said he: and after that he saith unto them, Our friend Lazarussleepeth: but I go, that I may awake him out ofsleep.

12 Then said his disciples, Lord, if hesleep, he shall do well.

13 Howbeit Jesus spake of hisdeath: but they thought that he had spoken of taking rest insleep.

14 Thensaid Jesusunto them plainly, Lazarus isdead.

Thus,Jesusbelieved and taught that ”death” is likesleep, whichagreeswith theBibleas we have just seen.

If we are going to ”follow Jesus“, then it is clear that

wemustbelievethat ”death” is like ”sleep”!

Now, we can see the “connection” between the man saying he would ”follow Jesus“, and the Lords answer of

“notwheretolay his head“, or as we would say,

“noplacetosleep“.

143

Jesus was telling the man:

Paraphrase:

If you want toPhysically“follow me” I must tell you that I have no ”place” for Physical ”sleep“.

If you want toSpiritually“follow me” I must tell you that I have no ”place” (heaven or hell) for Spr. ”sleep” (death).

Thus,Jesusis in perfect agreement with theBiblethat when wediewe don’t ”go” any ”place“, we simply

“waitin thegrave“, as Job says. (Job 17:13)

As we have seen, in the first part of this parable,JesusisteachingaboutPhysical deathand

what happensto a person when theyPhysically die.

Now let’s look at the second part of the parable.

Matthew8:21-22

21 And another of his disciples said unto him, Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my father.

22 But Jesus said unto him, Follow me; and let the dead bury their dead.

In the second part of this parable a man wants to

buryhisPhysically deadfather, before he is willing to ”follow Jesus“. Jesus said to him”Follow meand let thedeadbury theirdead“.

Since it isimpossiblefor aPhysically deadperson toburyanotherPhysically deadperson, then theonly possibleexplanation for the answer that Jesus gave, is that Jesus was trying to turn the man’s attention fromPhysical deathtoSpiritual death.

To Paraphrase the words of Jesus:

Follow meand let those that areSpiritually dead,burythose that arePhysically dead.

144

We have just discovered whatJesusand theBiblesay thatPhysical deathis like.

Now we need to discover what the Bible says about a person that isSpiritually dead. In order to do this we will again use a Concordance and look up the word ”dead“, but this time we are looking for theSpiritualmeaning of the word.

I Timothy5:6

But she that liveth in pleasure isdeadwhile sheliveth.

(When a person is living insin, they are considered

“dead” by God.)

Luke15:10,21-24

10 Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over onesinnerthatrepenteth.

21 And the son said unto him, Father I havesinnedagainst heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son.

22 But the father said to his servants, bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand and shoes on his feet:

23 And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry:

24 For this my son wasdead, and isaliveagain; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry.

(When a person ”repents” of theirsinand returns to God. they are considered ”alive” by God.)

145

II Corinthians5:14,15,17

14 For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if onediedforall, then were alldead:

15 And that he died for all, that they whichliveshould

nothenceforthlive unto themselves, butunto himwhich died for them, and rose again.

17 Therefore if any man bein Christ, he isa new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become

new.

(Sinceallhavesinned, then we wereall Spiritually deaduntil Jesus died for us. We now have a chance to becomeSpiritually”alive” if weaccept Jesusas ourSaviour.)

Ephesians2:4-5

4 But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,

5 Even when we weredeadin sins, hathquickenedus together with Christ, (bygraceye are saved;)

(Through thegraceof God we can be made

Spiritually”alive” and be saved.)

Colossians2:12-13

12Buriedwith himin baptism, wherein also ye are

risenwith him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead.

13 And you beingdeadin yoursinsand the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, havingforgiven youall trespasses;

(We are Spiritually ”buried” with Jesus through baptism and oursinsareforgiven!Then, we areSpiritually” made ”alive” or resurrected with Jesus to begin anew lifefor Him.)

146

Thus, a person who isSpiritually”dead” is anyone who hasnever giventheirheart to the Lordandbeen forgiventheir sinsand madeSpiritually”alive“.

Conclusion:

Now let us return to the parable to look at it one last time.

Matthew8:21-22

21 And another of his disciples said unto him, Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my father.

22 But Jesus said unto him, Follow me; and let the dead bury their dead.

Luke9:59-60

59 And he said unto another, Follow me. But he said, Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my father.

60 Jesus said unto him, Let the dead bury their dead: but

go thou andpreachthe kingdom of God.

When we compare the words of Matthew with the words of Luke, we discover Luke adds the words of Jesus to:

“Go andpreachthe kingdom of God.”

Putting this additional piece of information together with what we have already learned, we can give a paraphrase.

Final Paraphrase:

And he said to him “Follow me”. But he said, Lord let me first go and bury my father. Then Jesus said to him, Let those who arelostorSpiritually”dead”burythose who arePhysically”dead“; but go andpreachto those who areSpiritually”dead” so that they can becomeSpiritually”alive“. It’s too late for your father because he is

Physically”dead” and hasno knowledge of anythinggoing on around him, but it’s not too late for those who areSpiritually”dead“, who are stillPhysically aliveand canstill learn the truththat can save them.

147

Doctrinal Truth(Taught byJesusin the Parable

“Let the Dead bury the Dead”)

1. The Main Theme of this parable is toFollow Jesus.

2. The subject of the parable, that suggests that we

follow Jesus concerns thecondition of a personwhen they are ”dead“.

3. Since the main theme is to ”follow Jesus“,

the implication is that

most peoplewillnot“follow Jesus” when it comes to understanding theconditionof thedead.

4. The Bible clearly states thatJesusbelieved ”death”

to be like ”sleep“. When a person is”asleep” they have

no knowledge of anythingthat is going on around them.

5. The Bible writersagreewith Jesus and clearly state

that ”death” is like ”sleep” and that there is

“no knowledge,nor wisdomin thegrave“.

6. The Bible says that the ”spirit” is simply the “breath” and that the combination of ”breath” and ”body” make a

“living soul“.

7. The Bible says that ”nonecankeep alivehis ownsoul“. It also says that the”soul” that sinneth, it shalldie“.

Thus, theBibleteaches that ”souls” arenot immortal, but simplyliving peoplewho can lose thebreathof life anddie.

8. The Bible says that there isno differencebetween the way a ”beast” or a ”man”dies. Theyallhave “one breath” andallgo to the same place, thegrave.

148

9.Allthose that aredeadremain in theirgraves

until theresurrection day.

10. At the 2^ndComing of Jesus, “those that areChrist’s”

will be resurrected and given thegiftofimmortality.

11. Besides knowing the condition of man when he isPhysically dead, Jesus wanted us to know the

condition of man when he isSpiritually dead.

12. When a person is living insin, they are consideredSpiritually deadby God.

13. When a personrepentsof their sin and turns to God, through thegraceof God they areforgiven.

14. They areSpiritually”buried” with Jesus throughbaptismand theirsinsare ”washed away” andforgiven.

15. Then, they areSpiritually”made alive” by

resurrectionwith Jesus to aNew Lifefor Him.

149

150