What Does "Let the Dead Bury Their Dead" Mean? In Context

A friend once shared a difficult experience he encountered in the ministry. It was a story of conflict and expectation, but one specific moment grabbed my attention: the invocation of the saying, “Let the dead bury their dead.”

​It is one of the "hard sayings" of Jesus, a phrase that sounds harsh to modern ears and, frankly, quite confusing.

​As we delved into the conversation, I found myself asking: What does this saying actually mean? Was Jesus being dismissive of grief, or was He pointing to something deeper? And most importantly, is it ever the right thing to say to someone who has just lost a loved one?

​In this study, we will explore the biblical context of the verse, uncover its true meaning, and discuss the delicate balance between radical discipleship and human empathy.

​The "Let the Dead Bury Their Dead" Verse in Scripture

​The phrase appears in two of the Gospels: Matthew and Luke. While the core message is identical, the surrounding context offers slightly different details.

​Matthew 8:22 (KJV):

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

 

​Luke 9:60 (KJV):

​“Jesus said unto him, Let the dead bury their dead: but go thou and preach the kingdom of God.”

 

​The Tale of Two Gospels

​While both Matthew and Luke record this interaction, they place it in different settings:

1. ​Matthew’s Account (The Test of Discipleship): Matthew places this event just before Jesus calms the storm. He frames it as a departure from the crowds. He presents two interactions: a scribe who promises to follow Jesus anywhere, and a disciple who asks to bury his father first.
2. ​Luke’s Account (Exacting Discipleship): Luke places this event during a journey through Samaria, after Jesus was rejected by a village. Luke records three interactions: a certain man, the man who lost his father, and a third man who wanted to say farewell to his family.

​Crucially, Luke adds a command that Matthew omits: "but go thou and preach the kingdom of God." This addition shifts the focus from merely leaving the dead behind to the active, urgent mission of the Kingdom.

​What Does "Let the Dead Bury Their Dead" Mean?

​To understand this verse, we must look beyond the surface. The header in the NASB for this section is "Discipleship Test," which gives us a clue. This wasn't just about a funeral; it was about priority.

​1. The Spiritual Meaning

​The most common and authoritative interpretation is that Jesus is using a play on words. He is saying: "Let the [spiritually] dead bury the [physically] dead."

​In this context, the "spiritually dead" are those who have not received the life of the Kingdom, those entangled solely in the affairs of this world. Jesus was highlighting that the call to preach the Gospel is a call to life, and it takes precedence over the rituals of the dead.

​2. The Cultural Context (Was the Father Dead Yet?)

​There is a significant scholarly view that adds weight to this story. In Jewish culture of that time, burial happened almost immediately, often on the same day. If the man’s father had just died, the man would likely be at home mourning, not out in the crowd debating with a Rabbi.

​Therefore, many scholars suggest the man was saying, "Lord, let me wait until my father eventually dies and I settle his estate, and then I will follow you." In this light, Jesus isn't forbidding a funeral; He is forbidding indefinite procrastination. He is challenging the man’s desire to delay discipleship until a more "convenient" season.

​Is It the Right Thing to Say Today?

​This brings us to the modern application. I mentioned a friend of mine earlier, a young preacher of the Gospel.

​When his father passed away, he requested time off from his employer, a prominent minister, to be with his family. The minister refused the request, quoting this very verse: “Let the dead bury the dead.”

​The young man was hurt, and rightfully so. He eventually left that ministry to be with his grieving family.

​A Misapplication of Scripture?

​This scenario forces us to ask: Did the employer apply this verse correctly?

​If the employer’s goal was to show "radical faith," he may have succeeded in his own eyes. However, by using this verse to block a son from mourning his father, he risks fulfilling the prophecy of "turning family members against each other," not for the sake of the Gospel, but for the sake of organizational control.

​While Jesus demands that He comes first, even before family (Luke 14:26), Scripture also commands believers to care for their households. 1 Timothy 5:8 warns, “But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel.”

​The Verdict

​There is a profound difference between Jesus, the Lord of Life, calling a man to urgent ministry, and a human employer using Jesus’ words to deny a subordinate the dignity of grief.

​Using "Let the dead bury their dead" as a weapon to strip away empathy is dangerous. It paints God as a being who cares nothing for our loss, which contradicts the Jesus who wept at the tomb of Lazarus.

​True discipleship is about priority, not negligence. We must strike a balance. We follow Christ above all else, but we must be careful not to use His "hard sayings" as an excuse to be hard-hearted.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) ​What is the spiritual meaning of "Let the dead bury their dead"? Jesus used this phrase as a metaphor. He was telling the "spiritually dead" (those focused only on worldly affairs) to bury the "physically dead." It is a call to prioritize the eternal life of the Gospel over temporary earthly obligations. ​What is the difference between Matthew 8:22 and Luke 9:60? Both verses contain the saying, but the context differs. Matthew frames it as a test of discipleship before crossing the sea. Luke places it on the road to Jerusalem and adds a critical command: "but go thou and preach the kingdom of God," emphasizing active mission over passive following. ​Does "Let the dead bury their dead" mean Christians shouldn't attend funerals? No. This was a specific command to one individual regarding procrastination, not a universal ban on funerals. The Bible encourages believers to "weep with those who weep" (Romans 12:15). Jesus Himself attended to the dead and wept for Lazarus. ​Was the father already dead in the "Let the dead bury their dead" story? Most scholars believe the father had not died yet. In Jewish culture, burial happened immediately. If the father were dead, the son would be mourning at home. It is likely the son was asking to delay following Jesus until his father passed away in the future, which Jesus identified as an excuse. ​How do I explain "Let the dead bury their dead" to someone grieving? Explain that Jesus was not being cruel; He was highlighting the urgency of salvation. For a grieving person today, the verse is a reminder that while we honor our loved ones, our ultimate hope and priority must remain in the Life that Jesus offers, not in the finality of death.