Matthew 8

Following Jesus Is Costly

Matthew 8:20 “And Jesus said to him, “Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.”

Soon after Jesus taught the Sermon on the Mount, He went down the mountain and began to heal many people. The first 17 verses of this chapter are all about the many miraculous healing Jesus performed. He did this to fulfill the prophecy given in Isaiah 53:4 as we are told in verse 17.

After that Jesus runs into a scribe that was very eager to follow Jesus. He tells Jesus that he would follow Him wherever Jesus went. That seems like a worthy goal and ambition but in the end the scribe did not know what he was getting into. Jesus then faces the scribe with a harsh reality that might mess up the plans of the scribe in verse 20(quoted above). Scribes were among religious leaders of the time and were highly educated. They were typically teachers of the Law. I am sure they, like the Pharisees, enjoyed the finer things of life.

Jesus response then would have been very discouraging for the scribe to hear. Jesus basically says “look, I have fewer comforts in life than most wild animals. Foxes and birds have a better living situation than I do.” The message that Jesus was trying the get across to this scribe was that following Him would mean big sacrifices. And that is what Jesus is saying to us today.

I doubt anyone would say that following Jesus is the easiest thing they have ever done. In fact, most might say that it is the hardest thing they have ever done. Following Jesus is a hard life, but it is the best life. Following Jesus may mean that you have to give up some comfort in your life but Jesus promises Joy(not happiness) and peace to all who do. Many times, in an effort to bring more people to Christ, Christians will lie to people about what Jesus requires. They leave out the parts about sacrifice and persecution counting the cost and bearing your cross. Following Jesus is difficult. It requires sacrifice.

The next guy that Jesus ran into wanted to wait until his father had died to follow Jesus. Jesus’ response in verse 22 could be read “don’t wait, follow me now. Let the spiritually dead bury the physical dead.” There will always be an excuse to not follow Jesus completely. This “disciple” most likely wanted to wait because he knew he would not get his inheritance if he left. He also did not want to disappoint his father. What is your excuse? What is holding you back from completely surrendering to Jesus? Are you afraid of what it might cost you? The life that Jesus offers is a difficult life full of hardship, but it is the best life.