Jesus said to him, “Follow me, and let the dead bury their own dead.”
In this passage Jesus responds to the disciple’s request by indicating that following Him must be the first priority. The phrase “Let the dead bury their dead” strikingly shows that Jesus calls a person to leave behind worldly duties, even very important ones, that can delay or hinder devotion to the kingdom of God. These words clearly emphasize that spiritual life and following Jesus take precedence over any other obligation, even family ones. The dead can symbolize those who are spiritually dead, and they should be left to occupy themselves with worldly matters, while following Jesus and full dedication means giving priority to the spiritual path. Jesus does not belittle family responsibilities, but He emphasizes that the work of the kingdom of God and being connected with Him must take precedence even over very important family obligations.