Luke 9 :61-62 Commentary

[lwest]

"And another said, “I will follow you, Lord, but first let me say farewell to my family at home.”
Jesus said, “No one who sets a hand to the plow and looks to what was left behind is fit for the kingdom of God.”

Has anyone heard a commentary on this? Because it seems to imply that Our Lord says it’s ok to walk out on our families and our responsibilities to serve Him…without even telling our families where we are going.

 

[Fauken]

Haydock’s Commentary:

" Ver. 62. Putting his hand to the plough. A proverb and metaphor, to signify that nothing must hinder a man from God’s service. Wi. — Christ seems here to allude to the call of Eliseus by Elias. The former was at the plough, and the latter called him. Immediately Eliseus quits his plough, runs with Elias’s permission to bid adieu to his father and mother, sacrifices two of his oxen, roasts them with the wood of the plough, and joins the company of the prophets. Jesus Christ wishes that all who follow him, should in like manner think of nothing else. Calmet."

Catena Aurea:

"AUG. Our Lord spoke this to the man to whom He had said, Follow me. But another disciple put himself forward, to whom no one had spoken any thing, saying, I will follow you, O Lord; but let me first go and bid them farewell who are at home, lest perchance they look for me as they are wont.

CYRIL; Now this promise is worthy of our admiration and full of all praise, but to bid farewell to those who are at home, to get leave from them, shows that he was still somehow divided from the Lord, in that he had not yet resolved to make this venture with his whole heart. For to wish to consult relations who would not agree to his proposal because one somewhat wavering. Wherefore our Lord condemns this, saying, No man, having put his hand to the plough and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God. He puts his hand to the plough who is ambitious to follow, yet looks back again who seeks an excuse for delay in returning home, and consulting with his friends.

AUG. As if he said to him, The East calls you, and you turn to the West.

THEOPHYL: To put one’s hand to the plough, is also, (as it were by a certain sharp instrument,) by the wood and iron of our Lord’s passion, to wear away the hardness of our heart, and to open it to bring forth the fruits of good works. But if any one, having begun to exercise this, delights to look back with Lot’s wife to the things which he had left, he is deprived of the gift of the kingdom to come.

GREEK EX. For the frequent looking upon the things which we have forsaken, through the force of habit draws us back to our past way of life. For practice has great power to retain to itself. Is not habit generated of use, and nature of habit? But to get rid of or change nature is difficult; for although when compelled it for a while turns aside, it very rapidly returns to itself.

THEOPHYL; But if the disciple about to follow our Lord is reproved for wishing even to bid farewell at home, what will be done to such as for no advantage-sake frequently visit the houses of those whom they have left in the world?"

 

[lwest]

Thank you for that. In the comparison to Elisha, though…Elisha DID go back and tell his family good-bye…he even had a good-bye party with them. Of course, he killed the very oxen they needed to make a living so I really don’t know what that was all about. But I get the commentary that maybe this man’s heart was still divided and maybe he didn’t want to just bid farewell to his family but to receive their approval and agreement to following Jesus.