Bible Study Devotional – Day 232 – Commentary Luke 9:59-60 – Should we make up excuses?

He said to another man, “Follow me.” But he replied, “Lord, first let me go and bury my father.” Jesus said to him, “Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and proclaim the kingdom of God.” (Luke 9:59-60)

When I was in high school, a friend from my youth group asked me out. He was like a brother, so I didn’t want to go out with him. Yet, I didn’t want to hurt his feelings. I made up an excuse. He asked me out again, so I had to tell him the truth. I wasted a lot of time worrying and thinking of an excuse. I learned that making excuses isn’t honest. 

Jesus knows the truth and knows when we’re making excuses. The second would-be follower makes an excuse not to follow Jesus. If his father had passed, the man would’ve been home mourning and preparing for the funeral, and Jesus wouldn’t have been so harsh. Perhaps this man is looking into the future and wants to be there for his father if he incurs a debilitating illness. But being paralyzed with fear about the future, makes us dead to the present. Those dead bury themselves by making excuses to the all-knowing Jesus. Jesus realizes that following Him is not always easy. Even though the man made excuses, Jesus still loved Him and wanted Him to follow.

Heavenly Father, Nudge me when I worry about the future and give me Your power to be alive in the present. Counsel me to make the right decisions, and let me be honest, without excuses, when I respond so I can proclaim Your kingdom. Even though I’m not perfect, thank you for loving me enough to want to follow you. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.

Bible Study Devotional – Day 232 – Commentary Luke 9:59-60 – Should we make up excuses?

4 thoughts on “Bible Study Devotional – Day 232 – Commentary Luke 9:59-60 – Should we make up excuses?

  1. Most excuses are bad excuses and are not truthful. I have made excuses for myself that were truthful though, I can’t come to your party because I have other plans. If it is the truth, is it called an excuse?

    1. That’s a good point. I think sometimes it is called an excuse because people will say she had a good excuse for not coming. However, what good excuse is there for not following Jesus?

  2. There are many excuses for not following Jesus. People are so different, they are raised differently, they have had many bad experiences, they have illness that they don’t understand. There are a lot of reasons that people do not follow Jesus, we could fill a whole page, I’m sure. We are not supposed to judge. I feel that someone who does not believe will have there time to believe and understand. That will happen after death. They will meet Jesus and make a choice.

    1. Thanks for your comment. I reread my post and changed it. Even though the man made excuses, Jesus still loved the man and wanted him to follow. Thanks for pointing that out. Jesus realizes that people are raised differently. I loved your comment!

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