Matthew 8:22, “But Jesus said to him, “Follow me, and let the dead bury their own dead.”
Let the dead bury their own, what does this even mean? The dead are completely incapable of completing this task, so what is God referring to in this verse? The Matthew Henry’s Commentary (*reference below) tells us we are employed by Christ and that service should not be neglected. Our writer, (Juan Huertas) suggest that the dead can always be the “dead things” in our lives. For example the internal narratives in our lives that defeat us long before we get started on things, as well as stories and experiences that have shaped our lives but are no longer valid or true. These things are heavy burdensome piles of lifelessness need to be left behind to fully and faithful follow Jesus. Let them go and bury themselves.
Today’s challenge is to think about the dead things in your life, your families, your communities, the things we can not fix and should no longer be carrying around. These things are literally “dead weight” they encumber us and cause pain, they serve only to separate us from the fullness of God.
What are some “dead” things in your life?
What stands in the way of following Jesus completely?
Can you surrender them to God and simply “Let Go and Let God”?
Friends, brothers and sisters in Christ, prayerfully take your cares to God and trust in his love for you and your life. You are in my thoughts and prayers as you persevere through discernment this Lenten Season!
6 Bible Verses to Let Go And Let God
• Commit your work to the Lord, and your plans will be established. -Proverbs 16:3
• The Lord will fight for you, and you have only to keep still. -Exodus 14:14
• Cast all your anxiety on him, because he cares for you. -1 Peter 5:7
• When the righteous cry for help, the Lord hears, and rescues them from all their troubles. -Psalm 34:14
• You are altogether beautiful, my love; there is no flaw in you. -Song of Solomon 4:7
• But you, take courage! Do not let your hands be weak, for your work shall be rewarded.” -2 Chronicles 15:7
Breath Prayer: Lord of Life,…let the dead bury the dead.
~Peace~
References:
https://www.biblestudytools.com/commentaries/matthew-henry-complete/matthew/8.html
Matthew Henry Commentary-Matthew 8:22. “His excuse is laid aside as insufficient; Let the dead bury their dead. It is a proverbial expression; “Let one dead man bury another: rather let them lie unburied, than that the service of Christ should be neglected. Let the deadspiritually bury the dead corporally; let worldly offices be left to worldly people; do not thou encumber thyself with them. Burying the dead, and especially a dead father, is a good work, but it is not thy work at this time: it may be done as well by others, that are not called and qualified, as thou art, to be employed for Christ; thou hast something else to do, and must not defer that.’’ Note, Piety to God must be preferred before piety to parents, though that is a great and needful part of our religion. The Nazarites, under the law, were not to mourn for their own parents, because they were holy to the Lord (Num. 6:6-8 ); nor was the high priest to defile himself for the dead, no, not for his own father,”
https://www.theodysseyonline.com/just-let-go-and-let-god
HOPE SEEKER 
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