In Luke 9:57–62, Jesus challenges would-be followers who hesitate with excuses—whether comfort, family duties, or other priorities—and reminds them that discipleship is costly and urgent. His words may sound harsh, but they press us to see that there will always be reasons to delay obedience, and following him must come before everything else. Like choosing our highest priority in life, we’re called to put Christ first, trusting that everything else flows from that decision. The call of Jesus isn’t “later”—it’s always now.

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Good morning! It’s good to be with you on this Tuesday as we continue our journey through Luke. I hope you’re doing well today. It’s always a blessing to study God’s Word together each morning.

Today we finish out Luke 9, reading verses 57–62:

“As they were going along the road, someone said to him, ‘I will follow you wherever you go.’ 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.’ To another he said, ‘Follow me.’ But he said, ‘Lord, first let me go and bury my father.’ But Jesus said to him, ‘Let the dead bury their own dead; but as for you, go and proclaim the kingdom of God.’ Another said, ‘I will follow you, Lord; but let me first say farewell to those at my home.’ Jesus said to him, ‘No one who puts a hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.’”

These are some of Jesus’ harder words. They feel harsh, don’t they? But let’s look closely.

First, someone comes to Jesus and says, “I’ll follow you wherever you go.” Jesus responds, in essence: Are you sure? This is not going to be easy. He reminds him that while animals have places to rest, the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head. Following Jesus isn’t glamorous or comfortable—it’s a challenge.

Then another man is invited to follow. He replies, “First let me bury my father.” At first glance, Jesus’ response—“Let the dead bury their own dead”—sounds incredibly harsh. But in that culture, it wasn’t about an immediate funeral. He was saying, “I need to wait until my father passes, and then I’ll fulfill my duties as a son before I follow you.” In other words: Not yet, Jesus. Later.

Finally, another says, “I’ll follow you, Lord, but let me first say goodbye to everyone at home.” Jesus replies that no one who puts a hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom.

What’s going on here? I think Jesus is pointing us to the reality that there will always be excuses—some of them very legitimate. There will always be reasons why we don’t pray more, read more, serve more, or step out in faith. Sometimes the excuses are practical, like family responsibilities. Sometimes, if we’re honest, the excuse is simply that we don’t feel like it. Either way, excuses are always available if we’re looking for them.

I think about the way I talk with our confirmation students. Before they join the church, I tell them I’ll try to talk them out of it—not because I don’t want them to join, but because I want them to really own the decision. I don’t want them to join just because their parents want them to, or because their friends are. I want them to know the cost, to be thoughtful, to be intentional. That’s what Jesus is doing here. He’s saying: Are you serious about following me? Because it won’t always be easy, and it won’t always be convenient.

Years ago, I was in a workshop where we had to list our top ten priorities and slowly narrow them down to just one. I chose “loving my wife,” because I believed everything else in my life flowed from that—how I parented, how I lived, how I served. But the exercise convicted me, because in the middle of all my lists, I realized I hadn’t even written down “loving God.” Even as a preacher, I had gotten my priorities out of order.

That’s what this passage is about: priorities. Jesus doesn’t deny that family matters, or that responsibilities matter. But he does insist that following him must come first. Otherwise, we’ll always find a reason to put it off.

So today, let me encourage you to ask: What is God calling you to do right now? What step of faith is he inviting you to take? And what excuses—legitimate or not—are you putting in the way?

There will always be reasons to wait. But the call of Jesus is now.

Thanks for joining me today. Tomorrow we’ll turn the page to Luke chapter 10. Have a wonderful Tuesday, and may God give you grace to keep him as your first priority.