New Testament
Luke 9:59
The Clear Bible Translation matches the King James Version, written at a 10th-grade reading level in plain English
At a Glance
In this verse, Jesus calls a man to follow Him, but the man hesitates, asking to first bury his father.
- Author
- Luke the physician
- Written
- Around AD 60-62
- Genre
- Gospel and history
- Original Audience
- Gentile Christians (addressed to Theophilus)
To another man he said, "Follow me." But the man replied, "Lord, let me go home first and bury my father."
And he said unto another, Follow me. But he said, Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my father.
Verse Analysis
Plain-English insight for readers
In this verse, Jesus calls a man to follow Him, but the man hesitates, asking to first bury his father. This response highlights the tension between earthly responsibilities and the call to discipleship. Jesus emphasizes that following Him requires prioritizing spiritual commitments over familial obligations. The man's request to delay his commitment reflects a common struggle: wanting to fulfill personal duties before fully engaging in a spiritual journey. Jesus' response, though not recorded in this verse, suggests that the call to follow Him is urgent and should take precedence over even the most significant life events. This interaction illustrates the radical nature of discipleship, where followers must be willing to leave behind their past and immediate concerns to embrace a new life in Christ. It challenges believers to evaluate their priorities and consider what might be holding them back from fully committing to their faith.
Related Bible verses
How to apply Luke 9:59 to your life
This verse encourages us to reflect on our own priorities. Are there things in our lives that we place above our commitment to follow Christ? It challenges us to consider how we can better align our daily choices with our spiritual calling, ensuring that we do not let earthly concerns hinder our relationship with God.
Curated for this public verse page. Luke Summary
Frequently Asked Questions
Quick, clear answers about this verse
What does Luke 9:59 mean?
In Luke 9:59, Jesus calls a man to follow Him, but the man hesitates, asking to bury his father first. This highlights the conflict between earthly responsibilities and the urgent call to discipleship.
What is the significance of burying one's father in Luke 9:59?
The request to bury his father symbolizes the man's attachment to family obligations, illustrating the challenge of prioritizing spiritual commitments over personal duties.
What does Jesus teach about priorities in Luke 9:59?
Jesus teaches that following Him requires placing spiritual commitments above all else, even significant life events like family obligations.
How does Luke 9:59 relate to discipleship?
This verse emphasizes that true discipleship involves a willingness to leave behind past concerns and fully commit to following Christ without delay.

The Book of Luke
Luke 1: The Births of John the Baptist and Jesus Foretold
In the days of Herod, king of Judaea, a priest named Zacharias serves in the temple. He and his wife Elisabeth are both righteous but have no children because Elisabeth is barren, and they are both old. While Zacharias burns incense, the angel Gabriel appears to him and says Elisabeth will bear a son who is to be named John. The child will be great before the Lord, will drink no wine or strong drink, and will be filled with the Holy Ghost from his mother's womb. He will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God. Zacharias asks how he can know this, since he and his wife are old. Gabriel says Zacharias will be unable to speak until these things come to pass because he did not believe.
Unlock the full Luke summary
Continue reading every chapter — themes, structure, and turning points.
The complete summary of Luke — a chapter-by-chapter breakdown covering all 24 chapters.
What you get
Every chapter of Luke summarized in clear, modern English
How each section connects — narrative flow, key themes, and turning points
Permanent access — read anytime, on any device
Best value • Save over 90%
One-time purchase • Access anytime
ClearBible summaries are proprietary content and may not be copied, republished, or resold.
Checkout works as a guest. After payment, you create an account to claim your unlock.