3 Obstacles to Following Christ: How Jesus’ Words Break Down Barriers to Salvation

“Follow me, and let the dead bury their own dead.”

“No one who puts a hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God.”

Some of Jesus’ statements grate on our Western ears. They offend our modern sensibilities. But these seemingly harsh responses from Jesus are actually loving Truths. When considered rightly, they expose the barriers that are keeping us from truly following Him—and receiving eternal, abundant life.

In Matthew 8:18-22 and Luke 9:57-62, Jesus addresses three people, revealing what is keeping these would-be followers from being thoroughly committed to Him—obstacles that still hinder many a soul today. To understand Christ’s words and not miss what He is saying to us today, we must first put the text in its context.

1. PERSONAL COMFORT

The first person mentioned in these two passages is a scribe, who declared, “I will follow you wherever you go” (Matthew 8:19; Luke 9:57). You might think, “Wow! Isn’t that wonderful?” And you’re not wrong. Scribes were closely connected with the Pharisees. They were highly educated—the authority on Jewish law and fiercely loyal to the religious system. They were teachers and leaders, not followers—so for this man to express a willingness to follow Jesus was a significant declaration of faith. He recognized the uniqueness of Christ—His miracles, healings, teaching, and life—and wanted to be associated with Him.

But Jesus knew that a strong profession does not always mean a strong commitment. So He replied, “Foxes have dens and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head” (Matthew 8:20; Luke 9:58). There is a room in Peter’s house in Israel where the Lord Jesus stayed many nights, and He stayed with Lazarus and his two sisters as well. But most of the time He slept under the stars in the open sky, communing with His Father. So Jesus is saying to this brilliant scholar, “Affirmations are easy to make. But your association with Me will cost you.” Jesus knew, as only He could, how fickle and self-centered human nature is.

People were attracted to Jesus during His earthly ministry in a variety of ways for a variety of reasons, whether His popularity or His miraculous healings and feedings. But Jesus always told them the Truth. For example, He alerted His disciples, “I am sending you out like sheep among wolves” (Matthew 10:16). What kind of motivational speech is that? And toward the end of His earthly ministry, He warned them, “They will put you out of the synagogue; in fact, the time is coming when anyone who kills you will think they are offering a service to God” (John 16:2). Jesus is not looking for warm bodies to fill the pews. Jesus is looking for people willing and ready to obey, no matter what. The scribe wanted the thrill of associating with Jesus but not the cost that goes with it; he was not willing to pay the price of his comfort.

2. PERSONAL WEALTH

The second person Jesus addresses in these passages is described as a disciple. He told Jesus, “I really, sincerely want to follow You, but I’ve got to go and bury my father first.” The average Westerner today would be offended at Jesus’ response: “Let the dead bury their own dead” (Matthew 8:22; Luke 9:60). They would think, “How harsh of Jesus to not let this man go and bury his father!” But in Middle Eastern and Jewish culture, this language does not mean the father is dead or dying. His father was not in ill health. In fact, Middle Eastern cultures all buried their dead immediately, within twenty-four hours. Neither is the disciple going to go spend time mourning his father.

The crux of the issue is that this disciple, like all men of his time, knew that if he left home before his father’s death—even if it took forty years for his father to die—he would miss out on the inheritance. He’s saying, “I’ve got to hang in there until I get my hands on my father’s estate. Then I’ll follow You, Jesus.”

This disciple’s earthly inheritance hindered him from receiving the eternal inheritance in Christ “that can never perish, spoil or fade” (1 Peter 1:4). He wanted to follow Jesus, but that was not his primary focus. He wanted to follow Jesus but only if it would cost him nothing. In fact, both these men—the scribe and the disciple—vanished as soon as they saw the price tag.

To be clear, you cannot buy your salvation; you cannot earn it. Salvation is a gift of God; it’s by faith alone, by grace alone. But once saved, we cannot serve God on the cheap. Jesus exhorts us, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me” (Matthew 16:24). We are called to identify with Jesus, to identify with His suffering, and follow Him every day.

3. PERSONAL RELATIONSHIPS

Luke tells us about a third man’s interaction with Jesus. This man said, “I will follow you, Lord; but first let me go back and say goodbye to my family” (Luke 9:61). You may be thinking, “Well, that’s just common courtesy. Why would Jesus be against this man doing right by his family?” First, God is not in the habit of asking people to walk out on their families.

As a matter of fact, the Bible says that if we do not provide for our family, we’re worse than unbelievers (see 1 Timothy 5:8). But Jesus saw the man’s divided loyalty and in love cautioned him, saying, “No one who puts a hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God” (Luke 9:62). As the saying goes: “You cannot plow a straight furrow when you are looking back.”

CHRIST IS WORTHY AND WE NEED SALVATION

One of the saddest things in America today is that we have churches filled with people who claim to be followers of Christ as long as it costs them nothing, as long as they can keep living for themselves, as long as they are not asked to repent. The problem with the three people who received tough love from Jesus was that they were drawing themselves to Jesus; they were not drawn by the Father. For whatever reason, they were attracted to Jesus, but they could not fully commit to Jesus. You see, you can admire Jesus and laud Him, but without a total commitment to Him, it’s all in vain. Jesus was clear that no one comes to the Father but through Him—that He is the only way (see John 14:6): “For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it. What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul?” (Matthew 16:25- 26). Coming to Jesus insisting on your own way is not Christianity. It is not really coming to Jesus at all.

Jesus spoke openly about the cost of following Him. When we hear His words, it can be tempting to live in fear. In fact, you might be terrified lest God ask you to give up something. But my friend, that’s not the Christian life. The Lord might never take away your money or your relationships. But all these things, and even life itself, must be willingly surrendered to Him every single day. If you are a disciple of Jesus Christ, you must place everything at His disposal. That’s the only secret to true blessing in life, for the life that Christ offers is abundant. The Christian life is one of transcendent peace and unquenchable joy. What greater gift can there be than the assurance of salvation secured by Jesus Christ? May we never lose our wonder at the promise of a resurrected life with Him. What a glorious eternity it will be as we revel in the presence of His glory, goodness, and love forever!