Luke 9:58

And Jesus said unto him, Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head.

EXPOSITORY (ENGLISH BIBLE)

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

9:57-62 Here is one that is forward to follow Christ, but seems to have been hasty and rash, and not to have counted the cost. If we mean to follow Christ, we must lay aside the thoughts of great things in the world. Let us not try to join the profession of Christianity, with seeking after worldly advantages. Here is another that seems resolved to follow Christ, but he begs a short delay. To this man Christ first gave the call; he said to him, Follow me. Religion teaches us to be kind and good, to show piety at home, and to requite our parents; but we must not make these an excuse for neglecting our duty to God. Here is another that is willing to follow Christ, but he must have a little time to talk with his friends about it, and to set in order his household affairs, and give directions concerning them. He seemed to have worldly concerns more upon his heart than he ought to have, and he was willing to enter into a temptation leading him from his purpose of following Christ. No one can do any business in a proper manner, if he is attending to other things. Those who begin with the work of God, must resolve to go on, or they will make nothing of it. Looking back, leads to drawing back, and drawing back is to perdition. He only that endures to the end shall be saved.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

See the notes at Matthew 8:19-22.

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

Lu 9:57-62. Incidents Illustrative of Discipleship.

The Precipitate Disciple (Lu 9:57, 58).

(See on [1618]Mt 8:19, 20.)

The Procrastinating Disciple (Lu 9:59, 60).

(See on [1619]Mt 8:21).

The Irresolute Disciple (Lu 9:61, 62).

Matthew Poole's Commentary

See Poole on "Luke 9:57"

Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

And Jesus said unto him, foxes have holes,.... Both the words of this man to Christ, and Christ's answer to him, are exactly the same as in Matthew, which makes it look as if it was the same history; though it is not improbable, that Christ might be accosted in the same manner by another person, at another time and place, and return a like answer to each; See Gill on Matthew 8:20.

Geneva Study Bible

And Jesus said unto him, Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head.

EXEGETICAL (ORIGINAL LANGUAGES)

Expositor's Greek Testament

Luke 9:58. This remarkable saying is given in identical terms by Mt. and Lk. Vide on Mt.

Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

58. Jesus said unto him] “In the man’s flaring enthusiasm He saw the smoke of egotistical self-deceit” (Lange), and therefore He coldly checked a proffered devotion which would not have stood the test.

nests] Rather, habitations, shelters. Birds do not live in nests. In this verse more than in any other we see the poverty and homelessness of the latter part of the Lord’s ministry (2 Corinthians 8:9). Perhaps St Luke placed the incident here as appropriate to the rejection of our Lord’s wish to rest for the night at En Gannim. Was this Scribe prepared to follow Jesus for His own sake alone?

Bengel's Gnomen

Luke 9:58. Οὐκ ἔχει, hath not) In Luke 9:53; Luke 9:56 an example occurs.

Luke 9:58

Vincent's Word Studies

Holes

See on Matthew 8:20.

Birds (πετεινὰ)

Strictly, flying fowl. The common word for bird in the New Testament. Ὄρνις, occurs Matthew 23:37; Luke 13:34; but both times in the sense of hen. See on Matthew 23:37. Ὄρνεον is found in Revelation 18:2; Revelation 19:17, Revelation 19:21; and πτηνόν, another form for the word in this passage, occurs 1 Corinthians 15:30.

Nests

See on Matthew 8:20.