Verse of Scripture
A scribe then approached and said, “Teacher, 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.”
Matthew 8:19-20
Reflection
As Jesus began his ministry, many became intrigued by this itinerant rabbi. His ministry was marked by powerful teaching, physical healings, and claims to an authority greater than the Jewish religious leaders and Roman occupiers. Is this the Messiah that was promised? Would he overthrow the oppressors and restore the Promised Land? While we don’t know how the scribe in this passage would answer these questions, it is clear he is convinced that this Nazirite has authority worth following. He lets Jesus know that he will follow him anywhere.
Jesus’ response appears unexpected. Praise is not given for this claim to devotion. There are no affirmations that the scribe has made the right decision. Rather, Jesus states that even though the animals of the earth have places to call home, he has nowhere to lay his head. Later in this passage, Jesus challenges a potential disciple to ignore burying his parents (a way to bring honor to the dead) and says, “let the dead bury their own dead”.
As Jesus’ response to the scribe and to the grieving son reveals, being a disciple of Jesus means sacrificing worldly ideas of what it means to belong. This is not to say that following Jesus entails homelessness or neglecting family responsibilities. In fact, Paul states that those who do not care for their families are worse than unbelievers. What it does mean is that belonging to the kingdom of God transcends any earthly understanding. In essence, what is being said is “Do not get too comfortable. What is promised is much greater than this.”
Throughout Christian history and in present day, there are people across the globe who have had to flee their homes because of their allegiance to Jesus. In a deeply tragic way, these members of the universal church have experienced the fragility of what it means to exist in a world that experiences the individual and societal effects of sin. And yet, even amid the difficult realities of displacement, their commitment to Jesus and his kingdom allows them solace in an uncertain world. This is not to excuse the great injustices these faithful witnesses have experienced. Rather, it is to say that we have much to learn from refugees who have experienced in a real way the truth Jesus is teaching in this passage about following a God that continually interrogates our worldly perceptions of what it means to belong.
Question for Thought
How does the response to the scribe in Matthew 8:19-20 challenge conventional ideas about comfort and belonging in the kingdom of God?
In what ways does Jesus’ statement in Matthew 8:20 highlight the contrast between worldly desires and the values of the kingdom of God?
Where do you look for a sense of belonging? Do you first go to the feet of Jesus or do you look to worldly standards to feel that you belong?
Prayer Prompt
Jesus, thank you for this reminder that my allegiance to your kingdom is greater than worldly understandings of belonging.
Continued Scripture Reading
Luke 9:57-62
Austin Donahoo is the Senior Advocacy Specialist for World Relief Upstate SC. In his role, he aims to educate church and community leaders about the biblical call to love their neighbors well and how they can fulfill this calling in tangible ways. He has a degree in Christian Ministry from North Greenville University and is currently pursuing his Master of Divinity at Duke Divinity School. In his spare time, he enjoys being with his family and staying involved in his local church. Austin loves specialty coffee, books, and Chick-fil-A. He is passionate about Christian theology, advocacy, and public policy.