Matthew 8:21

And another of his disciples, said.

One who recognized him as. great and wonderful teacher and was anxious to learn of him, but had not yet learned to give up all for him.

Suffer me first to go and bury my father.

There are two views. 1. That his father was already dead and he wished only to attend the funeral and properly observe the last rites. If this view is correct the Savior meant to teach by this lesson, not that we should be wanting in respect to our parents, but that no earthly duty must be permitted to come into conflict with duty to himself. The duty to the Lord is higher than any earthly duty and when one has to yield to the other it must be the lower one. 2. The view is also held that the disciple asked that he might be permitted to remain at home until his father's death and burial and then follow Christ. This is the more probable view. It was. case of "loving father or mother more than me." Probably the person next mentioned, who was. disciple, (Matthew 8:21), while he professed so much duty toward his deceased father, was rather looking to his share in the patrimony, and was actuated by the love of money, as the other by the love of worldly advancement.-- J. Ford.