Luke 9:61

Let me first go. This excuse implies hesitancy and indecision, perhaps even unwillingness to make the sacrifice required of disciples.

Bid them farewell. This involved more than a brief return home. According to Oriental custom it might take months or even years to arrange matters at home. There were only about six months of Jesus’ ministry left, and if this prospective disciple ever planned to follow Jesus, he had best do so without delay. In a short time it would be too late. He now proposed leaving Jesus in order to take leave of all his old friends, and they might prevail upon him not to return to Jesus. The claims of God take precedence over those of men, even of close relatives (see Matt. 12:48, 49; 19:29). Perhaps the man wanted to take one more fling at life before forsaking it all to follow Jesus. The circumstances were far different here from what they were when Elisha was called to follow Elijah. Elisha’s response was immediate; his delay to take leave of his parents was only momentary (see on 1 Kings 19:20).

Which are at home at my house. His relatives might attempt to dissuade him, even as Jesus’ mother and brothers had sought to turn Him aside from the path of duty (see on Matt. 12:46).