Matthew 8:19

A certain scribe. [The Privations of Discipleship, Matt. 8:19-22. See Middle Galilean Ministry.] In spite of the great apparent similarity of this passage to one in Luke (see Luke 9:57-62), it is practically certain that two separate and distinct occasions are referred to. Although Matthew does not follow a strictly chronological sequence, he has inserted this account of two men who volunteered to become disciples of Jesus within his account of the crossing of the lake (vs. 18, 23-27). It seems that the only reasonable conclusion is that the two volunteers approached Jesus at the close of the Sermon by the Sea (see on v. 18), as He prepared to cross to the other side of the lake.

The similar account in Luke appears in the record of Jesus’ final departure from Galilee for Jerusalem (see Luke 9:51, 57). It immediately precedes the account of the sending out of the Seventy to the cities and towns of Samaria and Peraea (see chs. 9:62; 10:1) and seems, therefore, to be closely associated with these events. It was in the late autumn of A.D. 30 that Jesus left Galilee for Jerusalem and Peraea (see on ch. 9:51). It should be noted, furthermore, that Jesus replied to Judas in words similar to those recorded in Matt. 8:19, 20, when he volunteered for discipleship during the summer of A.D. 29, several weeks prior to the Sermon by the Sea (see DA 293; 2SP 305, 306; see on Matt. 5:1). It may have been customary with Jesus to warn every volunteer disciple, as well as those whom He summoned personally, of the privations and sacrifices that accompanied discipleship, and that upon various occasions He used words similar to those recorded here.

Many attempts have been made to identify the “scribe” who now came to Jesus, but at best these are no more than useless guesses. Concerning the status of a scribe during the time of Jesus see on Mark 1:22. Being a man of culture, education, and station in life, a scribe would seemingly find the privations of the life of a disciple harder to endure than would fishermen, for example. See on Mark 2:10.

Master. Gr. didaskalos, “teacher” (see on ch. 12:38).

I will follow thee. This scribe was a volunteer, one who, in these words, applied for acceptance as a full-time disciple. Similarly, when Jesus said, “Follow me,” He extended an invitation to full-time discipleship (see on Matt. 4:19; Mark 2:14). Possibly the scribe had been a part-time follower, and had seen and heard enough to create in his heart a longing to be with the Master constantly and to learn of Him. It seems, however, that he was probably a temperamental individual, given to acting on impulse more than from principle, and that he had not fully counted the cost of discipleship (see Luke 14:25-33).

Whithersoever thou goest. Compare also the words of Ruth to Naomi (Ruth 1:16) and of Peter to Christ (Luke 22:33). In the case of the scribe, however, his words probably meant no more than the intention to become a permanent disciple. He lacked the fidelity of Ruth and reflected the fickleness of Peter (see on Mark 3:16). Discipleship calls for steadiness of purpose and patience in the face of difficulty and disappointment (see on Luke 9:62).