Luke 9:61 (KJV)

What does Luke 9:61 mean?

Luke 9:61 describes a person telling Jesus that he wants to follow Him, but first asks for permission to say goodbye to his family at home. The verse shows someone expressing willingness to be a disciple, yet also wanting to take care of personal matters before fully committing.

In this scene, another person approaches Jesus and calls Him "Lord," offering to become His follower. However, the man adds a condition: he wants to return home to bid farewell to those in his house. This moment highlights the tension between the desire to follow Jesus and the pull of family ties or unfinished business.

The Greek behind Luke 9:61

• The word "farewell" is ἀποτάξασθαι (apotaxasthai), which means to take leave of or say goodbye. This word carries the sense of formally parting from someone, not just a casual goodbye, suggesting the man wanted to properly close things at home before following Jesus.
• The word "first" is πρῶτον (prōton), meaning "first" or "before anything else." This shows the man is placing his family farewell as a priority over immediately following Jesus, which is significant in the context of discipleship.
• The word "Lord" is κύριε (kyrie), a respectful title meaning "master" or "sir." By using this term, the speaker acknowledges Jesus' authority, yet still tries to set his own terms for following.

Why Luke 9:61 matters

• Luke 9:61 reveals the real-life challenges people face when deciding to follow Jesus, especially the pull of family obligations or personal priorities.
• The verse connects to the wider passage, where Jesus is teaching about the cost and urgency of discipleship, showing that following Him may require putting Him above all other commitments.
• This verse helps clear up the idea that good intentions alone are enough; it shows that Jesus calls for a wholehearted and immediate response, not one delayed by other concerns.