Matthew 8:18-22 - The Cost of Following Jesus

Have you ever made a commitment only to regret it later?

Maybe it was a gym membership, a diet plan, a business partnership, a relationship, a bet, a religion, an oath, we’ve all been there. 

What looked good at the moment and seemed amazing left us regretting the cost of such an action.  We realized the price we paid was not equal to the value we received, many times causing us to compromise our values. We were regret our yes.

The best investment, the greatest yes, the best decision I ever made was to say YES to Jesus. Today’s message shows us two examples of would-be disciples. Both express interest in following Jesus. But instead of Jesus telling them “let’s go”, and welcoming them to His ever-enlarging group of followers, Jesus does something surprising—He responds to them lovingly with hard truth.

Why? Because following Jesus is not a casual commitment. 

It’s costly. It’s sacrificial. It’s everything. It’s all in. and IT IS AWESOME. MIserable Christianity is when you have one foot in your kingdom and one foot trying to be in His. He has already told us this over and over, some will call me Lord, Lord but I don’t them. You can’t serve yourself and Jesus…back to the infamous dog chasing two balls…you gotta choose which ball you are going after. 

Matthew 8:18–22

18 Now when Jesus saw a crowd around him, he gave orders to go over to the other side.
19 And a scribe came up and said to him, “Teacher, I will follow you wherever you go.”
20 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.”
21 Another of the disciples said to him, “Lord, let me first go and bury my father.”
22 And Jesus said to him, “Follow me, and leave the dead to bury their own dead.”