Veering off course ∙∙
Jesus said to him, “No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.” – Luke 9:62
Luke 9:57-62
57 As they were walking along, someone said to Jesus, “I will follow you wherever you go.”
58 But Jesus replied, “Foxes have dens to live in, and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place even to lay his head.”
59 He said to another person, “Come, follow me.” The man agreed, but he said, “Lord, first let me return home and bury my father.”
60 But Jesus told him, “Let the spiritually dead bury their own dead! Your duty is to go and preach about the Kingdom of God.”
61 Another said, “Yes, Lord, I will follow you, but first let me say goodbye to my family.”
62 But Jesus told him, “Anyone who puts a hand to the plow and then looks back is not fit for the Kingdom of God.”
The Korean Air Lines Flight 007, also known as KAL007, was a scheduled service from New York City to Seoul via Anchorage, Alaska. However, on September 1, 1983, it met a tragic end when a Soviet Su-15 interceptor shot it down. This unfortunate event occurred as a result of a navigational mistake by the KAL crew, causing the plane to stray from its scheduled path and wander into forbidden Soviet airspace at the same time a U.S. aerial reconnaissance mission was underway.
The aircraft, unidentified and perceived as a trespassing U.S. spy plane, was promptly annihilated with air-to-air missiles by the Soviet Air Forces. This catastrophic incident resulted in the loss of all 269 passengers and crew onboard.
This is a grim reminder that veering off course, not following the planned or intended route, can lead to serious unintended consequences, even death.
In Luke 9:57-62, three wannabee disciples approach the Lord Jesus Christ, seeking to follow him. One of them says, “I will follow you wherever you go” (Luke 9:57). He challenges each of them regarding the cost of following Him. It will not be easy or comfortable.
What does it mean to be a disciple? The idea is like being part of a team sport. It is one thing to be a spectator; it is another thing to be a participant. To be a team member, specific team requirements must be met. Rules must be followed, both on the field and off the field. We are disqualified from being part of the team if we violate the rules or do not meet the requirements.
But the Lord Jesus Christ is more than a coach; He is a King. There’s a big difference between being a child of the King and being a disciple of the King. Committing to follow the Lord Jesus Christ and becoming His disciple is exceptionally demanding. Putting the Lord Jesus Christ first ahead of home, family, and normal obligations is intense and often overwhelming.
The Lord Jesus Christ uses hyperbole to make His point. He is direct and blunt. The level of commitment appears unrealistic, even harsh. What is His point? Becoming a disciple and following the Lord Jesus Christ will cost many children of the King everything, including their own lives.
They may have nowhere to call home or even to sleep at night. They may not be able to take time off to bury their parents or even say goodbye to their families. In that way, they will be much like the Lord Jesus Christ. He was not at home in this world. His disciples will not be either.
How often do we make excuses for not being willing to follow him? Things such as family obligations and social customs. Discipleship involves the sacrifice of comfort and security, family ties, and familial affection. Even for the most casual observer, this is intense, radical, and over-the-top. Discipleship requires a single-minded unconditional commitment. Disciples cannot be double-minded. It is incumbent upon every child of the King to first count the cost.
REFLECT & PRAY
“The watchword of the kingdom is not ‘Backwards!’ but ‘Forwards’” (Barclay)!
Father I frequently succumb to poor choices and suffer unintended consequences. Forgive me and restore me.
INSIGHT
Rather than continuing to speak in generalities, the Lord Jesus Christ gets intensely personal, employing cutting, if not shocking terms.
Luke 9:62 No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.
What does this illustration mean? This analogy might not resonate with you if you are from a big city. But the significance is obvious if you have ever tilled a garden or plowed a field. To till a plot of ground properly, you must fix your eyes firmly on an object straight ahead of you and consistently move in that direction. Looking away, even a momentary distraction, can result in a slight, unintended deviation, which results in veering off course.
“The image is graphic, for who can plow straight ahead toward a goal while looking back?” (NET notes). If this seems a bit harsh, it’s because it is. But there is a vast difference between entering the kingdom of God by faith and walking daily with the King, the Lord Jesus Christ, day by day.
Using an illustration from a well-known, ordinary, everyday agricultural task, the Lord Jesus Christ explains what it takes to be a disciple. Being a disciple is different from being a child of the King. It involves demanding work, discipline, dedication, and focus. It is similar to plowing. The farmer who does not concentrate on plowing is not a fit farmer. Similarly, a disciple who lets life’s distractions interfere with their responsibilities as a disciple isn’t fit to serve the King (Constable).
The Greek word translated as fit is euthetos. Euthetos is literally “well-placed.” It has the sense of meeting adequate standards for purpose. It is derived from eú – good, well, and títhēmi– to place, set. The New Testament translates it as fit, meet, or proper. By implication, it means useful (Hebrews 6:7).
When we choose to become a disciple and follow the King, it requires unwavering focus. Disciples cannot be indecisive or double-minded. To be fit for the kingdom of God is to be able and qualified to serve under the King’s rule. “The kingdom has no room for those who look back when they are called to go forward” (Morris).
Unless we focus and purpose to do what is right, it is easy to miss the mark. We must not look back when we are trying to go forward.
Regrettably, this is what happens to many children of the King. They pledge to follow faithfully, but they fail to follow through. Why? Because their hearts are stuck in the past. They are repeatedly looking backward. They constantly look backward, either regretting their past lives or nostalgically reminiscing about “the good old days” even as they attempt to advance.
When we choose to enter the kingdom of God, we become a child of the King. The kingdom of God is the realm in which the Lord Jesus Christ rules and reigns. He is the sovereign monarch and requires obedience and loyalty from His subjects. To serve Him, we must obey Him.
This passage is not about salvation but rather serving the King in this life. “The expression not ‘fit for the kingdom’ does not refer to salvation but to service. It is not at all a question of entrance into the kingdom but of service in the kingdom after entering it” (MacDonald).
¯\_(ツ)_/¯ 10-21-1
© Dr. H 2024
Dr H Reflections 