{Leave the dead to bury their own dead} (aphes tous nekrous
thapsai tous heaut(936e) nekrous). This paradox occurs so in  Mt
8:22 . The explanation is that the spiritually dead can bury the
literally dead. For such a quick change in the use of the same
words see  Joh 5:21-29  (spiritual resurrection from sin in  Joh
5:21-27 , bodily resurrection from the grave,  Joh 5:28,29 ) and
 Joh 11:25f . The harshness of this proverb to the scribe
probably is due to the fact that he was manifestly using his aged
father as an excuse for not giving Christ active service. {But go
thou and publish abroad the kingdom of God} (su de apelth(936e)
diaggelle t(886e) basileian tou theou). The scribe's duty is put
sharply (But do thou, su de). Christ called him to preach, and
he was using pious phrases about his father as a pretext. Many a
preacher has had to face a similar delicate problem of duty to
father, mother, brothers, sisters and the call to preach. This
was a clear case. Jesus will help any man called to preach to see
his duty. Certainly Jesus does not advocate renunciation of
family duties on the part of preachers.