마태복음 8:21-22에 나타난 제자의 장례 요청 거부와 예수를 따르는 길

Jesus' Rejection of Burial in Matthew 8:21-22 and the Way of Following Jesus

This research aims to study Matthew 8:21-22, which is Jesus' rejection of his disciple's request to attend to the burial of his father. This paper investigates the various interpretations of this text: The so called majority interpretation of attempting to spiritualize the dead; the cultural approach to the dead as a person advanced in age; a historical explanation based on the second burial practice; a command of antisocial behavior by the Prophet judging the disobeying people of God; and a commandment due to the Nazarites' oath. In order to understand the message of the text properly, it is necessary to explore the text in the context of various ancient Hellenistic and Jewish traditions. The message of the text is clear. The call by Jesus of the disciples precedes any social taboos and religious commandments; however, it is not necessary to understand the text in its literal sense. It is surely a hyperbole, as is to gouge an eye or cut off the right hand when sinning. In early Christianity, we have no evidence that they kept this saying of Jesus in a literal sense. The Roman government of the time also never accused Christians regarding the rejection of the parents' proper burial. The words of Matthew 8:21-22 emphasize the absolute importance of following Jesus at any cost in a hyperbolic manner.