And a certain scribe came, and said unto him, Teacher, I will follow you wherever you go.
All Commentaries on Matthew 8:19 Go To Matthew 8
John Chrysostom
AD 407
He does not openly convict those who were up to mischief. He replies to their secret thoughts, leaving it to themselves only to know they are convicted. … These were not the words of one who was turning his back on the scribe but rather of one who was making clear to the scribe his own proud disposition, even while yet permitting him, if he were willing to proceed, to follow him. After the scribe had heard Jesus’ convicting response and had been proven to be wholly unready for it, he did not then proceed to say, “I am ready to follow you.” Similarly there are many other places where Christ made this sort of subtle response. The Gospel of Matthew, Homily
