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Mat_8:22. Τοὺς νεκροὺς … νεκρούς ] The first νεκρ . (not the second likewise, as Weisse improperly holds) denotes the spiritually dead (comp. on Mat_4:16, on Joh_5:21; Joh_5:25, and on Luk_15:24), who are without the spiritual life that comes through Christ. Origen in Cramer’s Catena: ψυχὴ ἐν κακίᾳ οὖσα νεκρά ἐστιν . The second literally; the dead belonging to their own circles. Fritzsche (comp. Kaeuffer, de not. ζωῆς αἰων . p. 34) interprets literally in both cases: let the dead bury themselves among one another, as a paradox by way of refusing the request. What a meaningless view of Jesus’ thoughtful way of putting it! The seeming harshness of Jesus’ reply (in answer to Weisse, Bruno Bauer) must be judged of by considering the necessity which he saw of decided and immediate separation, as compared with the danger of the contrary (Chrysostom); comp. Mat_10:37. Moreover, it is to be inferred from ἀκολούθει μοι . Comp. with Luk_9:60, that this μαθητής proceeded at once to follow the Lord, while that γραμματεύς of Mat_8:19 probably went away like the rich young man mentioned in Mat_19:22.