The Evil of Looking Back
T. Manton, D. D. Luke 9:61-62 And another also said, Lord, I will follow you; but let me first go bid them farewell, which are at home at my house.… This man offered himself, but his heart was not sufficiently loosened from the world. 1. His request. He offers himself to be a disciple of Christ, but with an exception — that he might take his farewell at home, and dispose of his estate there, and so secure his worldly interests. You will say, what harm in this request? Elijah granted it to Elisha (1 Kings 19:21). I answer — (1) The evangelical ministry exceedeth the prophetical, both as to excellency and necessity, and must be gone about speedily without any delay. The harvest was great, and such an extraordinary work was not to be delayed nor interrupted. (2) If two men do the same thing, it followeth not that they do it with the same mind. Things may be the same as to the substance or matter of the action, yet circumstances may be different. Christ knew this man's heart, and could interpret the meaning of his desire to go home first. (3) Those that followed Christ on these extraordinary calls were to leave all things they had, without any further care about them (Matthew 19:21; Matthew 4:19, 20; Matthew 9:9). Therefore it was preposterous for this man to desire to go home to order and dispose of his estate and family, before he complied with his call. (4) In resolution, estimation, and vow, the same is required of all Christians, when Christ's work calleth for it — "So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple" (Luke 14:33). 2. Christ's answer, which consists of a similitude, and its interpretation joined together. (1) The metaphor or similitude. Taken from ploughmen, who cannot make straight furrows if they look back. So, to look back, after we have undertaken Christ's yoke and service, rendereth us unfit for the kingdom of God. Putting our hands to the plough is to undertake Christ's work, or to resolve to be His disciples. Looking back denotes a hankering of mind after the world, and also a return to the worldly life.For, first we look back, and then we go back. 1. Upon what occasions we may be said to look back. A double pair I shall mention. The first sort of those:(1) That pretend to follow Christ, and yet their hearts hanker after the world, the cares, pleasures, and vain pomp thereof. (2) When men are discouraged in His service by troubles and difficulties, and so, after a forward profession, all cometh to nothing — "If any man draw back, My soul shall have no pleasure in him" (Hebrews 10:38). The former is looking back, and this is drawing back. The one arises out of the other; all their former zeal and courage is lost, they are affrighted and driven out of their profession, and relapse into the errors they have escaped. There is a looking back with respect to mortification, and a looking back with respect to vivification. (a) With respect to mortification, which is the first part of conversion. So we must not look back, or mind anything behind us, which may turn us back, and stop us in our course. (b) With respect to vivification, or progress in the duties of the holy and heavenly life. So the apostle telleth us — "But this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before" (Philippians 3:13), etc. Farther progress in holiness is the one thing that we should mind, and that above all other things. 2. How ill it becometh those that have put their hands to the spiritual plough. (1) In respect of the covenant into which they enter, or the manner of entrance into it, which is by a fixed unbounded resignation of themselves unto God. Till this be done, we are but half Christians. (2) With respect to the duties of Christianity, or that part of the kingdom of God which concerneth your obedience to Him, you are never fit for these while the heart cleaveth to earthly things, and you are still hankering after the world. A threefold defect there will be in our duties. (a) They will be unpleasant. (b) They will he inconstant. (c) Imperfect in such a degree as to want sincerity. (3) In respect of the hurt that cometh from their looking back, both to themselves and to religion. (4) With respect to the disproportion that is between the things that tempt us to look back, and those things that are set before us. (a) The things that tempt us to look back are the pleasures of sin and the profits of the world. Both are but a temporary enjoyment (Hebrews 11:25). (b) The things that are before you are God and heaven; reconciliation with God, and the everlasting fruition of Him in glory. (T. Manton, D. D.) Parallel Verses KJV: And another also said, Lord, I will follow thee; but let me first go bid them farewell, which are at home at my house. WEB: Another also said, "I want to follow you, Lord, but first allow me to say good-bye to those who are at my house."