What does not “fit for the kingdom” mean in Luke 9:62?

After two men gave excuses for not immediately following Jesus, He told them, “No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God” (ESV, CSB, NET). Alternatively, “Anyone who puts a hand to the plow and then looks back is not fit for the Kingdom of God” (NLT).

The NET comments that, “Jesus warns that excessive concern for family ties (looks back) will make the kingdom a lesser priority, which is not appropriate for discipleship. The image is graphic, for who can plow straight ahead toward a goal while looking back? Discipleship cannot be double-minded.” The mission of the gospel is urgent. Procrastination is often used as an excuse for not following Jesus.

The kingdom of God is a major theme of Jesus’ teaching. Daniel predicted that God would set up a kingdom that would endure forever (Dan. 2:44). The kingdom began when Christ embarked on His public ministry – the King was present. After He was rejected by the nation of Israel, the King returned to heaven. Between the two advents of Christ, the kingdom exists in an interim form in the hearts of all who acknowledge His kingship (Mt. 13). The third phase of the kingdom is the 1,000-year reign of Christ on earth (Mt. 8:11). The final form will be the everlasting kingdom (2 Pt. 1:11).

According to MacDonald, “The expression not ‘fit for the kingdom’ does not refer to salvation but to service. It is not at all a question of entrance into the kingdom but of service in the kingdom after entering it. Our fitness for entering into the kingdom is in the person and work of the Lord Jesus. It becomes ours through faith in Him.” This is expressed in the NIV as, “No one who puts a hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God” (Lk. 9:62).

Every Christian’s goal should be to please the Lord in everything they do – “So we make it our goal to please Him, whether we are at home in the body or away from it. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each of us may receive what is due us for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad” (2 Cor. 5:9-10). We love Him because He first loved us; we serve Him because He first served us.

Every Christian will make a personal appearance at the Judgment Seat of Christ where our service for the Lord is evaluated – “If what has been built survives, the builder will receive a reward. If it is burned up, the builder will suffer loss but yet will be saved—even though only as one escaping through the flames” (1 Cor. 3:14-15). Christ will reward service done in His will. They are accountable for what they did or did not do in life.

So, Luke 9:62 warns that the things of this world hinder a Christian’s fitness to follow and serve the Lord. Following Jesus is a serious commitment which involves focusing on the work ahead and leaving your old life behind. As a distracted plowman did a poor job, a distracted Christian will not serve the Lord well. And Christians who give excuses rather than follow and serve the Lord, will not be rewarded at the Judgment Seat of Christ.

Reference

MacDonald W, 1995, Believer’s Bible Commentary, Thomas Nelson.