nature of discipleship (vv. 19–20). For other favorable references to scribes, see 13:52; 23:34. Jesus reminds those who have already become disciples that commitment to following him takes precedence over all other obligations and ties, even to family members. (See Tob 1:16–20 on the obligation to bury the dead; cf. 1 Kgs 19:20.) Jesus’ homelessness recalls that of Woman Wisdom (Prov 1:20; Sir 24:7; see other parallels with Wisdom at Matt 11:16, 25–30; 23:34–39). This is the first instance of the