Jesus' teaching about discipleship emphasized total commitment and absolute dedication to Him. He taught that following Him meant putting Him first above everything else, even the basic necessities of life. He challenged his disciples to give up their comfort, possessions, and even their own lives for the sake of the Gospel. He used the examples of a man who had to bury his father, and another who wanted to say goodbye to his family, to show that there should be no excuses or delays in following Him. Jesus also used the metaphor of putting one's hand into the plough, which means once you have committed to follow Him, there should be no looking back or turning away.