24Then Jesus said to his disciples: If anyone wants to come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. [16:25] For whoever wants to save his earthly life will lose it, but whoever loses his earthly life for my sake will find it. [16:26] For what will a man be profited if he gains the whole world but forfeits his earthly life? Or what will a man give in exchange for his earthly life? [16:27] For the Son of Man is going to come in the splendor of his Father with his angels, and then he will repay each person according to his deeds. [16:28] Truly I say to you, there are some standing here who will not taste death until they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom.
MAT 16:24-28
Take Up Your Cross
In the world it was spoken into
In the 1st-century Roman Empire, the cross was a brutal and shameful instrument of execution, reserved for slaves, rebels, and the lowest classes. To 'take up the cross' would have evoked immediate associations with public humiliation, suffering, and death. For Jesus’ disciples, this call to self-denial and cross-bearing would have been jarring, as it inverted the honor-shame values of their society. The Greco-Roman world prized self-preservation, status, and the pursuit of —the ordered system of societal values and material gain. Yet Jesus challenges this by asserting that losing one’s (life/soul) for His sake leads to true gain. The promise of the Son of Man coming in (glory) would have resonated with Jewish apocalyptic expectations, where divine vindication and judgment were anticipated. This teaching subverts conventional notions of power and success, calling for radical allegiance to Jesus over worldly security or reputation.
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How other translations render this
MAT 16:24
- KJV
- Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.
- BSB
- Then Jesus told His disciples, “If anyone wants to come after Me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow Me.
- Koinōnos
- Then Jesus said to his disciples: If anyone wants to come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.
MAT 16:25
- KJV
- For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it.
- BSB
- For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.
- Koinōnos
- For whoever wants to save his earthly life will lose it, but whoever loses his earthly life for my sake will find it.
MAT 16:26
- KJV
- For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?
- BSB
- What will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul?
- Koinōnos
- For what will a man be profited if he gains the whole world but forfeits his earthly life? Or what will a man give in exchange for his earthly life?
MAT 16:27
- KJV
- For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works.
- BSB
- For the Son of Man will come in His Fatherʼs glory with His angels, and then He will repay each one according to what he has done.
- Koinōnos
- For the Son of Man is going to come in the splendor of his Father with his angels, and then he will repay each person according to his deeds.
MAT 16:28
- KJV
- Verily I say unto you, There be some standing here, which shall not taste of death, till they see the Son of man coming in his kingdom.
- BSB
- Truly I tell you, some who are standing here will not taste death before they see the Son of Man coming in His kingdom.”
- Koinōnos
- Truly I say to you, there are some standing here who will not taste death until they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom.
Only verses where the wording diverges meaningfully are shown. Identical phrasings are suppressed.
Translator's notes
MAT 16:24
- cross:The word translated 'cross' referred to an instrument of execution, specifically a stake or pole, often with a crossbeam, used for crucifixion. It evoked a public, agonizing, and shameful death.
MAT 16:25
- life:The term translated 'life' here refers to one's earthly existence, vitality, or self, rather than eternal spiritual life. It speaks of the physical and temporal aspect of being.
MAT 16:26
- world:The word translated 'world' can refer to the physical universe, but in this context, it often carries the sense of human society, its values, systems, and way of life, especially as opposed to God's ways.
MAT 16:27
- glory:The word translated 'glory' carried the sense of visible splendor, honor, reputation, or renown, often associated with a divine manifestation or a king's majesty.