Matthew 10:39 NASB

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 10:39

Besides Matthew 16:25 and parallel passages ( vide supra ), cf. also Luke 17:33 and even John 12:25 . Observe that in our chapter John 12:37 , John 12:38 arc equivalent to Luke 14:26 , Luke 14:27 ; verses 38, 39 to Luke 9:23 , Luke 9:24 ; Luke 9:39 to Luke 17:33 . A comparison of the various passages leads to the inference that the original occasion of Luke 17:37 , 38 was that of Luke 14:26 , Luke 14:27 , and the original occasion of verse 39 was that of ... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Matthew 10:39

He that findeth his life ... - The word “life” in this passage is used evidently in two senses. The meaning may be expressed thus: He that is anxious to save his “temporal” life, or his comfort and security here, shall lose “eternal” life, or shall fail of heaven. He that is willing to risk or lose his comfort and “life” here for my sake, shall find “life” everlasting, or shall be saved. The manner of speaking is similar to that where he said, “Let the dead bury their dead.” See notes at... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Matthew 10:39-42

Matthew 10:39-42. He that findeth his life shall lose it He that saves his life by denying me shall lose it eternally; and he that loses his life by confessing me shall save it eternally. Or, as Macknight expresses it, “He that makes shipwreck of faith and a good conscience to save his life, shall lose that which is really his life his everlasting happiness; whereas, he that maintaineth integrity at the expense of life, and all its enjoyments, shall find what is infinitely better a blessed... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Matthew 10:5-42

62. The twelve sent out (Matthew 10:5-42; Mark 6:7-13; Luke 9:1-6)Jesus sent out the twelve apostles to preach the good news that the kingdom of the Messiah had come. The miraculous powers of the Messiah were given to them also, so that the knowledge of his love and mercy might spread more quickly throughout the land (Luke 9:1-2).There would be no time during Jesus’ lifetime to spread the gospel worldwide, so the apostles had to concentrate on Israel. After Jesus’ death and resurrection they... read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Matthew 10:39

He that findeth = He that has found. Note the Introversion in this verse (find, lose; lose, find). life = soul. See App-110 . loseth = has lost. for My sake = on account of Me. Luke 14:14 ; Luke 20:35 , Luke 20:36 . John 5:29 ; John 11:25 . find it. In resurrection. Compare 1 Peter 4:19 . read more

James Burton Coffman

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Matthew 10:39

He that findeth his life shall lose it; and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it.This verse emphatically states the law of true spiritual living. Note the qualification, "for my sake." Whatever good one does, or whatever sacrifice is made, if such is not undertaken for the glory of Christ, it may not claim the reward promised here.Practically all the Ante-Nicene writers hail this verse as the sacred talisman of the martyrs who approached the flame, or the wild beasts, or the... read more

Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Matthew 10:39

Matthew 10:39. He that findeth his life, &c.— "He who makes shipwreck of faith and a good conscience to save his life, shall lose that which is really so,—his everlasting happiness; whereas he who maintains his integrity with the loss of life, and all its enjoyments, shall find what is infinitely better,—a blessed immortality." See ch. Matthew 16:24. There is in this sentence a kind of figure, whereby the same word is used in different senses, in such a manner as to convey the sentiment... read more

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Matthew 10:39

39. He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it—another of those pregnant sayings which our Lord so often reiterates (Matthew 16:25; Luke 17:33; John 12:25). The pith of such paradoxical maxims depends on the double sense attached to the word "life"—a lower and a higher, the natural and the spiritual, the temporal and eternal. An entire sacrifice of the lower, with all its relationships and interests—or, a willingness to make it which is the... read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Matthew 10:5-42

3. Jesus’ charge concerning His apostles’ mission 10:5-42Matthew proceeded to record Jesus’ second major discourse in his Gospel: the Mission Discourse. It contains the instructions Jesus gave the 12 Apostles before He sent them out to proclaim the nearness of the messianic kingdom. Kingsbury saw the theme of this speech as "the mission of the disciples to Israel" and outlined it as follows: (I) On Being Sent to the Lost Sheep of the House of Israel (Matthew 10:5-15); (II) On Responding to... read more