Matthew 16:24-25

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Matthew 16:24-28

Christ, having shown his disciples that he must suffer, and that he was ready and willing to suffer, here shows them that they must suffer too, and must be ready and willing. It is a weighty discourse that we have in these verses. I. Here is the law of discipleship laid down, and the terms fixed, upon which we may have the honour and benefit of it, Matt. 16:24. He said this to his disciples, not only that they might instruct others concerning it, but that by this rule they might examine their... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - Matthew 16:24-26

16:24-26 Then Jesus said to his disciples: "If anyone wishes to come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and let him follow me. For whoever wishes to keep his life safe, will lose it; and whoever loses his life for my sake, will find it. For what shall a man be profited if he shall gain the whole world at the penalty of the price of his life? Or what will a man give in exchange for his life?" Here we have one of the dominant and ever-recurring themes of Jesus'... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - Matthew 16:24-26

There is all the difference in the world between existing and living. To exist is simply to have the lungs breathing and the heart beating; to live is to be alive in a world where everything is worth while, where there is peace in the soul, joy in the heart, and a thrill in every moment. Jesus here gives us the recipe for life as distinct from existence. (i) The man who plays for safety loses life. Matthew was writing somewhere between A.D. 80 and 90. He was therefore writing in some of the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Matthew 16:24

Then said Jesus unto his disciples ,.... Knowing that they had all imbibed the same notion of a temporal kingdom, and were in expectation of worldly riches, honour, and pleasure; he took this opportunity of preaching the doctrine of the cross to them, and of letting them know, that they must prepare for persecutions, sufferings, and death; which they must expect to endure, as well as he, if they would be his disciples: if any man will come after me : that is, be a disciple and follower... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Matthew 16:25

For whosoever will save his life ,.... Whoever is desirous of preserving himself from troubles, reproaches, persecutions, and death; and takes such a method to do it, as by forsaking Christ, denying his Gospel, and dropping his profession of it; and by so doing, curries favour with men, in order to procure to himself worldly emoluments, honour, peace, pleasure, and life, shall lose it ; he will expose himself to the wrath of God, to everlasting punishment, the destruction of soul and... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 16:24

Will come after me - i.e. to be my disciple. This discourse was intended to show Peter and the rest of the disciples the nature of his kingdom; and that the honor that cometh from the world was not to be expected by those who followed Christ. The principles of the Christian life are: First. To have a sincere desire to belong to Christ - If any man be Willing to be my disciple, etc. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 16:25

For whosoever will save his life - That is, shall wish to save his life - at the expense of his conscience, and casting aside the cross, he shall lose it - the very evil he wishes to avoid shall overtake him; and he shall lose his soul into the bargain. See then how necessary it is to renounce one's self! But whatsoever a man loses in this world, for his steady attachment to Christ and his cause, he shall have amply made up to him in the eternal world. read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 16:24

Verse 24 24.Then Jesus said to his disciples. As Christ saw that Peter had a dread of the cross, and that all the rest were affected in the same way, he enters into a general discourse about bearing the cross, and does not limit his address to the twelve apostles, but lays down the same law for all the godly. (463) We have already met with a statement nearly similar, (Matthew 10:38.) (464) But in that passage the apostles were only reminded of the persecution which awaited them, as soon as they... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 16:25

Verse 25 25.For he that would save his life shall lose it. It is a most appropriate consolation, that they who willingly suffer death for the sake of Christ (467) do actually obtain life; for Mark expressly states this as the motive to believers in dying — for my sake, and for the sake of the Gospel — and in the words of Matthew the same thing must be understood. It frequently happens that irreligious men are prompted by ambition or despair to despise life; and to such persons it will be no... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 16:20-28

The cross. I. THE ANNOUNCEMENT OF COMING SUFFERING . 1 . Lord. Two figures come prominently into contrast—the Lord and Peter: the Lord looking forwards with sweet and holy calmness to agony and shame and death; Peter, eager and impetuous, burning with zeal for what seemed to him his Master's honour. The Lord bade the apostles tell no man that he was the Christ. The people were not ready for the announcement; if they accepted it, they would in their present temper... read more

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