Matthew 16:24-28 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: A Disciple Must Disown Self

Matthew 16:24-28 – A Disciple Must Disown Self

|| Mark 8:34-9:1; Luke 9:22-27

MT16:24 [Because of this] Jesus told his disciples: “If anyone wishes to follow me[1] they must disown ‘self,’[2] heft a personal cross,[3] and then keep following me constantly. MT16:25 For whoever wishes to preserve their soul[4] will forfeit it; and, whoever forfeits the soul because of me[5] will find it. MT16:26 For how will a person benefit if upon gaining the entire cosmos[6] forfeits the soul?[7] Or, what will a person give in exchange for the soul? MT16:27 For the Son of Humankind is about to return into the glory of his Father[8] – all his angels with him.[9] Thereafter everyone will be compensated according to their practices.[10] MT16:28 I tell you this truth: It is very likely that some of you standing right here will not taste death[11] before they see the Son of Humankind returning[12] into his kingdom.”

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[1] If anyone wishes to follow me: Or, KJV: if any man will come after me; KNX: has a mind to come my way; TCNT wishes to walk in my steps; RIEU: wishes to walk in my footsteps; NEB: wishes to be a follower of min; BER: to walk behind me. It is the call to discipleship. Compare 1 Peter 2:21; Revelation 14:4, 5.

[2] They must disown ‘self’: Or, KJV: deny himself; TCNT: renounce self; NEB: leave self behind; GDSP: must disregard himself; WMS: must say ‘No’ to self. Compare the example of Jesus at Philippians 2:5-7.

[3] Heft a personal cross: Or, KJV: take up his cross; WMS: put his cross on his shoulders. The Greek for “cross” is STAUROS and means a simple upright stake or pole. Jesus is yet to be nailed to a cross or stake so it is unlikely he predicts a particular type of cross. See notes on cross or stake elsewhere.

[4] Whoever wishes to preserve their soul: The Greek is PSUCHEN and appears over 1,000 times in the Greek Bible. The “soul” is the life of a person or the person itself. The meaning here is like: “the person who tries to save their own skin…” Research the key word soul or PSYCHE. Or, KJV: whosoever will save his life; KNX: the man who tries to save his life; NEB: whoever cares for his own safety is lost; WMS: whoever wants to save his higher life will have to give up his lower life (Compare the parable of the materialistic farmer in Luke chapter 12).

[5] Forfeits the soul because of me: Or, KJV: whosoever will lose his life for my sake; NEB: if a man will let himself be lost for my sake, he will find his true self. Compare Matthew 10:28.

[6] If upon gaining the entire cosmos: The Greek is KOSMON. Or, KJV: gain the whole world; GDSP: gains the whole world at the cost of his life. Here the word “world” may mean whatever is the most important and all consuming in a person’s life: “music was his whole world.”

[7] Forfeits the soul: Or, KJV: lose his own soul; KNX: at the cost of losing his own soul; NEB: at the cost of his true self.

[8] Is about to return into the glory of his Father: The word translated “return” is generally rendered “coming” and gives the wrong impression based on the root verse it is drawn from (Daniel 7:13). The idea is more like John 6:62 where the Son of Humankind returns (or, ascends) to is previous position and place in heaven (John 17:5). Or, KJV: the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; BER: is about to come. See commentary on Daniel 7:13 in Nazarene Apocalypse.

[9] Angels with him: Compare Daniel 7:13, 14 with Acts 1:9-11.

[10] Everyone will be compensated according to their practices: The phrase is nearly identical to 2 Corinthians 5:10. Or, KJV: shall reward every man according to his works; RHM: give back to… according to his practice; RSV: he will repay every man for what he has done; TCNT: then he will give to every man what his actions deserve. Compare Matthew 12:36 and research the words judgment and judgment day (Revelation 20:13).

[11] Some of you standing right here will not taste death: This will occur within their life times. Or, WMS: will live to see. Compare Matthew 10:23 and Matthew 26:64. The disciples would live to see the fulfillment of Daniel 7:13.

[12] Returning: The Greek is ERCHOMENON, Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance #2064 and is also defined as “1a1) to come from one place to another, and used both of persons arriving and of those RETURNING.” This thought is missed by most. The language of the Nazarene is drawn from Daniel 7:13 where “a son of man” (Jerome LATIN hominid) is seen returning or ascending to the Presence of the Ancient of Days – Daniel’s visionary location in heaven. The Aramaic (Hebrew) of Daniel 7:13’s “came” is athah (Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance ##858) and may also mean “arrive” as in become present.

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Preceding

Ezekiel 18:4 – What the Bible teaches about Soul and Spirit

Matthew 10:24-31 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: Do Not Fear – Preach!

Matthew 16 Asking for signs from heaven

Matthew 16 Calvin’s view

Matthew 16 Spurgeon’s view

Matthew 16:1-4 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: The Signs of the Times

Matthew 16:5-12 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: Watch Out for the Leaven of False Teaching

Matthew 16:13-20 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: Building a Hades-Proof Congregation

Matthew 16:21-23 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: Think God’s Thoughts

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Who wants to follow Jeshua, Jesus Christ the Messiah wherever he goes or wants us to bring?

Related

1. Bible Study Notes on Matthew 16:1-12 – 20180122
2. Bible Study Notes on Matthew 16:13-28 – 20180123
3. Don’t Miss the Signs of the Times
4. Matthew 16, the demand for a sign, the sign of Jonah, Peter’s confession of Christ, Jesus predicts his death.
5. their hearts right, their heads wrong
6. The Forsake All Principle
7. The Power of Human Denial
8. Scarcity and Genuine Jesus-Followers
9. God’s Will, Not Mine – Ouch, That’s Hard!
10. The former possessed man wants to go with Jesus (Mk 5:18-5:18)
11. Staying Power
12. Lifted as We Labor in the Gospel of Jesus
13. Why do we bother with Church?
14. Being a Jesus-Following Neighbor
15. Who is Most Worthy?
16. Witnesses
17. Just Keep Learning
18. “Listen to Him!”
19. Would you Gain the Whole World and Forfeit Your Soul?
20. Jesus’ Challenge To Follow Him
21. Following Jesus
22. Why Don’t We Just Follow Jesus? Well, For Starters…
23. Follow Me; Learning Under Jesus
24. 8 Commands of Christ
25. Self-Denial — Is it a requirement of following Jesus the Messiah?
26. Put The Devil Behind You (Matthew 16:21–28)
27. Call and Mission of the Cross
28. Cross-Bearing: Help Wanted (Mt 16:21-28, Rom 12:9-21)
29. Attempt 10 – Pick Up Your Cross
30. Take Up Your Cross
31. Take Up The Cross, a prayer based on Matthew 16.24-28
32. Laying Down Burdens, Part I
33. “You will have complete and free access to God’s kingdom, keys to open any and every door.” ~Jesus
34. Second Coming – What does Jesus the Messiah say about it?
35. Spiritual Focus – A Study in Matthew 16