25. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it,
Now they were to practice the doctrine he had taught them before. They could only save their real selves by the loss of this present life, but if they settled it in their own minds that they must first and foremost save their outer life, it would be at the expense of their truest being. To tell them plainly of this was honest dealing on our Lord’s part, and it argued well for the disciples that they still remained faithful to him. Alas! there was one even of the chosen twelve who probably at this very moment was scheming how he could continue to keep the bag, and yet could ultimately escape from the consequences of his Master’s demand.
26. 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?
If he loses his real life, how can he profit, even if the world be his? The true gain or loss is a gain or loss of life. All external things are trifles compared with that life. Even now, “What is a man profited?” He has no real life in Christ, and what is all else that he may possess? What but a painted pageantry with which he is amusing his soul upon the brink of hell? As to the world to come, there is no question. To lose eternal life is overwhelming loss indeed.
Nothing can be compared with eternal life. The soul’s value cannot be estimated by ordinary reckonings. Worlds on worlds were a poor price.
“What shall a man give in exchange for his soul”
Barter is out of the question. His soul is so a man’s sole inheritance that if he has lost it he has lost all.
Charles H. Spurgeon
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Preceding
Ezekiel 18:4 – What the Bible teaches about Soul and Spirit
Matthew 16 Asking for signs from heaven
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
Matthew 16:24-28 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: A Disciple Must Disown Self
Demanding signs or denying yourself
Every one who would be Jesus his follower must sacrifice himself
Calvin’s view on taking up the cross
Calvin’s view on trying to save your life
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Written by Belgian Biblestudents - Belgische Bijbelstudenten
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