24 Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. 25 For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. 26 For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul? 27 For the Son of Man is going to come with his angels in the glory of his Father, and then he will repay each person according to what he has done. 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.” Matthew 16: 24-28 ESV
Matthew 16: 24-28
33But Jesus, turning and looking at His disciples, rebuked Peter and said, “Get behind Me, Satan! For you do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men.” 34Then Jesus called the crowd to Him along with His disciples, and He told them, “If anyone wants to come after Me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow Me. 35For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and for the gospel will save it.… Mark 8: 33-35
Then Jesus told His disciples - In Mark's gospel we see that Jesus also told the crowd that was present, so this call of repentance, this message was not just for the apostles, but for everyone and anyone who would come, this was the call of the gospel. This again brings more and more light upon His first major sermon, the Sermon on the Mount, starting in Matthew 5. Remember back, "blessed are they that mourn, blessed are they that hunger and thirst after righteousness, blessed are ye when men shall revile you and persecute you and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for My sake, rejoice, and be exceeding glad for great is your reward in heaven." This comes following Jesus's rebuke of Peter, who did not want his Lord to suffer. This is not the modern, evangelical gospel, not the Roman Catholic Pelagian gospel centered around some internal good, that men are capable in their salvation, that they are basically good in their being. No, this is the gospel according to Jesus and men are adverse to the idea that they are not good, or at least good enough. Even Peter did not realize at the time that if Jesus didn't suffer, if He didn't die, then there was no hope, no one is born realizing the direness of their situation, and Jesus will make it more clear.
…18I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my flesh; for I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. 19For I do not do the good I want to do. Instead, I keep on doing the evil I do not want to do. 20And if I do what I do not want, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it.… Romans 7: 18-20
If anyone would come after Me - You want to be a Christian? You want to be a follower of Christ, a disciple? Jesus is about to sum up the gospel for the disciples and this crowd. He has dealt with the rich young ruler, and remember, he wanted to follow Christ too, and he was a "good man", righteous at least in his own eyes, and Jesus liked him, but He asked him to do something that drove the man away. He looked inside the man's heart and said, "take all that you have, sell it, and give it to the poor and then come follow Me." The rich young ruler weighed it out in his mind, he thought of his possessions, and he couldn't do it. Even the disciples were confused by this, for he seemed like a good man, and so they wondered, who can possibly get into the kingdom? Peter doesn't see the immense nature of his sin yet, and some of his fellow disciples can spot other sinners, wish to call down fire from heaven on them, but everyone sees their own situation differently, yet they need Christ no less.
…43“Stop grumbling among yourselves,” Jesus replied. 44“No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him, and I will raise him up at the last day. 45It is written in the Prophets: ‘And they will all be taught by God.’ Everyone who has heard the Father and learned from Him comes to Me—… John 6: 43-45
…20“Teacher,” he replied, “all these I have kept from my youth.” 21 Jesus looked at him, loved him, and said to him, “There is one thing you lack: Go, sell everything you own and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow Me.” 22But the man was saddened by these words and went away in sorrow, because he had great wealth.… Mark 10: 20-22
Let him deny himself - Contrary to the culture, which is terribly cliché now, with sayings like, "you do you, it's about you, be a diva, be proud, look out for number one, be yourself, follow your heart, yada yada," instead Jesus's gospel invitation is a call to self denial. It carries right along with the message of John the Baptist, which was a call to repent, to turn away from your current ways, acknowledge your sin, mourn over your sin, see yourself in the proper light, as one hopelessly lost, dead in your trespasses and sins, totally dependent upon the grace of another. You are a beggar with nothing positive to bring to the problem. This is a call that says, "you don't know best, the answer is not inside of you, you need to not be you, you need to be born again." This is where the ego dies, is taken of the pedestal of the heart, and replaced with Christ.
Brian Bell - Deny himself - or denies the self. Is your self at the center? or your Jesus the Center of your life? See, it’s not about you denying stuff/ things it’s about you denying you. It’s to dethrone self & to enthrone God. It’s living a life where Jesus is the heart, the core, the center of your thinking and actions. By far this aspect of the Christian walk is the hardest for all believers. Every thought/decision we make naturally gets sifted through our self-filter. We are constantly asking ourselves, How will I benefit from this? What’s in it for me? How will it effect me? We need to crucify our self, our flesh to the cross. So that, though it be alive, it cannot perform that which it would love to do. And it’s about doing it daily. Being deliberate, willful, & intentional. It’s the surrender of one’s life every day. Great you surrendered on the day of your salvation, but how about daily?
Constable - Self-denial as Jesus taught it does not involve denying oneself things as much as it does denying one’s own authority over his or her life (cf. Mt 4:19; John 12:23–26). This is the great challenge.
James Smith - To go after a self-denying Christ is impossible without the denial of self. We must deny our own thoughts, will, power, interests— everything that would hinder His will, power, and interests from being accomplished in us and by us.
Jon Courson - Salvation begins with death. It begins when we say, “I’m dying to self. I no longer demand my own way, but rather give myself completely to You.” - Precept Austin
1Therefore, since Christ suffered in His body, arm yourselves with the same resolve, because anyone who has suffered in his body is done with sin. 2Consequently, he does not live out his remaining time on earth for human passions, but for the will of God. 3For you have spent enough time in the past carrying out the same desires as the Gentiles: living in debauchery, lust, drunkenness, orgies, carousing, and detestable idolatry.… 1 Peter 4: 1-3
1But understand this: In the last days terrible times will come. 2For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3unloving, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, without love of good,… 2 Timothy 3: 1-3
Take up his cross and follow Me - There are many trendy teachings on this, some calling their spouse, their boss, their children or some grievance their cross. Many will experience pain in this life unrelated to Jesus. Those that follow Him will experience pain and persecution related to that calling. Some will lose family, livelihood and lives, for the sake of the gospel. Many a genius was no longer considered such after forsaking their old self in favor of the cross. Many a socialite, happy drunk, fell out of fashion and popularity as her eyes came to rest more and more on the Son of God. You will find yourself alone in a crowd, often unable to participate, but you have counted the cost. There is always a struggle with this message, like when Jesus told Peter that one day when he was old someone would lead him where he did not want to go. Not everyone will die a martyrs death, but all who believe in Christ are willing to do so.
Robertson on parallel statement in Mt 10:38 - The first mention of cross in Matthew. Criminals were crucified in Jerusalem. It was the custom for the condemned person to carry his own cross as Jesus did till Simon of Cyrene was impressed for that purpose. The Jews had become familiar with crucifixion since the days of Antiochus Epiphanes and one of the Maccabean rulers (Alexander Jannaeus) had crucified 800 Pharisees. (On Mt 16:24 Robertson says) This same saying in 10:38, which see. But pertinent here also in explanation of Christ’s rebuke to Peter. Christ’s own cross faces him. Peter had dared to pull Christ away from his destiny. He would do better to face squarely his own cross and to bear it after Jesus.. - Precept Austin
MacArthur writes: This passage sets forth the heart of Christian discipleship and it strikes a death blow to the self-centered false gospels that are so popular in contemporary Christianity. It leaves no room for the gospel of getting, in which God is considered a type of utilitarian genie who jumps to provide a believer’s every whim. It closes the door to the gospel of health and wealth, which asserts that if a believer is not healthy and prosperous he has simply not exercised his divine rights or else does not have enough faith to claim his blessings. It undermines the gospel of self-esteem, self-love, and high self-image, which appeals to man’s natural narcissism and prostitutes the spirit of humble brokenness and repentance that marks the gospel of the cross. - Precept Austin
…21When Peter saw him, he asked, “Lord, what about him?” 22 Jesus answered, “If I want him to remain until I return, what is that to you? You follow Me!” 23Because of this, the rumor spread among the brothers that this disciple would not die. However, Jesus did not say that he would not die, but only, “If I want him to remain until I return, what is that to you?”… John 21: 21-23
Forfeits his soul - Everything here in space and time is nothing in eternity. You get that? The soul goes on, and you will either be in the presence of God's glory, which is the revelation of His attributes, crowned by His holiness, or you will for all eternity know His just wrath. Everyone dies here, this life is temporary, and people desperately cling to it, but there is no just comparison to eternal glory and earthly riches. What you have here you will lose, but what is laid up in heaven is eternal.
…24So he cried out, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue. For I am in agony in this fire.’ 25But Abraham answered, ‘Child, remember that during your lifetime you received your good things, while Lazarus received bad things. But now he is comforted here, while you are in agony. 26And besides all this, a great chasm has been fixed between us and you, so that even those who wish cannot cross from here to you, nor can anyone cross from there to us.’… Luke 16: 24-26
…19Then I will say to myself, “You have plenty of good things laid up for many years. Take it easy. Eat, drink, and be merry!” ’ 20But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life will be required of you. Then who will own what you have accumulated?’ 21This is how it will be for anyone who stores up treasure for himself but is not rich toward God.”… Luke 12: 19-21
In return for his soul - There is nothing here worth eternity, for this world is measured. You also have nothing to bargain with. God makes His offer available one way, through the perfect life and death of the eternally begotten Son. God doesn't need your gold and you are not impressive, He can raise up children from the rocks to Abraham. He created you, and the materials you are composed of; you are His divine right.
…7No man can possibly redeem his brother or pay his ransom to God. 8For the redemption of his soul is costly, and never can payment suffice, 9that he should live on forever and not see decay.… Psalm 49: 7-9
For the Son of Man is going to come with His angels - This is the second coming, and Christ will be unveiled, no longer concealed, but in His glorified state.
…4On that day His feet will stand on the Mount of Olives, east of Jerusalem, and the Mount of Olives will be split in two from east to west, forming a great valley, with half the mountain moving to the north and half to the south. 5You will flee by My mountain valley, for it will extend to Azal. You will flee as you fled from the earthquake in the days of Uzziah king of Judah. Then the LORD my God will come, and all the holy ones with Him. 6On that day there will be no light, no cold or frost.… Zechariah 14: 4-6
Repay each person according to what he has done - There is a call to Holiness that goes amiss in the modern gospel, maybe because it is not the gospel. Do not lose heart that justice seems slow, and that evil men wax worse, if anything find compassion all the more, for it is a terrible thing that awaits them, to fall into the hands of and a Holy and Just God. He is infinite and so will be His justice.
…16for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.” 17 Since you call on a Father who judges each one’s work impartially, conduct yourselves in reverent fear during your stay as foreigners. 18For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life you inherited from your forefathers,… 1 Peter 1: 16-18
J C Ryle - Let us learn, in the last place, that the second coming of Christ is the time when His people shall receive their rewards. “The Son of Man shall come in the glory of His Father, and then shall he reward every man according to his works.”
There is deep wisdom in this saying of our Lord’s, when viewed in connection with the preceding verses. He knows the heart of a man. He knows how soon we are ready to be cast down, and like Israel of old to be “discouraged by the way.” (Num. 21:4.) He therefore holds out to us a gracious promise. He reminds us that He has yet to come a second time, as surely as He came the first time. He tells us that this is the time when His disciples shall receive their good things. There will be glory, honor, and reward in abundance one day for all who have served and loved Jesus. But it is to be in the dispensation of the second advent, and not of the first. The bitter must come before the sweet, the cross before the crown. The first advent is the dispensation of the crucifixion. The second advent is the dispensation of the kingdom. We must submit to take part with our Lord in His humiliation, if we mean ever to share in his glory.
And now let us not leave these verses without serious self-inquiry as to the matters which they contain. We have heard of the necessity of taking up the cross, and denying ourselves. Have we taken it up, and are we carrying it daily?—We have heard of the value of the soul. Do we live as if we believed it?—We have heard of Christ’s second advent. Do we look forward to it with hope and joy?—Happy is that man who can give a satisfactory answer to these questions. - Precept Austin
There are some standing here - This is so remarkable, and it is hard to know what the disciples thought of this, but He has just promised before this that He is coming with His angels and in His Father's glory. The disciples had long walked with Him, were starting to understand that He was the incarnate God, yet the Shekinah has been veiled, covered in humanity, much like the skins that concealed the glory of God in the Tabernacle, and this should give you a better understanding of that as well. What He speaks of here, is that some standing there, and we will see who in a moment, they will see the glory of God revealed in Christ, that Shekinah will be before them, much like when God concealed Moses in the rock. They will, like Moses, see the glory in passing, they will have a taste of the second coming, just like they had a taste of the kingdom when they saw that this Man had power over hunger, sickness and death. They will see the glory of God revealed, and this will sustain their ministries like that of Daniel, Isaiah, Jeremiah and Ezekiel. In all the gospel accounts of this it is followed by the transfiguration.
And after six days Jesus took with him Peter and James, and John his brother, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. 2 And he was transfigured before them, and his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became white as light. 3 And behold, there appeared to them Moses and Elijah, talking with him. 4 And Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good that we are here. If you wish, I will make three tents here, one for you and one for Moses and one for Elijah.” 5 He was still speaking when, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him.” 6 When the disciples heard this, they fell on their faces and were terrified. 7 But Jesus came and touched them, saying, “Rise, and have no fear.” 8 And when they lifted up their eyes, they saw no one but Jesus only.
9 And as they were coming down the mountain, Jesus commanded them, “Tell no one the vision, until the Son of Man is raised from the dead.” 10 And the disciples asked him, “Then why do the scribes say that first Elijah must come?” 11 He answered, “Elijah does come, and he will restore all things. 12 But I tell you that Elijah has already come, and they did not recognize him, but did to him whatever they pleased. So also the Son of Man will certainly suffer at their hands.” 13 Then the disciples understood that he was speaking to them of John the Baptist. Matthew 17: 1-13 ESV
