Luke 9:23 kjv

And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.

Luke 9:23 nkjv

Then He said to them all, "If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me.

Luke 9:23 niv

Then he said to them all: "Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me.

Luke 9:23 esv

And he said to all, "If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.

Luke 9:23 nlt

Then he said to the crowd, "If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross daily, and follow me.

Luke 9 verses

Luke 9 23 Meaning

Luke 9:23 encapsulates the fundamental call to Christian discipleship as pronounced by Jesus. It reveals that following Him is not a path of self-exaltation or worldly comfort, but one requiring radical self-denial and the willing embrace of suffering and sacrifice, consistent with His own path to the cross. It signifies a continuous, conscious choice to prioritize Christ's will and purpose above one's own desires, ambitions, and even life itself, in a daily submission and active participation in His mission.

Luke 9 23 Context

Luke 9:23 immediately follows Peter's significant confession of Jesus as "the Christ of God" (Lk 9:20) and Jesus' subsequent revelation that the Son of Man must suffer many things, be rejected by the elders, chief priests, and scribes, be killed, and on the third day be raised (Lk 9:22). This abrupt shift in Jesus' teaching serves as a stark redefinition of Messiahship for His disciples, moving away from popular notions of a conquering political king. Luke 9:23, along with its parallel verses, is Jesus' direct clarification to all—not just the Twelve—that His path of suffering and rejection is also the essential path for anyone who genuinely wishes to follow Him. It contrasts the world's desire for glory and comfort with the Kingdom's demand for radical self-abandonment and sacrificial commitment, setting clear terms for true discipleship that align with the suffering Messiah. Historically, the "cross" was a gruesome instrument of public execution reserved for criminals and rebels, universally feared and despised in the Roman world, making Jesus' metaphor incredibly potent and confronting.

Luke 9 23 Word analysis

• "And" (δέ - de): Connects this universal call to the preceding discourse on Jesus' suffering and Peter's confession. It implies a consequence or a further elaboration based on the newly revealed nature of Messiahship.

• "He said to all" (ἔλεγεν δὲ πρὸς πάντας - elegen de pros pantas): "He said" indicates continuous or habitual action, signifying that this was a foundational teaching Jesus often reiterated. "To all" is crucial; this call to radical discipleship is not limited to the inner circle of the apostles, but is for any person—male or female, Jew or Gentile—who desires to follow Him. This expands the audience beyond just the disciples (Lk 9:18-22).

• "If anyone" (εἴ τις - ei tis): An open invitation, presenting a condition. It underscores personal volition and choice. Discipleship is not forced but must be desired.

• "desires" (θέλει - thelei): From thelō, meaning 'to wish,' 'to will,' 'to intend,' 'to choose.' It denotes a strong inner inclination and a deliberate act of the will. It's not a casual want but a resolute decision.

• "to come after me" (ὀπίσω μου ἐλθεῖν - opisō mou elthein): Literally "to come behind me." In biblical context, 'to come after' or 'follow' (akoloutheō, implied) someone signifies becoming their disciple, adhering to their teachings, adopting their lifestyle, and participating in their mission. It implies submission to His authority.

• "let him deny himself" (ἀρνησάσθω ἑαυτὸν - arnēsasthō heauton):

  • "deny" (ἀρνήσάσθω - arnēsasthō): From aparneomai, meaning to 'deny utterly,' 'disown,' 'refuse to have anything to do with.' This is not mere self-improvement or abstinence from a few bad habits, but a complete repudiation of one's own will, ambitions, selfish desires, perceived rights, and natural self-preservation instinct in favor of Christ's will. It's an internal revolution, an abnegation of ego. It contrasts sharply with the Jewish leaders' emphasis on self-glorification and earthly authority.
  • "himself" (ἑαυτὸν - heauton): Refers to the whole person—thoughts, desires, ambitions, comfort, security, personal identity apart from Christ.

• "and take up his cross daily" (καὶ ἀράτω τὸν σταυρὸν αὐτοῦ καθ' ἡμέραν - kai aratō ton stauron autou kath' hēmeran):

  • "take up" (ἀράτω - aratō): From airō, meaning 'to lift,' 'to carry,' 'to take up and bear.' It signifies an active, deliberate choice to embrace.
  • "his cross" (τὸν σταυρὸν αὐτοῦ - ton stauron autou): The cross in the first century was not a religious symbol but an instrument of painful, humiliating death. For someone to 'take up their cross' meant carrying the cross beam to the place of execution, acknowledging condemned status. Spiritually, it symbolizes identifying with Christ's death (Rom 6:6), enduring persecution, ridicule, suffering, and the daily mortification of the flesh and worldly desires. It implies an abandonment of the "old life" that resists God's will. It served as a stark polemic against prevailing Roman concepts of glory and Jewish concepts of a triumphal Messiah.
  • "daily" (καθ' ἡμέραν - kath' hēmeran): This adverb adds the critical dimension of continuous, persistent, and ongoing commitment. Discipleship is not a one-time event or occasional heroic act, but a moment-by-moment, day-by-day surrender and dying to self. This continuous dying leads to continuous resurrection life in Christ.

• "and follow me" (καὶ ἀκολουθείτω μοι - kai akoloutheitō moi): This final command reiterates the core demand. Akoloutheō signifies walking the path Christ walked—a path of obedience, sacrifice, love, and service, ultimately leading to death and resurrection. It’s an active, personal attachment, a willingness to literally "go wherever I go" (cf. Mt 8:19). The sequence is crucial: denial and cross-bearing enable true following.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "If anyone desires to come after me": Establishes the prerequisite—a personal, internal desire for intimate discipleship with Jesus, contrasting with merely following crowds or seeking worldly benefit. It is an intentional decision.
• "let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me": This triad defines the active, rigorous demands of true discipleship.
  • "deny himself": Deals with the internal orientation, the breaking of the tyrannical ego and autonomous self.
  • "take up his cross daily": Deals with the external manifestation, embracing hardship, suffering, shame, and mortification of the flesh for Christ's sake, as a constant lifestyle.
  • "and follow me": Encompasses the resultant life—walking in active obedience and imitation of Jesus, a life totally aligned with His mission and purpose, made possible by the prior two steps. The "daily" applies to the entire lifestyle of following Christ, not just cross-bearing.

Luke 9 23 Bonus section

The juxtaposition of Peter's confession ("Christ of God") and Jesus' subsequent prediction of His suffering and call for disciples to take up their cross serves to correct any false understanding of Messiahship or easy discipleship. In Jewish culture, discipleship meant learning and imitating a Rabbi; here, Jesus elevates it to an identity-redefining commitment. The Greek terms aparneomai (deny) and stauros (cross) were extremely stark. For Roman citizens, the cross was associated with shame and absolute surrender. For Jewish people, it symbolized a curse (Deut 21:23). Thus, Jesus' use of this imagery was profoundly shocking and a clear invitation to counter-cultural commitment. The call implies a renunciation of natural self-preservation and a voluntary identification with Christ’s suffering and humble obedience, ultimately leading to true life and resurrection as seen in the broader Lukan narrative of Jesus’ path. It’s a testament to the fact that discipleship to the crucified and resurrected Christ must inherently involve a willingness to die to oneself and embrace suffering for His name.

Luke 9 23 Commentary

Luke 9:23 lays down the uncompromising and non-negotiable terms for following Jesus. It is not an addendum to His message but the very heart of the disciple's commitment. Following Christ is an antithetical lifestyle to self-indulgence and worldly gain. "Denying oneself" means dismantling the idol of the ego, shifting primary allegiance from self to Christ. It’s a spiritual crucifixion of one's own independent will. "Taking up one's cross daily" symbolizes an active embracing of suffering, humility, and opposition for Christ's sake, much as a condemned person accepts their death. The 'daily' aspect stresses that this is not a heroic, once-for-all event but an ongoing process of putting Christ first in every moment, thought, and decision. It includes bearing burdens, enduring hardship, facing societal disapproval, and choosing the way of obedience even when costly. Only through this continuous dying to self can one truly "follow" Him, which implies not just geographical proximity, but adherence to His teachings, imitation of His character, and participation in His redemptive mission. This challenging call implies that only those willing to pay this ultimate price can inherit true life in Him, aligning their destiny with His suffering and glory.For example, practically this means choosing forgiveness over bitterness daily; choosing obedience to God's Word over worldly desires; enduring mocking for Christ's name; or humbly serving others instead of seeking personal recognition.