Matthew 10 39

Matthew 10:39 kjv

He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it.

Matthew 10:39 nkjv

He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for My sake will find it.

Matthew 10:39 niv

Whoever finds their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life for my sake will find it.

Matthew 10:39 esv

Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.

Matthew 10:39 nlt

If you cling to your life, you will lose it; but if you give up your life for me, you will find it.

Matthew 10 verses

Matthew 10 39 Meaning

This verse presents a profound and seemingly paradoxical truth about the nature of life and discipleship. It reveals that human efforts to secure, preserve, or elevate one's life apart from Christ will ultimately lead to spiritual loss. Conversely, those who are willing to surrender their self-centered pursuits, personal ambitions, and even physical life itself for the sake of Christ will paradoxically discover true, eternal life and spiritual fulfillment. It is a call to radical, self-sacrificial commitment to Jesus above all earthly allegiances and securities.

Matthew 10 39 Context

Matthew 10 provides instructions and warnings as Jesus commissions His twelve disciples for mission. The preceding verses (34-36) speak of division that Christ brings, even within families, and verses 37-38 declare the supreme allegiance required of a disciple, demanding that Jesus be loved more than family and that one must take up their cross. Matthew 10:39 functions as a culminating paradox within this passage on the cost of discipleship. It distills the requirement of total surrender, showing that attempting to save one's earthly life—whether by avoiding persecution, compromise, or selfish ambition—leads to spiritual demise, whereas surrendering it for Christ's sake, even to the point of death, secures true, eternal life. The historical and cultural context for the original audience was one where strong family ties were paramount, societal reputation vital, and resistance against external (Roman) or internal (Jewish religious authorities) persecution was often met with dire consequences. Jesus' teaching directly challenged these foundational structures, demanding an exclusive and absolute loyalty that transcended human values and traditions.

Matthew 10 39 Word analysis

• Whoever finds his life:
  • "Finds" (Greek: heurōn): Implies a conscious effort or successful attainment. Here, it refers to securing one's life according to worldly standards – pursuing safety, comfort, status, possessions, or self-preservation at all costs, especially when faced with challenges to faith. This 'finding' is self-oriented, striving for control over one's own destiny and well-being independent of God.
  • "His life" (Greek: tēn psychēn autou): Psychē is a profound Greek term that can mean 'life,' 'soul,' 'self,' or 'person.' It refers to the animating principle, the inner being, individual consciousness, or even one's earthly existence. In this context, it signifies the sum total of one's being—personal identity, aspirations, security, earthly comfort, relationships, and even physical safety. 'Finding one's psychē' means living for one's self, serving one's own desires, and placing one's own well-being and temporal interests above allegiance to Christ.
• will lose it:
  • "Will lose" (Greek: apolesei): This future tense signifies an inevitable outcome. To 'lose' (apollymi) implies destruction, perishing, being undone, or missing the true mark. In a spiritual sense, it means forfeiting genuine spiritual life, purpose, eternal well-being, and ultimately eternal salvation. This 'losing' is not mere misfortune but a direct consequence of a choice to prioritize self over God, resulting in alienation from true life.
• and whoever loses his life:
  • "Loses" (Greek: apolesas): Here, the verb is used in the aorist participle, denoting a definite act of sacrifice or surrender. This "losing" is intentional and voluntary. It means to renounce, surrender, abandon, or even risk one's psychē—one's self-interest, earthly securities, reputation, comfort, and potentially physical life—for a higher purpose.
  • "His life" (tēn psychēn autou): Again, the same concept of 'life' or 'self,' but here in the context of willing relinquishment.
• for my sake:
  • "For my sake" (Greek: heneken emou): This is the critical qualifier. The sacrifice of 'losing life' is not a general act of altruism, asceticism, or meaningless suffering, but specifically motivated by devotion and loyalty to Jesus Christ. It implies living in accordance with His will, identifying with Him and His mission, bearing His reproach, and following Him irrespective of the cost. This phrase links the sacrifice directly to personal relationship with Jesus and obedience to His commands.
• will find it:
  • "Will find" (Greek: heuresei): Another future tense, promising a definite outcome. This 'finding' is the opposite of the first instance; it signifies discovery, realization, or actual acquisition of something supremely valuable. It means gaining true, abundant, and eternal life—a life aligned with God's purpose, full of meaning, spiritual vitality, and culminating in eternal communion with God in His Kingdom. It's a divinely bestowed finding, a revelation of authentic existence.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "Whoever finds his life will lose it": This phrase highlights the deceptive nature of self-preservation and worldly pursuits. To "find" or cling to one's earthly life, desires, and security outside of Christ leads to spiritual and eternal ruin. It underscores a fundamental spiritual law: what one seeks to preserve selfishly is precisely what is forfeited in eternal terms. It's a stark warning against self-reliance and attachment to fleeting temporal gains.
• "and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it": This is the heart of the paradox, revealing the pathway to true life. "Losing" life for Jesus’ sake involves intentional surrender, self-denial, suffering for righteousness, and ultimately, an absolute devotion to Christ that outweighs all personal cost. This active renunciation of the self and the world, motivated by love for Jesus, leads to the genuine "finding" of one's truest, most abundant, and eternal life in union with Him. It's a call to courageous faith that reorients all values around Christ.

Matthew 10 39 Bonus section

This profound paradox echoes throughout scripture, particularly in the emphasis on the new creation in Christ. The old self, governed by worldly ambitions and self-preservation, must "die" so that the new self, animated by Christ, can live. Jesus Himself embodied this truth: He "lost" His divine glory and eventually His physical life on the cross "for our sake" (Phil 2:6-8; Isa 53:10), yet through this loss, He "found" resurrection, glorification, and became the source of eternal life for all who believe (Phil 2:9-11; John 3:16). Thus, the call to disciples is not merely a moral teaching, but an invitation to participate in Christ's own death and resurrection, living by the principle of spiritual inversion where God's values redefine what it truly means to live and to die.

Matthew 10 39 Commentary

Matthew 10:39 articulates a central principle of Christian discipleship: genuine life is found through radical surrender. This isn't a call to self-destruction but to a complete reorientation of allegiance and identity from self to Christ. The "life" (psychē) in question refers to one's entire self—earthly existence, desires, and self-security. Those who prioritize saving this earthly self, valuing comfort, reputation, or safety above following Jesus, will inevitably experience a spiritual and eternal loss. Their attempts at self-preservation lead to ultimate forfeiture of true existence. Conversely, the individual who intentionally and actively "loses" this self, relinquishing personal desires, worldly security, and even physical life (as some martyrs did), motivated purely "for my sake" (for Christ's sake), will paradoxically "find" it. This finding signifies receiving genuine, abundant, and eternal life in the Kingdom of God. It highlights the profound irony of the Christian journey: true gain comes through apparent loss, and ultimate victory is realized through willing sacrifice for Christ's name. It demands an unconditional, cross-bearing commitment where allegiance to Jesus surpasses all earthly ties and personal ambitions.