Matthew 16 24

Matthew 16:24 kjv

Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.

Matthew 16:24 nkjv

Then Jesus said to His disciples, "If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.

Matthew 16:24 niv

Then Jesus said to his disciples, "Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.

Matthew 16:24 esv

Then Jesus told his disciples, "If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.

Matthew 16:24 nlt

Then Jesus said to his disciples, "If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me.

Matthew 16 verses

Matthew 16 24 Meaning

Matthew 16:24 conveys Jesus' core requirement for true discipleship: a radical commitment involving absolute self-renunciation, willing embrace of suffering or "death" to self, and active, continuous obedience to His teachings and way of life. It signifies a profound reordering of priorities, placing Christ and His kingdom above one's own desires, comfort, or worldly ambitions, foundational for anyone genuinely seeking to follow Him.

Matthew 16 24 Context

This pivotal teaching of Jesus directly follows Peter's magnificent confession of Jesus as "the Christ, the Son of the living God" (Matt 16:16). Immediately after Peter's inspired declaration, Jesus reveals for the first time that He must go to Jerusalem, suffer many things from the elders, chief priests, and scribes, be killed, and be raised on the third day (Matt 16:21). Peter, reflecting popular Jewish Messianic expectations of a conquering political king, rebukes Jesus (Matt 16:22), unable to accept a suffering Messiah. Jesus sternly rebukes Peter, calling him "Satan" for thinking "not the things of God, but the things of men" (Matt 16:23). It is in this tension, correcting a worldly understanding of the Messiah and His kingdom, that Jesus lays out the true nature and cost of following Him for all who desire it. The "cross" in this cultural context was a brutal Roman instrument of execution, known to every Jew as a symbol of excruciating public shame, suffering, and death, not merely an inconvenient burden.

Matthew 16 24 Word analysis

• Then Jesus said to His disciples,:

  • This establishes the authority of the speaker, Jesus Christ, and specifies the primary audience as His committed followers. The teaching is directed not just to the multitude but particularly to those learning directly from Him.

• "If anyone desires to come after Me, (εἴ τις θέλει ὀπίσω μου ἐλθεῖν - ei tis thelei opisō mou elthein):

  • "If anyone": eí tis (Greek) - Signifies an invitation, not a forced command. The choice is personal and voluntary. This teaching applies universally to anyone, not just Peter or the Twelve.
  • "desires": thelei (Greek) - From thelo, meaning "to will, to wish, to want, to desire." It indicates a deliberate choice, an inner longing or readiness, distinguishing genuine commitment from mere curiosity.
  • "to come after Me": opisō mou elthein (Greek) - Implies moving in the same direction, on the same path, and with the same purpose as Jesus. It signifies discipleship as following closely in His footsteps, living out His way of life.

• let him deny himself, (ἀρνησάσθω ἑαυτόν - arnēsasthō heauton):

  • "let him deny": arnēsasthō (Greek) - A strong aorist imperative, meaning "to repudiate, to disown, to renounce completely, to utterly reject." This is not just abstaining from certain pleasures but a decisive and comprehensive rejection of one's own agenda, desires, and the very core of self-will and self-centeredness.
  • "himself": heauton (Greek) - Refers to the whole person, specifically the ego, the individual's inherent self-focus, ambition, pride, and natural will. It means dethroning oneself from the center of one's life. It's an internal act of surrender, a spiritual "crucifixion" of the self-life.

• and take up his cross, (καὶ ἀράτω τὸν σταυρὸν αὐτοῦ - kai aratō ton stauron autou):

  • "and take up": aratō (Greek) - Another aorist imperative, from airō, meaning "to lift up, to bear, to carry." It signifies a conscious, active, and willing embrace. It is not finding random burdens, but intentionally accepting the path.
  • "his cross": ton stauron autou (Greek) - The cross was a literal instrument of execution, not a metaphor for minor inconveniences. "His cross" means a personal death sentence – identifying with Christ in His shame, suffering, and willingness to die to self and to the world's values. It represents suffering incurred for righteousness, rejection from a hostile world because of allegiance to Christ, and the daily dying to self-will and self-preservation, in imitation of Christ’s self-sacrifice.

• and follow Me." (καὶ ἀκολουθείτω μοι - kai akoloutheitō moi):

  • "and follow": akoloutheitō (Greek) - Present imperative, indicating a continuous, ongoing action. It means to literally walk behind someone as a disciple, obeying their instructions, living according to their example and teaching. This is the practical outcome of self-denial and cross-bearing: active imitation and obedience to Jesus.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "If anyone desires to come after Me,": This phrase acts as a preface, clearly indicating that the subsequent demands are conditional upon a willing personal commitment. It establishes discipleship not as a compulsory obligation but as a chosen path.
• "let him deny himself, and take up his cross,": These two commands are intrinsically linked and describe the radical reorientation required for following Christ. "Deny himself" (internal, fundamental surrender of the ego) is the precondition for "taking up his cross" (external expression of commitment, willingness to endure suffering and death to worldly desires for Christ). This pair signifies the inner transformation and outward expression of identification with Christ's path of sacrifice.
• "and follow Me.": This final command summarizes the continuous, practical outcome of the preceding two. It means active, persistent imitation of Jesus’ life, teachings, and path, empowered by the foundational self-denial and the spirit of embracing one's specific journey of sacrifice. It encompasses active obedience and loyal adherence to Christ.

Matthew 16 24 Bonus section

• The radical nature of Jesus' words in Matthew 16:24 would have been especially shocking immediately after Peter's rebuke. It countered both the Jewish expectation of a political Messiah and Peter's natural desire to protect Jesus from suffering. Jesus was setting straight a fundamental misunderstanding of what it meant for Him to be Messiah and, consequently, what it means for them to be His followers.
• The teaching applies to every aspect of a believer's life: priorities, ambitions, relationships, finances, time—everything is subject to Christ's Lordship. It’s a call to spiritual warfare against the natural human inclination towards independence from God.
• This statement highlights the exclusivist nature of Christianity. True discipleship is a choice to walk Jesus' path, which is distinct from the world's path, often leading to conflict and rejection.
• The "cross" here isn't a call for self-flagellation or seeking out suffering for its own sake, but for embracing the suffering that naturally arises from living righteously, obeying Christ, and sharing His Gospel in a world often hostile to divine truth. It's often the rejection of self-chosen comforts and security for God-appointed tasks and challenges.

Matthew 16 24 Commentary

Matthew 16:24 is not merely an ascetic principle; it is the definitive declaration of authentic Christian discipleship. Following Jesus means rejecting the common human instinct for self-preservation and personal gratification. "Denying self" involves dismantling the sovereign reign of one's ego, replacing one's will with God's will. It is an internal, spiritual crucifixion. "Taking up one's cross" extends this self-crucifixion into tangible reality. This is not about selecting convenient burdens, but embracing the inevitable suffering and social rejection that come from aligning with Christ's mission in a fallen world, whether through persecution, sacrificial service, or the quiet discipline of daily obedience. The imagery is profound: as a condemned criminal picked up his crossbeam on the way to execution, so the disciple embraces a chosen death to self, sin, and the world. Only then can one truly "follow Me," walking in the steps of Jesus' life of humility, obedience, service, and sacrifice, recognizing that His path leads through death to resurrection life. This verse calls for a whole-life surrender, ensuring Christ's authority reigns supreme in the believer's life.