Matthew 10:38 KJV
And he that taketh not his cross,
and followeth after me,
is not worthy of me.
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Other translations
New International Version
Whoever does not take up their cross and follow me is not worthy of me.
New Living Translation
If you refuse to take up your cross and follow me, you are not worthy of being mine.
English Standard Version
And whoever does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me.
Berean Study Bible
and anyone who does not take up his cross and follow Me is not worthy of Me.
Berean Literal Bible
And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me.
New King James Version
And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me.
New American Standard Bible
And the one who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me.
Amplified Bible
And he who does not take his cross [expressing a willingness to endure whatever may come] and follow Me [believing in Me, conforming to My example in living and, if need be, suffering or perhaps dying because of faith in Me] is not worthy of Me.
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He that taketh not his cross
We have much the same in Matthew 16:24; Mark 8:34; Luke 9:23.
The words were hardly a specific announcement of the manner of our Lord’s death, though they imply, interpreted by events, a distinct prevision of it, such as that which we trace in John 3:14.
To the disciples they would recall the sad scene which Roman rule had made familiar to them, the procession of robbers or rebels, each carrying the cross on which he was to suffer to the place of execution.
When persons were condemned to be crucified, a part of the sentence was that they should carry the cross on which they were to die to the place of execution.
Thus, Christ carried his, until he fainted from fatigue and exhaustion (Matthew 27:31).
They would learn that they were called to a like endurance of ignominy and suffering. When they saw their Master Himself carrying His own cross, the words would have come back to their minds with a new significance.
To carry the cross
▪︎ was burdensome,
▪︎ was disgraceful,
▪︎ was trying to the feelings,
▪︎ was an addition to the punishment.
So “to carry the cross” is a figurative expression, denoting that we must endure whatever is burdensome, or is trying, or is considered disgraceful, in following the Christ.
- It consists simply in doing our duty, let the people of the world think of it or speak of it as they may.
- It does not consist in making trouble for ourselves, or doing things merely “to be opposed;”
- It is doing just what is required of us in the Scriptures, let it produce whatever shame, disgrace, or pain it may.
This every follower of Jesus is required to do.
He that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me, is a saying which our Lord once and again emphatically reiterates (Matthew 16:24; Luke 9:23; 14:27).
We have become so accustomed to this expression “taking up one’s cross” in the sense of “being prepared for trials in general for Christ’s sake,” that we are apt to lose sight of its primary and proper sense.
Here it pointed to “a preparedness to follow Jesus, even to the point of crucifixion,” as when our Lord had to bear His own cross on His way to Golgotha.
We should follow the Lord, even if this would cost our life.
Think about this for a moment, and you may discover that this is not that easy to say, leave do.
This saying is the more remarkable, as our Lord had not as yet given a hint that He would die this death, nor was crucifixion a Jewish mode of capital punishment.
It is not he that doesn’t make, but he that doesn’t take his cross; that is, he that does not willingly, and cheerfully, and patiently bear and undergo those trials, and afflictions, and persecutions, which God in the way of His providence shall lay upon him, and bring him into, is not worthy of the name or reward of my disciples.
Our Saviour calls all such trials, the cross,
▪︎ either with reference to the Roman last punishment, by crucifying,
▪︎ or signifying what death he should die, and with reference to his own cross.
The cross was a Roman method of punishing, whereby malefactors were put to death.
By this “cross” is not only meant death on believing in the Christ, but all sorts of afflictions, reproaches, persecutions, as well. And particularly the ill will, hatred, and persecution, of near relations and friends, which must be expected by such, who bear a faithful testimony for Christ.
Every minister of the Christ, or professor of His name, has “his” own cross, his own particular afflictions, appointed by God, and laid on him by the Christ, and which he should cheerfully take up, and patiently bear, for His sake.
The allusion is to the custom of persons sentenced to be crucified, to carry their own cross, as Christ did his, and Simon the Cyrenian for him; and which our Lord here may have a respect unto, as well knowing what death He was to die, and that some of His disciples also would die the same death: wherefore Christ says,
and followeth after me; led on by His example, to preach or profess the Gospel, submit to the ordinances of it, and cheerfully suffer for the sake of it, when called to it.
If a man, who would be thought to be a disciple of Christ, is not willing to do all this, but, in order to avoid it, complies with his friends, conforms to the world, and turns his back on the Christ; of such an one He may well say, He is not worthy of Me; it is not convenient that he should stand among His disciples and followers.
The cross
The cross was usually composed of two rough beams of wood, united in the form of this figure of a cross. It was an instrument of death. (See Matthew 27:31, 32).
Greek
And ☆ καὶ (kai) ☆ Conjunction ☆ And, even, also, namely.
Anyone who ☆ ὃς (hos) ☆ Personal / Relative Pronoun – Nominative Masculine Singular ☆ Who, which, what, that.
Does not take up ☆ λαμβάνει (lambanei) ☆ Verb – Present Indicative Active – 3rd Person Singular ☆ (a) I receive, get, (b) I take, lay hold of.
His ☆ αὐτοῦ (autou) ☆ Personal / Possessive Pronoun – Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Singular ☆ He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons.
Cross ☆ σταυρὸν (stauron) ☆ Noun – Accusative Masculine Singular ☆ A cross.
And ☆ καὶ (kai) ☆ Conjunction ☆ And, even, also, namely.
Follow ☆ ἀκολουθεῖ (akolouthei) ☆ Verb – Present Indicative Active – 3rd Person Singular ☆ To accompany, attend, follow. Properly, to be in the same way with, i.e. To accompany.
Me ☆ μου (mou) ☆ Personal / Possessive Pronoun – Genitive 1st Person Singular ☆ I, the first-person pronoun. A primary pronoun of the first person I.
Is ☆ ἔστιν (estin) ☆ Verb – Present Indicative Active – 3rd Person Singular ☆ I am, exist. The first person singular present indicative; a prolonged form of a primary and defective verb; I exist.
Not ☆ οὐκ (ouk) ☆ Adverb ☆ No, not. Also ouk, and ouch a primary word; the absolute negative adverb; no or not.
Worthy ☆ ἄξιος (axios) ☆ Adjective – Nominative Masculine Singular ☆ Worthy, worthy of, deserving, comparable, suitable. Probably from ago; deserving, comparable or suitable.
Of Me ☆ μου (mou) ☆ Personal / Possessive Pronoun – Genitive 1st Person Singular ☆ I, the first-person pronoun. A primary pronoun of the first person I.
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