Matthew 16:25

25 Those who want to save their lives will lose them. But those who lose their lives for me will find them.

Matthew 16:25 Meaning and Commentary

Matthew 16:25

For whosoever will save his life
Whoever is desirous of preserving himself from troubles, reproaches, persecutions, and death; and takes such a method to do it, as by forsaking Christ, denying his Gospel, and dropping his profession of it; and by so doing, curries favour with men, in order to procure to himself worldly emoluments, honour, peace, pleasure, and life,

shall lose it;
he will expose himself to the wrath of God, to everlasting punishment, the destruction of soul and body in hell, which is the second death, and will be his portion:

and whosoever will lose his life for my sake:
that is, is willing to forego all the pleasures and comforts of life, and be subject to poverty and distress, and to lay down life itself, for the sake of Christ and the Gospel, rather than deny him, and part with truth,

shall find it;
in the other world, to great advantage; he shall enjoy an immortal and eternal life, free from all uneasiness and affliction, and full of endless joys and pleasures.

Matthew 16:25 In-Context

23 But Jesus turned and said to Peter, "Get out of my way, Satan! You are tempting me to sin. You aren't thinking the way God thinks but the way humans think."
24 Then Jesus said to his disciples, "Those who want to come with me must say no to the things they want, pick up their crosses, and follow me.
25 Those who want to save their lives will lose them. But those who lose their lives for me will find them.
26 What good will it do for people to win the whole world and lose their lives? Or what will a person give in exchange for life?
27 The Son of Man will come with his angels in his Father's glory. Then he will pay back each person based on what that person has done.
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