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 Standard Bible and anyone who does not take up his cross and follow Me is not worthy of Me. Berean Literal Bible And whoever does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me. King James Bible And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth 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. NASB 1995 “And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me. NASB 1977 “And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me. Legacy Standard Bible And he 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. Berean Annotated Bible and anyone who does not take up his cross and follow (accompany) Me is not worthy of Me. Christian Standard Bible And whoever doesn’t take up his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. Holman Christian Standard Bible And whoever doesn’t take up his cross and follow Me is not worthy of Me. American Standard Version And he that doth not take his cross and follow after me, is not worthy of me. Contemporary English Version And unless you are willing to take up your cross and follow me, you are not fit to be my disciples. English Revised Version And he that doth not take his cross and follow after me, is not worthy of me. GOD'S WORD® Translation Whoever doesn't take up his cross and follow me doesn't deserve to be my disciple. Good News Translation Those who do not take up their cross and follow in my steps are not fit to be my disciples. International Standard Version The one who doesn't take up his cross and follow me isn't worthy of me. NET Bible And whoever does not take up his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. New Heart English Bible And whoever does not take his cross and follow after me, is not worthy of me. Webster's Bible Translation And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth me, is not worthy of me. Weymouth New Testament and any one who does not take up his cross and follow where I lead is not worthy of me. Majority Text Translations Majority Standard Bibleand anyone who does not take up his cross and follow Me is not worthy of Me. World English Bible He who doesn’t take his cross and follow after me isn’t worthy of me. Literal Translations Literal Standard Versionand whoever does not receive his cross and follow after Me, is not worthy of Me. Berean Literal Bible And whoever does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me. Young's Literal Translation and whoever doth not receive his cross and follow after me, is not worthy of me. Smith's Literal Translation And whoever takes not his cross, and follows after me, is not worthy of me. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleAnd he that taketh not up his cross, and followeth me, is not worthy of me. Catholic Public Domain Version And whoever does not take up his cross, and follow me is not worthy of me. New American Bible and whoever does not take up his cross and follow after me is not worthy of me. New Revised Standard Version and whoever does not take up the cross and follow me is not worthy of me. Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleAnd whoever does not take up his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. Aramaic Bible in Plain English And everyone who does not take his cross and come after me is not worthy of me. NT Translations Anderson New Testamentand whoever does not take his cross and follow after me, is not worthy of me. Godbey New Testament Haweis New Testament And he that taketh not up his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me. Mace New Testament and he that does not take his cross, and so follow after me, is unworthy of me. Weymouth New Testament and any one who does not take up his cross and follow where I lead is not worthy of me. Worrell New Testament Worsley New Testament Additional Translations ... Audio Bible (Voice ▾ Musical ▾) Context Take up Your Cross37Anyone who loves his father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me; anyone who loves his son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me; 38and anyone who does not take up his cross and follow Me is not worthy of Me. 39Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.… Cross References and anyone who does not take up his cross Matthew 16:24 Then Jesus told His disciples, “If anyone wants to come after Me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow Me. Mark 8:34 Then Jesus called the crowd to Him along with His disciples, and He told them, “If anyone wants to come after Me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow Me. Luke 9:23 Then Jesus said to all of them, “If anyone wants to come after Me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow Me. and follow Me John 12:26 If anyone serves Me, he must follow Me; and where I am, My servant will be as well. If anyone serves Me, the Father will honor him. Matthew 19:21 Jesus told him, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow Me.” John 21:19 Jesus said this to indicate the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God. And after He had said this, He told him, “Follow Me.” is not worthy of Me. Matthew 8:8 The centurion answered, “Lord, I am not worthy to have You come under my roof. But just say the word, and my servant will be healed. John 1:27 He is the One who comes after me, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie.” Acts 5:41 The apostles left the Sanhedrin, rejoicing that they had been counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the Name. Luke 14:27 And whoever does not carry his cross and follow Me cannot be My disciple. John 12:25-26 Whoever loves his life will lose it, but whoever hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. / If anyone serves Me, he must follow Me; and where I am, My servant will be as well. If anyone serves Me, the Father will honor him. Galatians 2:20 I have been crucified with Christ, and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me. Romans 6:6 We know that our old self was crucified with Him so that the body of sin might be rendered powerless, that we should no longer be slaves to sin. 1 Peter 2:21 For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in His footsteps: Philippians 3:10 I want to know Christ and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to Him in His death, 2 Timothy 2:11-12 This is a trustworthy saying: If we died with Him, we will also live with Him; / if we endure, we will also reign with Him; if we deny Him, He will also deny us; Treasury of Scripture And he that takes not his cross, and follows after me, is not worthy of me. Matthew 16:24 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 27:32 And as they came out, they found a man of Cyrene, Simon by name: him they compelled to bear his cross. Mark 8:34 And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. Jump to Previous Cross Enough Follow Followeth Good Lead Receive WorthyJump to Next Cross Enough Follow Followeth Good Lead Receive WorthyMatthew 10 1. Jesus sends out his apostles, enabling them with power to do miracles;5. giving them their charge, teaches them; 16. comforts them against persecutions; 40. and promises a blessing to those who receive them. and anyone who does not take up his cross The cross was a Roman instrument of execution, humiliation, and public warning. Jesus calls His followers to accept the cost of loyalty to Him, including self-denial, suffering, rejection, and even death if required. Mat 16:24 Then Jesus told His disciples, “If anyone wants to come… and follow Me Discipleship means leaving former allegiances behind and ordering life according to Jesus’ teaching, example, and mission. It is a continuing commitment marked by obedience and perseverance. Jhn 12:26 If anyone serves Me, he must follow Me; and where I am… is not worthy of Me. Those unwilling to bear the cost of following Christ are not fit for the demands of true discipleship. Jesus requires loyalty above personal comfort, safety, family ties, and every competing claim. Mat 8:8 The centurion answered, “Lord, I am not worthy… Persons / Places / Events 1. Jesus ChristThe speaker of this verse, Jesus is addressing His disciples, providing them with instructions and expectations for discipleship. 2. Disciples The immediate audience of Jesus' teaching, representing all who choose to follow Him. 3. The Cross A symbol of suffering, sacrifice, and the cost of discipleship, reflecting the Roman method of execution and the ultimate sacrifice Jesus would make. Teaching Points Understanding the CrossThe cross is not just a symbol of suffering but a call to self-denial and total commitment to Christ. Daily Commitment Taking up the cross is a daily decision, requiring ongoing dedication and perseverance in following Jesus. Sacrificial Living True discipleship involves sacrifice, prioritizing Christ above personal desires and comforts. Worthy of Christ To be worthy of Christ, one must embrace the challenges and sacrifices that come with following Him. Transformation through Suffering Embracing the cross leads to spiritual growth and transformation, aligning us more closely with Christ's character. Bible Study Questions and Answers 1. What is the meaning of Matthew 10:38?2. What does "take up his cross" mean in Matthew 10:38 for believers today? 3. How can we prioritize following Jesus over personal desires, as Matthew 10:38 instructs? 4. How does Matthew 10:38 connect with Jesus' sacrifice on the cross? 5. In what ways can we daily "take up" our cross in modern life? 6. How does Matthew 10:38 challenge our understanding of true discipleship? 7. What does "take up his cross" mean in Matthew 10:38? 8. How does Matthew 10:38 challenge modern Christian discipleship? 9. Why is self-denial important in Matthew 10:38? 10. What are the top 10 Lessons from Matthew 10? (38) He that taketh not his cross.--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. 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 come back to their minds with a new significance.Verse 38. - Besides the parallel passage, Luke 14:27 (vide supra), cf. also (for vers. 38, 39) Matthew 16:24, 25 (parallel passages: Mark 8:34, 35; Luke 9:23, 24). .and he that taketh not; doth not take (Revised Version), which calls attention to the change to the more definite mode of expression (ο{ς... λαμβάνει). Taketh. Receives in submission when given him; contrast ἀράτω, "take up from the ground" (Matthew 16:24), and βαστάζει, "bear" (Luke 14:27). His cross. A reference to the custom (vide Meyer) of criminals carrying their cross before they were crucified upon it. If, therefore, the figure may be pressed, the reference here is to the bearing of trials, even though they are such as point forward to greater trials in the future. Observe the torture and the ignominy of the trials that Christ expects his followers to be prepared for. And followeth after me. For Christ's journey ended in nothing less. Is not worthy of me. "And having been a little chastised, they shall be greatly rewarded: for God proved them, and found them worthy of himself" (Wisd. 3:5). Compare the reply of St. Thomas Aquinas to our Lord in vision after he had completed his "Summa:" "Thoma, bene scripsisti de me; Quam reci-pies a Me pro rue labore mercedem? Domine, non nisi Te" (Archbishop Vaughan's 'Life of St. Thomas,' frontispiece). Jesus’ words in Matthew 10:38 are straightforward yet soul-searching. To be His disciple means embracing a personal cross—daily dying to self, enduring hardship, and yielding desires that conflict with His lordship. It means actively following—listening, trusting, imitating Him wherever He leads. Refusal to do so shows a heart that prizes self above the Savior, a life “not worthy” of the One who first carried the cross for us. True discipleship values Christ above all, proves it by obedient steps, and rests in the assurance that the path of the cross always leads to resurrection joy. Parallel Commentaries ... Greek andκαὶ (kai) Conjunction Strong's 2532: And, even, also, namely. anyone who ὃς (hos) Personal / Relative Pronoun - Nominative Masculine Singular Strong's 3739: Who, which, what, that. does not take up λαμβάνει (lambanei) Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular Strong's 2983: (a) I receive, get, (b) I take, lay hold of. his αὐτοῦ (autou) Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Singular Strong's 846: 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 Strong's 4716: A cross. and καὶ (kai) Conjunction Strong's 2532: And, even, also, namely. follow ἀκολουθεῖ (akolouthei) Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular Strong's 190: 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 Strong's 1473: I, the first-person pronoun. A primary pronoun of the first person I. is ἔστιν (estin) Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular Strong's 1510: I am, exist. The first person singular present indicative; a prolonged form of a primary and defective verb; I exist. not οὐκ (ouk) Adverb Strong's 3756: No, not. Also ouk, and ouch a primary word; the absolute negative adverb; no or not. worthy ἄξιος (axios) Adjective - Nominative Masculine Singular Strong's 514: Worthy, worthy of, deserving, comparable, suitable. Probably from ago; deserving, comparable or suitable. of Me. μου (mou) Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 1st Person Singular Strong's 1473: I, the first-person pronoun. A primary pronoun of the first person I. Additonal Resources Matthew 10:38 Blue Letter BibleMatthew 10:38 Bible Gateway Matthew 10:38 Bible.com Matthew 10:38 NIV |
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