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I. THE GAIN SUPPOSED.

1. It is an uncertain gain — "If."

2. It is a difficult gain.

3. It is a trifling gain.

4. It is an unsatisfactory gain,

5. It is a temporary gain.

II. THE LOSS SUSTAINED.

1. The loss of heaven.

2. The loss of happiness.

3. The loss of hope.

III. THE INQUIRY PROPOSED.

1. Will the pleasures of sin compensate you for eternal pain?

2. Will any worldly gain compensate you for the loss of the soul?

3. Christ shunned the offer, you accept less.

4. Or will you ask, "What must I do to be saved?"

(H. F. Pickworth.)

I. THE MANNER OF PROPOUNDING THIS TRUTH. The manner of propounding is by a continued interrogation, which not only carrieth in it more strength than an ordinary negation, but stirreth up the hearer to ponder and well weigh the matter, as if he were to give his judgment and answer; as if the Lord had said in larger speech, "Tell me out of your own judgments and best understanding, let your own consciences be judges whether the whole world were a reasonable gain for the loss of the soul, or whether the whole world could recover such a loss, or no."

2. In the manner note another point of wisdom, namely, in matters of much importance, as is the losing of the soul; or else of great danger, as is the winning of the world, to use more than ordinary vehemence.

3. Our Saviour in the manner teacheth how naturally we are all of us inclined to the world, to seek it with all greediness, and so have need of many and strong back biases.

II. THE MATTER AFFORDS SUNDRY INSTRUCTIONS: —

1. The more a man is addicted to gain the world, the greater is the danger of losing his soul. They that will be rich fall into many temptations and snares.

2. Desire to be rich and gain the world stuffeth the soul with a thousand damnable lusts, everyone able to sink it to hell.

3. Desire of gain threatens danger and singular detriment to the soul; because it brings it almost to an impossibility of repentance and salvation; Matthew 19:20: "It is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to be saved."

4. As it keeps out grace in all the means of it, so it eats out and casteth it out of the heart, as the lean kine ate up the fat, and were lean and ill-favoured still.

(T. Taylor, D. D.)

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KJV: For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?

WEB: For what does it profit a man, to gain the whole world, and forfeit his life?