Matthew 16:24
New International Version
Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.

New Living Translation
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.

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

Berean Standard Bible
Then Jesus told His disciples, “If anyone wants to come after Me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow Me.

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

King James Bible
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.

New King James Version
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.

New American Standard Bible
Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone wants to come after Me, he must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow Me.

NASB 1995
Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me.

NASB 1977
Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone wishes to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.

Legacy Standard Bible
Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone wishes to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me.

Amplified Bible
Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone wishes to follow Me [as My disciple], he must deny himself [set aside selfish interests], and take up 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].

Christian Standard Bible
Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If anyone wants to follow after me, let him deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone wants to come with Me, he must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow Me.

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

Contemporary English Version
Then Jesus said to his disciples: If any of you want to be my followers, you must forget about yourself. You must take up your cross and follow me.

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

GOD'S WORD® Translation
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.

Good News Translation
Then Jesus said to his disciples, "If any of you want to come with me, you must forget yourself, carry your cross, and follow me.

International Standard Version
Then Jesus told his disciples, "If anyone wants to follow me, he must deny himself, pick up his cross, and follow me continuously.

Majority Standard Bible
Then Jesus told His disciples, “If anyone wants to come after Me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow Me.

NET Bible
Then Jesus said to his disciples, "If anyone wants to become my follower, he must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me.

New Heart English Bible
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.

Webster's Bible Translation
Then said Jesus to his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.

Weymouth New Testament
Then Jesus said to His disciples, "If any one desires to follow me, let him renounce self and take up his cross, and so be my follower.

World English Bible
Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If anyone desires to come after me, let him deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone wills to come after Me, let him disown himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me,

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

Young's Literal Translation
Then said Jesus to his disciples, 'If any one doth will to come after me, let him disown himself, and take up his cross, and follow me,

Smith's Literal Translation
Then said Jesus to his disciples, If any wish to come after me, let him deny himself absolutely, and lift up his cross, and follow me.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Then Jesus said to his disciples: If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.

Catholic Public Domain Version
Then Jesus said to his disciples: “If anyone is willing to come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.

New American Bible
Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me.

New Revised Standard Version
Then Jesus told his disciples, “If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Then Jesus said to his disciples, He who wishes to come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross and follow me.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
Then Yeshua said to his disciples, “Whoever wants to come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and let him come after me.”
NT Translations
Anderson New Testament
Then Jesus said to his disciples: If any one determines to come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.

Godbey New Testament
Then Jesus said to His disciples, If any one wishes to come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.

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

Mace New Testament
Then addressing himself to his disciples, if any man, said he, would follow me, let him renounce himself, take up his cross, and so follow me.

Weymouth New Testament
Then Jesus said to His disciples, "If any one desires to follow me, let him renounce self and take up his cross, and so be my follower.

Worrell New Testament
Then said Jesus to His disciples, "If any one wishes to come after Me, let him disown himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me;

Worsley New Testament
Then said Jesus to his disciples, If any one is willing to come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me:
Audio Bible



Context
Take Up Your Cross
23But Jesus turned and said to Peter, “Get behind Me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to Me. For you do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men.” 24Then Jesus told His disciples, “If anyone wants to come after Me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow Me. 25For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.…

Cross References
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.

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.

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.

Romans 8:17
And if we are children, then we are heirs: heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ—if indeed we suffer with Him, so that we may also be glorified with Him.

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,

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.

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:

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;

1 Corinthians 9:24-27
Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way as to take the prize. / Everyone who competes in the games trains with strict discipline. They do it for a crown that is perishable, but we do it for a crown that is imperishable. / Therefore I do not run aimlessly; I do not fight like I am beating the air. ...

2 Corinthians 4:10-11
We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. / For we who are alive are always consigned to death for Jesus’ sake, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our mortal body.

Matthew 10:38
and anyone who does not take up his cross and follow Me is not worthy of Me.

Luke 14:27
And whoever does not carry his cross and follow Me cannot be My disciple.

John 15:18-20
If the world hates you, understand that it hated Me first. / If you were of the world, it would love you as its own. Instead, the world hates you, because you are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. / Remember the word that I spoke to you: ‘No servant is greater than his master.’ If they persecuted Me, they will persecute you as well; if they kept My word, they will keep yours as well.

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.

Colossians 3:3-4
For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. / When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory.


Treasury of Scripture

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

If.

Matthew 10:38
And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me.

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.

Mark 10:21
Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me.

and take.

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 15:21
And they compel one Simon a Cyrenian, who passed by, coming out of the country, the father of Alexander and Rufus, to bear his cross.

Luke 23:26
And as they led him away, they laid hold upon one Simon, a Cyrenian, coming out of the country, and on him they laid the cross, that he might bear it after Jesus.

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Matthew 16
1. The Pharisees require a sign.
5. Jesus warns his disciples of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees.
13. The people's opinion of Jesus,
16. and Peter's confession of him.
21. Jesus foretells his death;
23. reproves Peter for dissuading him from it;
24. and admonishes those who will follow him, to bear the cross.














Then Jesus told His disciples
This phrase sets the context for a direct teaching moment from Jesus to His closest followers. The Greek word for "disciples" is "μαθηταί" (mathētai), which means learners or students. This indicates that Jesus is imparting crucial instruction to those who are committed to learning from Him. Historically, discipleship in the Jewish context involved a close relationship between the teacher and the student, emphasizing not just the transfer of knowledge but the imitation of the teacher's life.

If anyone would come after Me
The phrase "come after Me" implies a voluntary decision to pursue Jesus. The Greek word "ἔρχεσθαι" (erchesthai) means to come or to go, suggesting movement and action. This is an open invitation, not limited to the disciples present but extended to anyone willing to follow Jesus. It reflects the inclusive nature of Jesus' call, transcending cultural and social boundaries of the time.

he must deny himself
"Deny" comes from the Greek "ἀπαρνησάσθω" (aparneomai), meaning to disown or renounce. This is a call to reject self-centeredness and personal ambitions that conflict with God's will. In the historical context, this would have been a radical departure from the prevailing cultural norms that emphasized self-preservation and personal honor. It challenges believers to prioritize their identity in Christ over societal expectations.

and take up his cross
The "cross" in the Roman world was a symbol of execution and shame. The Greek word "σταυρόν" (stauron) refers to the physical cross used in crucifixions. For Jesus' audience, this imagery would evoke the harsh reality of Roman oppression. Spiritually, it signifies a willingness to endure suffering and persecution for the sake of Christ. This phrase calls believers to embrace the cost of discipleship, understanding that following Jesus may lead to trials and sacrifices.

and follow Me
The Greek word "ἀκολουθείτω" (akoloutheō) means to accompany or to follow closely. This is not a passive following but an active, continuous pursuit of Jesus' teachings and example. Historically, following a rabbi meant adopting their lifestyle and values. For Christians, this means living in a way that reflects Jesus' love, humility, and obedience to God. It is a lifelong journey of transformation and commitment to the path Jesus has set.

(24) Then said Jesus unto his disciples.--St. Mark adds that He "called the multitude with the disciples," and St. Luke's "he said unto all "implies something of the same kind. The teaching as to the unworldliness of His kingdom which the disciples so much needed was to be generalised in its widest possible extent. Those who were following Him, as many did, in idle wonder, or with the desire of earthly greatness, must do so knowing its conditions.

If any man will come after me.--The "will" is more than a mere auxiliary; "willeth," "desireth" to come after.

Let him deny himself, and take up his cross.--Our common thoughts of "self-denial," i.e., the denial to ourselves of some pleasure or profit, fall far short of the meaning of the Greek. The man is to deny his whole self, all his natural motives and impulses, so far as they come into conflict with the claims of Christ. If he does not so deny himself, he is in danger, as Peter was (it is significant that the same word is used in both instances), of denying his Lord. The self-denial here commanded has, accordingly, its highest type and pattern in the act by which the Son of God, in becoming man, "emptied Himself (see Note on Philippians 2:7) of all that constituted, if we may so speak, the "self" of His divine nature. The words "take up his cross," which the disciples had heard before (see Note on Matthew 10:38), were now clothed with a new and more distinct meaning, by the words that spoke so clearly of the death of which the cross was to be the instrument.

Verse 24. - St. Mark tells us that Jesus called the multitude unto him together with the disciples, as about to say something of universal application. The connection between this paragraph and what has preceded is well put by St. Chrysostom. Then. "When? when St. Peter said, 'Be it far from thee: this shall not be unto thee,' and was told, 'Get thee behind me, Satan.' For Christ was by no means satisfied with the mere rebuke of Peter, but, willing more abundantly to show both the extravagance of Peter's words and the future benefit of his Passion, he saith, 'Thy word to me is, "Be it far from thee: this shall not be unto thee;" but my word to thee is, "Not only is it hurtful to thee to impede me and to be displeased at my Passion, but it will be impossible for thee even to be saved, unless thou thyself too be continually prepared for death."' Thus, lest they should think his suffering unworthy of him, not by the former words only, but by those that were coming, he teaches them the gain thereof." If any man will (θέλει, wills to) come after me. To come after Christ is to be his follower and disciple, and the Lord here declares what will be the life of such a one (see a parallel passage, Matthew 10:38, 39). Jesus mentions three points which belong to the character of a true disciple. The first is self-denial. Let him deny himself. There is no better test of reality and earnestness in the religious life than this. (See a sermon of Newman's on this subject, vol. 1. serm. 5.) If a man follows Jesus, it must be by his own free will, and he must voluntarily renounce everything that might hinder his discipleship, denying himself even in things lawful that he may approach the likeness of his Master. Take up his cross. This is the second point. St. Luke adds, "daily." He must not only be resigned to bear what is brought upon him - suffering, shame, and death, which he cannot escape, but be eager to endure it, meet it with a solemn joy, be glad that he is counted worthy of it. Follow me. The third point. He must be energetic and active, not passive only and resigned, but with all zeal tracking his Master's footsteps, which lead on the way of sorrows. Here too is comfort; he is not called to a task as yet untried; Christ has gone before, and in his strength he may be strong.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Greek
Then
Τότε (Tote)
Adverb
Strong's 5119: Then, at that time. From ho and hote; the when, i.e. At the time that.

Jesus
Ἰησοῦς (Iēsous)
Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 2424: Of Hebrew origin; Jesus, the name of our Lord and two other Israelites.

told
εἶπεν (eipen)
Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 2036: Answer, bid, bring word, command. A primary verb; to speak or say.

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.

disciples,
μαθηταῖς (mathētais)
Noun - Dative Masculine Plural
Strong's 3101: A learner, disciple, pupil. From manthano; a learner, i.e. Pupil.

“If
Εἴ (Ei)
Conjunction
Strong's 1487: If. A primary particle of conditionality; if, whether, that, etc.

anyone
τις (tis)
Interrogative / Indefinite Pronoun - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 5100: Any one, some one, a certain one or thing. An enclitic indefinite pronoun; some or any person or object.

would
θέλει (thelei)
Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 2309: To will, wish, desire, be willing, intend, design.

come
ἐλθεῖν (elthein)
Verb - Aorist Infinitive Active
Strong's 2064: To come, go.

after
ὀπίσω (opisō)
Preposition
Strong's 3694: Behind, after; back, backwards. From the same as opisthen with enclitic of direction; to the back, i.e. Aback.

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.

he must deny
ἀπαρνησάσθω (aparnēsasthō)
Verb - Aorist Imperative Middle - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 533: From apo and arneomai; to deny utterly, i.e. Disown, abstain.

himself
ἑαυτὸν (heauton)
Reflexive Pronoun - Accusative Masculine 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 1438: Himself, herself, itself.

and
καὶ (kai)
Conjunction
Strong's 2532: And, even, also, namely.

take up
ἀράτω (aratō)
Verb - Aorist Imperative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 142: To raise, lift up, take away, remove.

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
ἀκολουθείτω (akoloutheitō)
Verb - Present Imperative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 190: To accompany, attend, follow. Properly, to be in the same way with, i.e. To accompany.

Me.
μοι (moi)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative 1st Person Singular
Strong's 1473: I, the first-person pronoun. A primary pronoun of the first person I.


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NT Gospels: Matthew 16:24 Then Jesus said to his disciples If (Matt. Mat Mt)
Matthew 16:23
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