^27 (A)Whoever does not ^(B)bear his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple.

³⁸ And ^(A)whoever does not take his cross and ^(B)follow me is not worthy of me.

Take Up Your Cross and Follow Jesus

²³ And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him ^(A)deny himself and ^(B)take up his cross ^(C)daily and follow me. ²⁴ For ^(D)whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it. ^25 (E)For what does it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses or forfeits himself?

³⁴ And calling the crowd to him with his disciples, he said to them, “If anyone would come after me, let him ^(A)deny himself and ^(B)take up his cross and follow me. ³⁵ For ^(C)whoever would save his life^[a] will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake ^(D)and the gospel's will save it. ^36 (E)For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul? ³⁷ For ^(F)what can a man give in return for his soul?

²¹ And Jesus, ^(A)looking at him, ^(B)loved him, and said to him, “You lack one thing: go, ^(C)sell all that you have and give to the poor, and you will have ^(D)treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.”

^22 (A)strengthening the souls of the disciples, encouraging them ^(B)to continue in ^(C)the faith, and saying that ^(D)through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God.

Take Up Your Cross and Follow Jesus

²⁴ Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him ^(A)deny himself and ^(B)take up his cross and follow me. ²⁵ For ^(C)whoever would save his life^[a] will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. ²⁶ For ^(D)what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or ^(E)what shall a man give in return for his soul?

¹² Indeed, all who desire to ^(A)live a godly life in Christ Jesus ^(B)will be persecuted,

²¹ yet he has no root in himself, but ^(A)endures for a while, and when tribulation or persecution arises on account of the word, immediately ^(B)he falls away.^[a]