²³ Then he said to them all: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me.^(A)

³⁸ Whoever does not take up their cross and follow me is not worthy of me.^{(A) 39} Whoever finds their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life for my sake will find it.^(B)

²⁶ “If anyone comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters—yes, even their own life—such a person cannot be my disciple.^{(A) 27} And whoever does not carry their cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.^(B)

The Way of the Cross

³⁴ Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.^{(A) 35} For whoever wants to save their life^[a] will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me and for the gospel will save it.^{(B) 36} What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? ³⁷ Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul? ³⁸ If anyone is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man^(C) will be ashamed of them^(D) when he comes^(E) in his Father’s glory with the holy angels.”

¹³ For if you live according to the flesh, you will die;^(A) but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body,^(B) you will live.^(C)

¹² It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions,^(A) and to live self-controlled,^(B) upright and godly lives^(C) in this present age,

²⁵ Anyone who loves their life will lose it, while anyone who hates their life in this world will keep it^(A) for eternal life.^{(B) 26} Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be.^(C) My Father will honor the one who serves me.

⁵ Put to death,^(A) therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature:^(B) sexual immorality,^(C) impurity, lust, evil desires and greed,^(D) which is idolatry.^(E)

¹² In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted,^(A)