The Cross and Self-Denial

²⁴ Then Jesus told his disciples, “If any wish to come after me, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.^(A)

³⁸ and whoever does not take up the cross and follow me is not worthy of me.^(A)

²⁷ Whoever does not carry the cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.^(A)

Good Stewards of God’s Grace

4 Since, therefore, Christ suffered in the flesh,^[a] arm yourselves also with the same intention (for whoever has suffered in the flesh has finished with sin),^{(A) 2} so as to live for the rest of your time in the flesh no longer by human desires but by the will of God.^(B)

²³ Then he said to them all, “If any wish to come after me, let them deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me.^{(A) 24} For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will save it.^{(B) 25} For what does it profit them if they gain the whole world but lose or forfeit themselves?^{(C) 26} Those who are ashamed of me and of my words, of them the Son of Man will be ashamed when he comes in his glory and the glory of the Father and of the holy angels.^{(D) 27} Indeed, truly I tell you, there are some standing here who will not taste death before they see the kingdom of God.”^(E)

²¹ Jesus, looking at him, loved him and said, “You lack one thing; go, sell what you own, and give the money^[a] to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me.”^(A)

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

³⁴ He called the crowd with his disciples and said to them, “If any wish to come^[a] after me, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.^(A)

²⁴ By faith Moses, when he was grown up, refused to be called a son of Pharaoh’s daughter, ²⁵ choosing rather to share ill-treatment with the people of God than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin. ²⁶ He considered abuse suffered for the Christ^[a] to be greater wealth than the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking ahead to the reward.

²² There they strengthened the souls of the disciples and encouraged them to continue in the faith, saying, “It is through many persecutions that we must enter the kingdom of God.”^(A)