³⁸ And he who does not take up his cross and follow Me [^[a]cleave steadfastly to Me, conforming wholly to My example in living and, if need be, in dying also] is not worthy of Me.

³⁹ Whoever finds his [^[b]lower] life will lose it [the higher life], and whoever loses his [lower] life on My account will find it [the higher life].

²⁵ And Jesus called them to Him and said, You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great men hold them in subjection [tyrannizing over them].

²⁶ Not so shall it be among you; but whoever wishes to be great among you must be your servant,

²⁷ And whoever desires to be first among you must be your slave—

²⁸ Just as the Son of Man came not to be waited on but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many [the price paid to set them free].

²⁴ Then Jesus said to His disciples, If anyone desires to be My disciple, let him deny himself [disregard, lose sight of, and forget himself and his own interests] and take up his cross and follow Me [^[a]cleave steadfastly to Me, conform wholly to My example in living and, if need be, in dying, also].

²⁵ For whoever is bent on saving his [temporal] life [his comfort and security here] shall lose it [eternal life]; and whoever loses his life [his comfort and security here] for My sake shall find it [life everlasting].

³⁴ And Jesus called [to Him] the throng with His disciples and said to them, If anyone intends to come after Me, let him deny himself [forget, ignore, disown, and ^[a]lose sight of himself and his own interests] and take up his cross, and [^[b]joining Me as a disciple and siding with My party] follow ^[c]with Me [continually, cleaving steadfastly to Me].

³⁵ For whoever wants to save his [^[d]higher, spiritual, eternal] life, will lose it [the ^[e]lower, natural, temporal life ^[f]which is lived only on earth]; and whoever gives up his life [which is lived only on earth] for My sake and the Gospel’s will save it [his ^[g]higher, spiritual life ^[h]in the eternal kingdom of God].

²³ And He said to all, If any person wills to come after Me, let him deny himself [^[a]disown himself, ^[b]forget, lose sight of himself and his own interests, ^[c]refuse and give up himself] and take up his cross daily and follow Me [^[d]cleave steadfastly to Me, conform wholly to My example in living and, if need be, in dying also].

²⁴ For whoever would preserve his life and save it will lose and destroy it, but whoever loses his life for My sake, he will preserve and save it [^[e]from the penalty of eternal death].