UBF Daily Bread

IF ANYONE WOULD COME AFTER ME

Passage: Matthew 16:21~28

Key verse: 24

Jesus Predicts His Death^(A)

²¹From that time on Jesus began to explain to his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem^(B) and suffer many things^(C) at the hands of the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law,^(D) and that he must be killed^(E) and on the third day^(F) be raised to life.^(G)

²²Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. “Never, Lord!” he said. “This shall never happen to you!”

²³Jesus turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan!^(H) You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns.”

²⁴Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.^(I) ²⁵For whoever wants to save their life^[a] will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it.^(J) ²⁶What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul? ²⁷For the Son of Man^(K) is going to come^(L) in his Father’s glory with his angels, and then he will reward each person according to what they have done.^(M)

²⁸“Truly I tell you, some who are standing here will not taste death before they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom.”

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Footnotes

Matthew 16:25 The Greek word means either life or soul; also in verse 26.

Cross references

Matthew 16:21 : 16:21-28pp — Mk 8:31–9:1; Lk 9:22-27
Matthew 16:21 : S Lk 9:51
Matthew 16:21 : Ps 22:6; Isa 53:3; Mt 26:67, 68; Mk 10:34; Lk 17:25; Jn 18:22, 23; 19:3
Matthew 16:21 : Mt 27:1, 2
Matthew 16:21 : Ac 2:23; 3:13
Matthew 16:21 : Hos 6:2; Mt 12:40; Lk 24:21, 46; Jn 2:19; 1Co 15:3, 4
Matthew 16:21 : Mt 17:22, 23; 27:63; Mk 9:31; Lk 9:22; 18:31-33; 24:6, 7
Matthew 16:23 : S Mt 4:10
Matthew 16:24 : Mt 10:38; Lk 14:27
Matthew 16:25 : S Jn 12:25
Matthew 16:27 : S Mt 8:20
Matthew 16:27 : S Lk 17:30; Jn 14:3; Ac 1:11; S 1Co 1:7; S 1Th 2:19; 4:16; S Rev 1:7; 22:7, 12, 20
Matthew 16:27 : 2Ch 6:23; Job 34:11; Ps 62:12; Jer 17:10; Eze 18:20; 1Co 3:12-15; 2Co 5:10; Rev 22:12

Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway

1. 'Never, Lord!' (21-23)

After Peter's confession, Jesus began to teach him what the Christ must do. But when Jesus spoke of death, Peter reacted. He said he believed in Jesus, but he did not accept Jesus' word. Jesus' words didn't fit his ideas; they ran counter to his feelings. His mind was full of human plans, so without realizing it, he tempted Jesus as Satan had done. When we reject God's word because of our human feelings, we become God's enemies.

2. The way to life (24-28)

Jesus tells us that if we struggle only to improve the quality of our physical lives, and only try to protect ourselves and our own families, we will lose the very life we seek. The way to find life is to follow Jesus. We must deny our own feelings and ideas and accept Jesus' word; we must take up the cross of mission he gives us. We follow him wherever he leads and grow in our inner lives in his image.

Prayer: Lord, help me to take my cross and follow you today.

One Word: Follow Jesus