Matthew 16:24 - Denying Self and Bearing One's Cross

(Matthew 16:24} Then Jesus said to his disciples, "If anyone desires to come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. -- RLIV.

CROSS-BEARING is closely related to self-denial, and yet a distinction between them may be noted. Self-denial relates more particularly to passive obedience and endurance for the Lord's sake; cross-bearing has to do more especially with activities in the Lord's service, which we find to be contrary to our natural inclinations. Faithfulness in self-denial means courage and zeal; cross-bearing means victory, overcoming. Our self-denials may be victories in our own hearts, of which others may know nothing, and of which they should know nothing, if we desire to have the fullness of the Lord's blessing. Our cross-bearing, however, may be seen to some extent at least, by those who are in close contact with us, and especially by those who are walking in the same "narrow way." -- Excerpt from ZWT April, 1900 article "Self-Denial and Cross-Bearing Conditions".

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Jesus said, "If anyone desires to come after me." Many try to force others to follow Christ, but that is not what Jesus said. Jesus is looking for those who are willing to follow him, imitate him, and do what he says. Not all who claim to believe, however, will be found to be actually willing to come after Jesus; very few of those who profess belief in this age actually fulfill the requirements that Jesus spoke of in this verse.

"Let him deny himself." The term "self-denial" is often used by people to mean denying oneself of certain pleasures, honor or gain, etc. The Greek phrase as Jesus stated it, however, is about denying the whole self, bringing all ambitions, thoughts, and desires into subjection to God's will through Jesus, bringing all into harmony with his Lord. This denial of self results in the full sacrifice of self.

"Take up his cross." Jesus did not say, as some misquote this verse, that the follower of Christ is to take up the cross of Christ. Jesus was saying that one must take up his own individual cross, and yet to take up one's cross does include following Jesus' example of suffering. The child of God may not literally be nailed to a cross as was Jesus, but he should be willing to suffer for righteousness even as Christ suffered.

"Follow me." To follow Jesus means to serve Jehovah, the God of Jesus, just as Jesus did. It also means to obey Jesus' instructions, the words that Jehovah gave to him to speak.

In the final analysis, the child of God will never be able to be fully perfect in our sinful flesh; it is as new creatures in Christ that one gains victory over the world, Satan, and one's own flesh. The child of God should strive to bring the flesh under the control of the new man, not to serve the flesh, but to make the flesh his servant through the Spirit that is him. The son of God will make his flesh fully perfect; nevertheless, the flesh is counted -- reckoned -- as perfect and counted as dead to sin but alive through the Spirit that leads the son of God. -- Romans 8:11,14. -- Ronald R. Day, Sr.

Related Scriptures: Genesis 22:1-12; 2 Samuel 24:24; Matthew 8:19-22; Matthew 10:37-39; Matthew 13:44-46; Matthew 19:12; Matthew 19:21; Matthew 27:32; Mark 8:34; Mark 10:21; Mark 15:21; Luke 5:11; Luke 5:27; Luke 5:28; Luke 9:23-27; Luke 14:27; Luke 14:33; Luke 18:27-30; Luke 21:2-4; Luke 23:26; John 10:4; John 10:27; John 12:26; John 19:17; Acts 14:22; Acts 20:22-24; Romans 6:1-11; Romans 8:17; Romans 14:1-22; Romans 15:1-5; 1 Corinthians 8:13; 1 Corinthians 9:12; 1 Corinthians 9:15; 1 Corinthians 9:18,19; 1 Corinthians 9:23-27; Philippians 3:7-9; Colossians 1:24; 1 Thessalonians 3:3; 2 Timothy 3:12; Titus 2:12; Hebrews 11:24-26; 1 Peter 4:1,2; 1 Peter 2:11; 1 Peter 2:16; 1 Peter 2:21; 1 Peter 4:1,2; Revelation 14:4.