Matthew 16:24
Bible Verses. Also called Matt. 16:24, Mt 16:24, Take up his cross, Deny himself, Follow me, If any man will come after me.
Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.
Scripture quotation from the King James Version (KJV). Read this chapter
"If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me" is a saying of Jesus. Often regarded as a summary of discipleship, the verse is widely cited in discussions of martyrdom, daily devotion, and the meaning of suffering.
About this articleAI draft from a Korean source. Notes on Korean Protestant practice. No sources listed. Not yet reviewed by a person.
- Origin
Drafted by AI from the Korean church.wiki article, then translated and adapted for English readers on 5 November 2026.
- Perspective
Includes notes on Korean Protestant practice; other traditions are noted where they differ.
- Sources
None listed yet. The article draws on the biblical text and general reference works. Add a source
- Review
Not yet reviewed by a person. Last edited by a person: never. Translation updated 5 November 2026. Edit history
Context
Immediately after Peter's confession of faith (Matthew 16:16), Jesus reveals for the first time that he must suffer in Jerusalem, be killed, and be raised again on the third day. When Peter protests, Jesus rebukes him: "Get thee behind me, Satan" (16:21-23). He then speaks these words to the disciples, adding that whoever would save his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for Jesus' sake will find it (16:25). The flow of the passage indicates that just as the way of the Messiah is a way of suffering, so too is the way of the disciple.
Interpretation
- As a call to readiness for martyrdom: In that era the cross was a Roman instrument of execution, and the condemned carried the beam of their own cross to the place of execution. On this reading, the saying called for readiness even to die.
- As a call to daily devotion: The Gospel of Luke adds the word "daily" (Luke 9:23). This reading broadens the saying to a life of setting aside self-centered desires and following Jesus' will each day.
- The meaning of self-denial: Self-denial is often explained not as a command to hate one's own existence but as transferring control of one's life from oneself to Christ.
Controversies and Issues
Some have criticized the use of the phrase "taking up the cross" to mean enduring even avoidable, unjust suffering. In particular, voices in feminist theology and pastoral counseling have argued that urging victims of domestic violence or abuse to accept their situation as "my cross" is not what the verse means. The cross in this verse, they contend, refers to suffering endured because one follows Christ.
In The Cost of Discipleship, Dietrich Bonhoeffer criticized faith that does not pay the cost of discipleship as "cheap grace," and this verse is frequently read alongside that discussion as one of its central texts.
Perspective: Korean Protestant practiceHow this idea is used in Korean churches, kept from the original Korean article.
In Korean Protestant churches, the stories of figures such as the Rev. Ju Gi-cheol, who was martyred for refusing Shinto shrine worship during the Japanese colonial period, are often recounted in connection with this verse. Today it is frequently used as a sermon text for discipleship training, dedication services, and missionary commissioning services.
Related Passages
See also 6
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