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Scott's Reference Library
Matthew 16:21 through Matthew 16:28 (NIV)
21From that time on Jesus began to explain to his disciples that he must go
to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, chief priests
and teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and on the third day be
raised to life.
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! You are a stumbling
block to me; you do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men.”
24Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, he must deny
himself and take up his cross and follow me. 25For whoever wants to save his
life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it. 26What good
will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul? Or what
can a man give in exchange for his soul? 27For the Son of Man is going to come
in his Father’s glory with his angels, and then he will reward each person
according to what he has done. 28I tell you the truth, some who are standing
here will not taste death before they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom.”
Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible
VERSES 21-23
Christ reveals his mind to his people gradually. From that time, when the
apostles had made the full confession of Christ, that he was the Son of God, he
began to show them of his sufferings. He spake this to set right the mistakes of
his disciples about the outward pomp and power of his kingdom. Those that follow
Christ, must not expect great or high things in this world. Peter would have
Christ to dread suffering as much as he did; but we mistake, if we measure
Christ’s love and patience by our own. We do not read of any thing said or done
by any of his disciples, at any time, that Christ resented so much as this.
Whoever takes us from that which is good, and would make us fear to do too much
for God, speaks Satan’s language. Whatever appears to be a temptation to sin,
must be resisted with abhorrence, and not be parleyed with. Those that decline
suffering for Christ, savour more of the things of man than of the things of
God.
VERSES 24-28
A true disciple of Christ is one that does follow him in duty, and shall follow
him to glory. He is one that walks in the same way Christ walked in, is led by
his Spirit, and treads in his steps, whithersoever he goes. “Let him deny
himself.” If self-denial be a hard lesson, it is no more than what our Master
learned and practised, to redeem us, and to teach us. “Let him take up his
cross.” The cross is here put for every trouble that befalls us. We are apt to
think we could bear another’s cross better than our own; but that is best which
is appointed us, and we ought to make the best of it. We must not by our
rashness and folly pull crosses down upon our own heads, but must take them up
when they are in our way. If any man will have the name and credit of a
disciple, let him follow Christ in the work and duty of a disciple. If all
worldly things are worthless when compared with the life of the body, how
forcible the same argument with respect to the soul and its state of
never-ending happiness or misery! Thousands lose their souls for the most
trifling gain, or the most worthless indulgence, nay, often from mere sloth and
negligence. Whatever is the object for which men forsake Christ, that is the
price at which Satan buys their souls. Yet one soul is worth more than all the
world. This is Christ’s judgment upon the matter; he knew the price of souls,
for he redeemed them; nor would he underrate the world, for he made it. The
dying transgressor cannot purchase one hour’s respite to seek mercy for his
perishing soul. Let us then learn rightly to value our souls, and Christ as the
only Saviour of them.