Matthew 16:24

Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If anyone wants to become my follower, ¹  he must deny ²  himself, take up his cross, ³  and follow me.

Mt 10:38; Mt 27:32; Mr 8:34; Mr 10:21; Mr 15:21; Lu 9:23-27; Lu 14:27; Lu 23:26; Joh 19:17; Ac 14:22; Col 1:24; 1Th 3:3; 2Ti 3:12; Heb 11:24-26; 1Pe 4:1,2

¹ tn Grk “to come after me.”

² tn This translation better expresses the force of the Greek third person imperative than the traditional “let him deny,” which could be understood as merely permissive.

³ sn To bear the cross means to accept the rejection of the world for turning to Jesus and following him. Discipleship involves a death that is like a crucifixion; see Gal 6:14.