Mat 16:24 | TNotes | STEP | 16:24 give ... take ... follow: These three imperatives use different images to speak of the same radical commitment of confessing one’s sinfulness before God in humility, surrendering one’s personal ambition to God, and living according to his will (see also 5:20 ; 10:34-39 ; 18:1-5 ; 20:20-28 ). • Take up your cross is a metaphor for devotion (see Luke 9:23 ) rather than a call to martyrdom, although martyrdom is an ever-present possibility for Jesus’ disciples (Matt 5:10-12 ; 10:21 ). • In Matthew, follow is used both literally (9:19 ; 26:58 ) and metaphorically. Metaphorically, it indicates interest in a teacher (4:25 ; 8:1 , 10 ; 12:15 ; 14:13 ; 19:2 ; 20:29 ; 21:9 ) or personal allegiance to Jesus involving a call, a commitment, and great ongoing costs (4:20 , 22 ; 8:19 , 22-23 ; 9:9 ; 10:38 ; 16:24 ; 19:21 , 27 ).

16:24 ^a give ... take ... follow: These three imperatives use different images to speak of the same radical commitment of confessing one’s sinfulness before God in humility, surrendering one’s personal ambition to God, and living according to his will (see also 5:20 ^b; 10:34-39 ^c; 18:1-5 ^d; 20:20-28 ^e).

• Take up your cross is a metaphor for devotion (see Luke 9:23 ^f) rather than a call to martyrdom, although martyrdom is an ever-present possibility for Jesus’ disciples (Matt 5:10-12 ^g; 10:21 ^h).

• In Matthew, follow is used both literally (9:19 ⁱ; 26:58 ^j) and metaphorically. Metaphorically, it indicates interest in a teacher (4:25 ^k; 8:1 ^l, 10 ^m; 12:15 ⁿ; 14:13 ^o; 19:2 ^p; 20:29 ^q; 21:9 ^r) or personal allegiance to Jesus involving a call, a commitment, and great ongoing costs (4:20 ^s, 22 ^t; 8:19 ^u, 22-23 ^v; 9:9 ^w; 10:38 ^x; 16:24 ^y; 19:21 ^z, 27 ^aa).