Mat 10:38, 16:24, Mar 8:34, Luk 14:27, Rom 8:13, Col 3:5 | Barnes | STEP | Verse 38. And he that taketh not his cross , etc. When persons were condemned to be crucified, a part of the sentence was, that they should carry the cross on which they were to die to the place of execution. Thus Christ carried his, till he fainted from fatigue and exhaustion. . The cross was usually composed of two rough beams of wood, united in the form of this figure. It was an instrument of death. . To carry it was burdensome, was disgraceful, was trying to the feelings, was an addition to the punishment. So, to carry the cross is a figurative expression, denoting that we must endure whatever is burdensome, or trying, or considered as disgraceful, in following Christ. It consists simply in doing our duty, let the world think of it or speak of it as they may. It does not consist in making trouble for ourselves, or doing things merely to be opposed ; it is doing just what is required of us in the Scriptures, let it produce whatever shame, disgrace, or pain it may. This every follower of Jesus is required to do.

Matthew 10:38

Verse 38. And he that taketh not his cross, etc. When persons were condemned to be crucified, a part of the sentence was, that they should carry the cross on which they were to die to the place of execution. Thus Christ carried his, till he fainted from fatigue and exhaustion. Mt 27:31. The cross was usually composed of two rough beams of wood, united in the form of this figure. It was an instrument of death. Mt 27:31,32. To carry it was burdensome, was disgraceful, was trying to the feelings, was an addition to the punishment. So, to carry the cross is a figurative expression, denoting that we must endure whatever is burdensome, or trying, or considered as disgraceful, in following Christ. It consists simply in doing our duty, let the world think of it or speak of it as they may. It does not consist in making trouble for ourselves, or doing things merely to be opposed; it is doing just what is required of us in the Scriptures, let it produce whatever shame, disgrace, or pain it may. This every follower of Jesus is required to do.

Matthew 16:24

Verse 24-28. This discourse is also recorded in Mk 8:34-38, 9:1 and Lk 9:23-27

Let him deny himself. That is, let him surrender to God his will, affections, body, and soul. Let him not seek his own happiness as the supreme object, but be willing to renounce all, and lay down his life also, if required.

Take up his cross. Mt 10:38.

(x) "any man" Mt 10:38, Mk 8:34, Lk 9:23, 14:27, Acts 14:22, 1Thes 3:3

Mark 8:34

Verse 34.

(l) "Whosoever" Mt 10:38, 16:24, Lk 9:23, 14:27, Tit 2:12

Luke 14:27

Verses 25-27. Mt 10:37; Mt 10:38.

Verse 27.

(x) "whosoever doth not" Mt 16:24, Mk 8:34, 9:23, 2Ti 3:12

Romans 8:13

Verse 13. For if ye live, etc. If you live to indulge your carnal propensities, you will sink to eternal death, Rom 7:23.

Through the Spirit. By the aid of the Spirit; by cherishing and cultivating his influences. What is here required can be accomplished only by the aid of the Holy Ghost.

Do mortify. Do put to death; do destroy. Sin is mortified when its power is destroyed and it ceases to be active.

The deeds of the body. The corrupt inclinations and passions; called deeds of the body, because they are supposed to have their origin in the fleshly appetites.

Ye shall live. You shall be happy and saved. Either your sins must die, or you must. If they are suffered to live, you will die. If they are put to death, you will be saved. No man can be saved in his sins. This closes the argument of the apostle for the superiority of the gospel to the law in promoting the purity of man. By this train of reasoning, he has shown that the gospel has accomplished what the law could not do--the sanctification of the soul, the destruction of the corrupt passions of our nature, and the recovery of man to God.

(r) "do mortify" Col 3:5

Colossians 3:5

Verse 5. Mortify therefore your members. Since you are dead to sin and the world, and are to appear with Christ in the glories of his kingdom, subdue every carnal and evil propensity of your nature. The word mortify means, to put to death, Rom 8:13; Gall 5:24; and the meaning here is, that they were entirely to subdue their evil propensities, so that they would have no remains of life; that is, they were not at all to indulge them. The word "members" here refers to the different members of the body--as the seat of evil desires and passions. Comp. Rom 6:13. They were wholly to extirpate those evil passions which he specifies as having their seat in the various members of the earthly body.

Fornication. Rom 1:29.

Uncleanness. Rom 1:24.

Inordinate affection. παθος. Rendered in Rom 1:26, "vile affections." Rom 1:26. In 1Thes 4:5, the word is rendered lust--which is its meaning here.

Evil concupiscence. Evil desires; licentious passions, Rom 1:24. Greek.

And covetousness, which is idolatry. It is remarkable that the apostle always ranks covetousness with these base and detestable passions. The meaning here is,

(1.) that it is a low and debasing passion, like those which he had specified; and

(2.) that it secures the affections which properly belong to God, and is therefore idolatry. Of all base passions, this is the one that most dethrones God from the soul. See this whole passage more fully explained Eph 5:3, Eph 5:4, Eph 5:5; Eph 5:6.