Matthew 10:38 Meaning and Explanation
“And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Whoever does not take up his cross and follow Jesus is not worthy of him.
What Does Matthew 10:38 Mean?
Jesus raises the cost of following him to its height. Whoever does not take up his cross and come after him is not worthy of him. To his first hearers the cross meant only one thing, the instrument of a condemned man's death, carried on the way to his own execution.
To take up the cross is to be ready to die to self, and if need be to die altogether, for Christ's sake. This is no light call, yet it is the very path the Master himself would walk. To follow him is to walk that road behind him, surrendering the claim to one's own life. The worth of such a calling is measured by the worth of the One who calls and who carried his cross first.
Matthew 10:38 in the Original Language
stauros (σταυρός), 'cross' -- the wooden beam of execution, here the willingness to die to self in following Christ.
Frequently Asked Questions About Matthew 10:38
What does Matthew 10:38 mean?
Whoever does not take up his cross and follow Jesus is not worthy of him.