Matthew 16:25 Meaning and Explanation
“For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Those who cling to their life will lose it; those who lose it for Christ will find it.
What Does Matthew 16:25 Mean?
Jesus states a paradox that overturns ordinary wisdom. The one who grasps to 'save his life,' clutching at safety and self, will in the end lose it. The one who is willing to 'lose his life for my sake' will truly find it. What seems like surrender is the way to real gain.
The deepest truths of the kingdom often run against our instincts. A life hoarded shrinks; a life given away expands. Jesus does not call us to throw life away carelessly but to release our grip on self for his sake, and so to receive a fuller life than we could secure on our own. The cross-shaped path is not a loss but a finding, a trade of the lesser for the greater.
Matthew 16:25 in the Original Language
psuche (ψυχή), 'life' -- the soul or self, the whole inner person, here rendered both 'life' and elsewhere 'soul.'
Frequently Asked Questions About Matthew 16:25
What does Matthew 16:25 mean?
Those who cling to their life will lose it; those who lose it for Christ will find it.