Mat 16:21-28 | PNT | STEP | From that time forth began Jesus to shew to his disciples . They were not strong enough to bear this teaching until they were convinced of his divinity. And suffer many things . In this strange way carrying out the true idea of the Messiah ( ). Of the elders and chief priests and scribes . The three constituents of the Sanhedrin.

Matthew 16:21-28

From that time forth began Jesus to shew to his disciples. They were not strong enough to bear this teaching until they were convinced of his divinity.

And suffer many things. In this strange way carrying out the true idea of the Messiah (Isa 53:1-12).

Of the elders and chief priests and scribes. The three constituents of the Sanhedrin. Peter . . . began to rebuke him. He could not bear the thought of the crucifixion, and still expected Christ to become a worldly king. Get thee behind me, Satan. Christ saw in the words of Peter a suggestion not so much of his as of Satan's. It was a temptation to shrink from the work for which he came. It was the same temptation that called out from him the same rebuke once before (Mt 4:10). If any [man] will come after me. Compare Mr 8:34-38 Lu 9:23-27. The conditions of discipleship are presented.

Let him deny himself. Let him be prepared to say "no" to many of the strongest cravings of his nature, in the direction more particularly of earthly ease, comfort, dignity, and glory.

Take up his cross. Luke adds "daily" (Lu 9:23); not once, but all the time. The cross is the pain of the self-denial required in the preceding words. The cross is the symbol of doing our duty, even at the cost of the most painful death.

And follow me. To follow Christ is to take him for our master, our teacher, our example; to believe his doctrines, to uphold his cause, to obey his precepts, and to do it though it leads to heaven by way of the cross. Whosoever will save his life shall lose it. He who refuses to deny himself, and makes saving and ministering to his present life his chief object, shall lose his life eternally. What is a man profited? etc. All the wealth, glory, pleasure and power of earth are worthless to the dying man. If he should gain them all and lose his own soul, he has lost all.

What shall a man give in exchange for his soul? What would a man not give? What is there that he can give, if in life he has not followed Christ? For the Son of man shall come. Then all shall receive their deserts; those who lose their lives shall gain life; those who choose the world shall lose all. As Christ begins to teach of dying on the cross, he begins to give prominence to his coming again. Shall not taste death, till they see the Son of man. The reference is not to his final coming to judge the world, but to his spiritual coming to establish his kingdom. This was fulfilled on the day of Pentecost. Mark shows the meaning by substituting, "Till they have seen the kingdom of God come with power" (Mr 9:1). The "coming of the Son of man in his kingdom" means, therefore, the same as "the kingdom of God come with power". Compare Ac 1:8 Lu 24:49. The kingdom came with power on the day of Pentecost (Ac 2:1).