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Text -- Matthew 10:39 (NET)

Strongs On/Off
Context
10:39 Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life because of me will find it.
Parallel   Cross Reference (TSK)   ITL  
Table of Contents

Word/Phrase Notes
Robertson , Vincent , Wesley , JFB , Clarke , Calvin , Defender , TSK

Word/Phrase Notes
Barnes , Poole , Haydock , Gill

Verse Notes / Footnotes
NET Notes , Geneva Bible

Verse Range Notes
TSK Synopsis , Maclaren , MHCC , Matthew Henry , Barclay , Constable , College , Lapide

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Commentary -- Word/Phrase Notes (per phrase)

Robertson: Mat 10:39 - -- Shall lose it ( apolesei autēn ). This paradox appears in four forms according to Allen (1) Mat 10:39 (2) Mar 8:35; Mat 16:25; Luk 9:24 (3) Luk 17:...

Shall lose it ( apolesei autēn ).

This paradox appears in four forms according to Allen (1) Mat 10:39 (2) Mar 8:35; Mat 16:25; Luk 9:24 (3) Luk 17:33 (4) Joh 12:25. The Wisdom of Sirach (Hebrew text) in 51:26 has: "He that giveth his life findeth her (wisdom)."It is one of the profound sayings of Christ that he repeated many times. Plato ( Gorgias 512) has language somewhat similar though not so sharply put. The article and aorist participles here (ho heurōn , ho apolesas ) are timeless in themselves just like ho dechomenos in Mat 10:40 and Mat 10:41.

Vincent: Mat 10:39 - -- Findeth ( εὑρὼν ) The word is really a past participle, found. Our Lord looked back in thought to each man's past, and forward to its ...

Findeth ( εὑρὼν )

The word is really a past participle, found. Our Lord looked back in thought to each man's past, and forward to its appropriate consummation in the future. Similarly, he who lost (ἀπολέσας ) . Plato seems to have fore-shadowed this wonderful thought. " O my friend! I want you to see that the noble and the good may possibly be something different from saving and being saved, and that he who is truly a man ought not to care about living a certain time: he knows, as women say, that we must all die, and therefore he is not fond of life; he leaves all that with God, and considers in what way he can best spend his appointed term" (" Gorgias," 512). Still more to the point, Euripides:

" Who knows if life be not death, and death life ?"

Wesley: Mat 10:39 - -- He that saves his life by denying me, shall lose it eternally; and he that loseth his life by confessing me, shall save it eternally. And as you shall...

He that saves his life by denying me, shall lose it eternally; and he that loseth his life by confessing me, shall save it eternally. And as you shall be thus rewarded, so in proportion shall they who entertain you for my sake. Mat 16:25; Joh 12:25.

JFB: Mat 10:39 - -- Another of those pregnant sayings which our Lord so often reiterates (Mat 16:25; Luk 17:33; Joh 12:25). The pith of such paradoxical maxims depends on...

Another of those pregnant sayings which our Lord so often reiterates (Mat 16:25; Luk 17:33; Joh 12:25). The pith of such paradoxical maxims depends on the double sense attached to the word "life"--a lower and a higher, the natural and the spiritual, the temporal and eternal. An entire sacrifice of the lower, with all its relationships and interests--or, a willingness to make it which is the same thing--is indispensable to the preservation of the higher life; and he who cannot bring himself to surrender the one for the sake of the other shall eventually lose both.

Clarke: Mat 10:39 - -- He that findeth his life, etc. - i.e. He who, for the sake of his temporal interest, abandons his spiritual concerns, shall lose his soul; and he wh...

He that findeth his life, etc. - i.e. He who, for the sake of his temporal interest, abandons his spiritual concerns, shall lose his soul; and he who, in order to avoid martyrdom, abjures the pure religion of Christ, shall lose his soul, and perhaps his life too. He that findeth his life shall lose it, was literally fulfilled in Archbishop Cranmer. He confessed Christ against the devil, and his eldest son, the pope. He was ordered to be burnt; to save his life he recanted, and was, notwithstanding, burnt. Whatever a man sacrifices to God is never lost, for he finds it again in God

There is a fine piece on this subject in Juvenal, Sat. viii. l. 80, which deserves to be recorded here

- ambiguae si quando citabere testi

Incertaeque rei, Phalaris liect imperet ut si

Falsus, et admoto dictet perjuria tauro

Summum crede nefas Animam praeferre Pudor

Et propter Vitam Vivendi perdere causas

- If ever call’

To give thy witness in a doubtful case

Though Phalaris himself should bid thee lie

On pain of torture in his flaming bull

Disdain to barter innocence for life

To which life owes its lustre and its wort

Wakefield

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Calvin: Mat 10:39 - -- 39.He who findeth his life Lest the former doctrine, which is very difficult and troublesome to the flesh, should have little weight with us, Christ ...

39.He who findeth his life Lest the former doctrine, which is very difficult and troublesome to the flesh, should have little weight with us, Christ confirms it in two ways by this statement. He affirms that persons of excessive caution and foresight, when they look upon themselves as having very well defended their life, will be disappointed and will lose it; and, on the other hand, that those who disregard their life will sustain no loss, for they will recover it. We know that there is nothing which men will not do or leave undone for the sake of life, (so powerful is that attachment to it which is natural to us all;) and, therefore, it was necessary that Christ should employ such promises and threatenings in exciting his followers to despise death.

To find the life means here to possess it, or to have it in safe keeping. Those who are excessively desirous of an earthly life, take pains to guard themselves against every kind of danger, and flatter themselves with unfounded confidence, as if they were looking well to themselves, (Psa 49:18 :) but their life, though defended by such powerful safeguards, will pass away; for they will at last die, and death will bring to them everlasting ruin. On the other hand, when believers surrender themselves to die, their soul, which appears to vanish in a moment, passes into a better life. Yet as persons are sometimes found, who heedlessly lay down their life, either for the sake of ambition or of madness, Christ expressly states the reason why we ought to expose ourselves to death.

It is uncertain if the discourse, which is related by Luke, was delivered on another occasion. There, too, our Lord exhorts his followers to bear the cross, but does not dwell upon it at equal length. To support this sentiment he immediately adds two comparisons, of which Matthew takes no notice: but as the subject treated is substantially the same, I have not scrupled to introduce in this place what we find in Luke.

Defender: Mat 10:39 - -- This apparently paradoxical principle was emphasized by the Lord Jesus more often than any other (Mat 16:25; Mar 8:35; Luk 9:24; Luk 17:33; Joh 12:25)...

This apparently paradoxical principle was emphasized by the Lord Jesus more often than any other (Mat 16:25; Mar 8:35; Luk 9:24; Luk 17:33; Joh 12:25). The same truth is also stressed by Paul (Rom 12:1, Rom 12:2; 2Co 5:14, 2Co 5:15; 2Co 6:9, 2Co 6:10; Gal 2:20; Phi 2:5-11; 2Ti 2:11, 2Ti 2:12). This divine paradox of dying to self and living unto God is the very essence of a truly happy and fulfilling life in this world and eternal life in the world to come."

TSK: Mat 10:39 - -- Mat 16:25, Mat 16:26; Mar 8:35, Mar 8:36; Luk 17:33; Joh 12:25; Phi 1:20,Phi 1:21; 2Ti 4:6-8; Rev 2:10

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Commentary -- Word/Phrase Notes (per Verse)

Barnes: Mat 10:39 - -- He that findeth his life ... - The word "life"in this passage is used evidently in two senses. The meaning may be expressed thus: He that is an...

He that findeth his life ... - The word "life"in this passage is used evidently in two senses. The meaning may be expressed thus: He that is anxious to save his "temporal"life, or his comfort and security here, shall lose "eternal"life, or shall fail of heaven. He that is willing to risk or lose his comfort and "life"here for my sake, shall find "life"everlasting, or shall be saved. The manner of speaking is similar to that where he said, "Let the dead bury their dead."See notes at Mat 8:22.

Poole: Mat 10:39 - -- Joh 12:25, giveth us a commentary upon these words thus, He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall kee...

Joh 12:25, giveth us a commentary upon these words thus, He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal. He in this text is said to find his life, who thinks that he hath found, that is, saved it, who is so much in love with his life that, rather than he will lose it, he will lose God’ s favour, deny the Lord that brought him, deny the most fundamental truths of the gospel. The man that doth thus (saith Christ) shall lose it; possibly he shall not obtain the end he aims at here, but if he doth he shall lose eternal life. When, on the contrary, he that is valiant for the truth shall sometimes be preserved, notwithstanding his enemies’ rage; but if this happens not, yet he shall have life eternal, his mortality shall be swallowed up in life.

Haydock: Mat 10:39 - -- He that findeth, &c. Behold the great losses that befall such as love their souls above measure; and on the contrary, the advantages that follow fro...

He that findeth, &c. Behold the great losses that befall such as love their souls above measure; and on the contrary, the advantages that follow from hating them as they ought. (St. John Chrysostom, hom. xxxvi.) ---

That is, he that findeth in this life pleasures and comforts, and places his affections upon them, will certainly soon lose them. For Isaias says, (Chap. xl, ver. 6,) All flesh is grass, and all the glory thereof as the flower of the field. The grass is withered, and the flower is fallen. So man's glory seems to flourish and appears great, but falls away and dies before it has come to its full bloom; for what duration is there in the flesh? and what stability in the pleasures of this world? To-day you may behold a young man, strong, beautiful, healthy, admired, and flourishing in virtue; and to-morrow you will find him quite changed, oppressed with either sin, labour, want, or sickness. (St. Ambrose) ---

But if he continues moderately happy as to temporal concerns till death, and places his affections on them, he hath found life here, but shall lose it in the next world. But he that shall, for the sake of Christ, deprive himself of the pleasures of this life, shall receive the reward of a hundred fold in the next. (Haydock)

Gill: Mat 10:39 - -- He that findeth his life shall lose it,.... That man that seeks to preserve his life, and the temporal enjoyments of it, by a sinful compliance with h...

He that findeth his life shall lose it,.... That man that seeks to preserve his life, and the temporal enjoyments of it, by a sinful compliance with his friends and the world, and by a denial of Christ, or non-confession of him; if he is not, by the providence of God, deprived of the good things of life, and dies a shameful death, both which are sometimes the case of such persons; yet he is sure to lose the happy and eternal life of his soul and body, in the world to come: so that the present finding of life, or the possession of it, on such sinful terms, will in the issue prove an infinite and irreparable loss unto him. On the other hand, Christ observes,

he that loseth his life for my sake, shall find it. That man that is willing to forego the present advantages of life, to suffer reproach and persecution, and lay down his life cheerfully for the sake of Christ and his Gospel, for the profession of his name, rather than drop, deny, conceal, or neglect any truth and ordinance of his, shall find his soul possessed of eternal life, as soon as separated from his body; and shall find his corporal life again, in the resurrection morn, to great advantage; and shall live with Christ in soul and body, in the utmost happiness, to all eternity.

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Commentary -- Verse Notes / Footnotes

NET Notes: Mat 10:39 Or “for my sake.” The traditional rendering “for my sake” can be understood in the sense of “for my benefit,” but ...

Geneva Bible: Mat 10:39 He that ( p ) findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it. ( p ) They are said to find their life, who deli...

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Commentary -- Verse Range Notes

TSK Synopsis: Mat 10:1-42 - --1 Christ sends out his twelve apostles, enabling them with power to do miracles;5 giving them their charge, teaches them;16 comforts them against pers...

Maclaren: Mat 10:32-42 - --The King's Charge To His Ambassadors Whosoever therefore shall confess Me before men, him will I confess also before My Father which is in heaven. 33...

Maclaren: Mat 10:39 - --A Life Lost And Found! He that loseth his life for My sake shall find it.'--Matt. 10:39. MY heart impels me to break this morning my usual rule of av...

MHCC: Mat 10:16-42 - --Our Lord warned his disciples to prepare for persecution. They were to avoid all things which gave advantage to their enemies, all meddling with world...

Matthew Henry: Mat 10:16-42 - -- All these verses relate to the sufferings of Christ's ministers in their work, which they are here taught to expect, and prepare for; they are direc...

Barclay: Mat 10:34-39 - --Nowhere is the sheer honesty of Jesus more vividly displayed than it is here. Here he sets the Christian demand at its most demanding and at its most...

Barclay: Mat 10:34-39 - --(iii) Jesus offers a cross. People in Galilee well knew what a cross was. When the Roman general, Varus, had broken the revolt of Judas of Galilee...

Constable: Mat 8:1--11:2 - --III. The manifestation of the King 8:1--11:1 "Matthew has laid the foundational structure for his argument in ch...

Constable: Mat 9:35--11:2 - --B. Declarations of the King's presence 9:35-11:1 The heart of this section contains Jesus' charge to His...

Constable: Mat 10:5-42 - --3. Jesus' charge concerning His apostles' mission 10:5-42 Matthew proceeded to record Jesus' sec...

Constable: Mat 10:26-39 - --The attitudes of the disciples 10:26-39 (cf. Luke 12:1-12) Even though Jesus' disciples would encounter hostile opposition, they should fear God more ...

College: Mat 10:1-42 - --MATTHEW 10 F. A CALL TO MISSION (9:35-10:4) (Continued) 10:1. Remarkably, the disciple's prayer for additional workers is answered by Jesus taking a...

Lapide: Mat 10:1-42 - --CHAPTER 10 And when He had called, &c. Observe that Christ, out of all His disciples, chose principally twelve, as S. Luke shows more at length (vi. ...

Lapide: Mat 10:21-42 - --Brother shall deliver the brother to death, &c. Because they believe in Me and preach Me. Christ fortifies beforehand the Apostles and believers by pr...

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Introduction / Outline

Robertson: Matthew (Book Introduction) THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO MATTHEW By Way of Introduction The passing years do not make it any plainer who actually wrote our Greek Matthew. Papias r...

JFB: Matthew (Book Introduction) THE author of this Gospel was a publican or tax gatherer, residing at Capernaum, on the western shore of the Sea of Galilee. As to his identity with t...

JFB: Matthew (Outline) GENEALOGY OF CHRIST. ( = Luke 3:23-38). (Mat. 1:1-17) BIRTH OF CHRIST. (Mat 1:18-25) VISIT OF THE MAGI TO JERUSALEM AND BETHLEHEM. (Mat 2:1-12) THE F...

TSK: Matthew (Book Introduction) Matthew, being one of the twelve apostles, and early called to the apostleship, and from the time of his call a constant attendant on our Saviour, was...

TSK: Matthew 10 (Chapter Introduction) Overview Mat 10:1, Christ sends out his twelve apostles, enabling them with power to do miracles; Mat 10:5, giving them their charge, teaches them...

Poole: Matthew 10 (Chapter Introduction) CHAPTER 10

MHCC: Matthew (Book Introduction) Matthew, surnamed Levi, before his conversion was a publican, or tax-gatherer under the Romans at Capernaum. He is generally allowed to have written h...

MHCC: Matthew 10 (Chapter Introduction) (Mat 10:1-4) The apostles called. (Mat 10:5-15) The apostles instructed and sent forth. (v. 16-42) Directions to the apostles.

Matthew Henry: Matthew (Book Introduction) An Exposition, with Practical Observations, of The Gospel According to St. Matthew We have now before us, I. The New Testament of our Lord and Savior...

Matthew Henry: Matthew 10 (Chapter Introduction) This chapter is an ordination sermon, which our Lord Jesus preached, when he advanced his twelve disciples to the degree and dignity of apostles. I...

Barclay: Matthew (Book Introduction) INTRODUCTION TO THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO SAINT MATTHEW The Synoptic Gospels Matthew, Mark and Luke are usually known as the Synoptic Gospels. Synopt...

Barclay: Matthew 10 (Chapter Introduction) The Messengers Of The King (Mat_10:1-4) The Making Of The Messengers (Mat_10:1-4 Continued) The Commission Of The King's Messenger (Mat_10:5-8) T...

Constable: Matthew (Book Introduction) Introduction The Synoptic Problem The synoptic problem is intrinsic to all study of th...

Constable: Matthew (Outline) Outline I. The introduction of the King 1:1-4:11 A. The King's genealogy 1:1-17 ...

Constable: Matthew Matthew Bibliography Abbott-Smith, G. A. A Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament. Edinburgh: T. & T. Cl...

Haydock: Matthew (Book Introduction) THE HOLY GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST, ACCORDING TO ST. MATTHEW INTRODUCTION. THIS and other titles, with the names of those that wrote the Gospels,...

Gill: Matthew (Book Introduction) INTRODUCTION TO MATTHEW The subject of this book, and indeed of all the writings of the New Testament, is the Gospel. The Greek word ευαγγελ...

College: Matthew (Book Introduction) INTRODUCTION HISTORY OF INTERPRETATION It may surprise the modern reader to realize that for the first two centuries of the Christian era, Matthew's...

College: Matthew (Outline) OUTLINE I. ESTABLISHING THE IDENTITY AND ROLE OF JESUS THE CHRIST - Matt 1:1-4:16 A. Genealogy of Jesus - 1:1-17 B. The Annunciation to Joseph...

Lapide: Matthew (Book Introduction) PREFACE. —————— IN presenting to the reader the Second Volume [Matt X to XXI] of this Translation of the great work of Cornelius à Lapi...

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