Matthew 16:25

16:25 For whoever wants to save his life ¹  will lose it, ²  but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.

Matthew 23:18

23:18 And, ‘Whoever swears by the altar is bound by nothing. ³  But if anyone swears by the gift on it he is bound by the oath.’

[16:25]  ¹ tn Or “soul” (throughout vv. 25-26).

[16:25]  ² sn The point of the saying whoever wants to save his life will lose it is that if one comes to Jesus then rejection by many will certainly follow. If self-protection is a key motivation, then one will not respond to Jesus and will not be saved. One who is willing to risk rejection will respond and find true life.

[23:18]  ³ tn Grk “Whoever swears by the altar, it is nothing.”