Matthew 23:12

23:12 And whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.

Matthew 12:26

12:26 So if ¹  Satan casts out Satan, he is divided against himself. How then will his kingdom stand?

Matthew 18:4

18:4 Whoever then humbles himself like this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

Matthew 27:42

27:42 “He saved others, but he cannot save himself! He is the king of Israel! If he comes down ²  now from the cross, we will believe in him!

Matthew 16:24

16:24 Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If anyone wants to become my follower, ³  he must deny ⁴  himself, take up his cross, ⁵  and follow me.

[12:26]  ¹ tn This first class condition, the first of three “if” clauses in the following verses, presents the example vividly as if it were so. In fact, all three conditions in these verses are first class. The examples are made totally parallel. The expected answer is that Satan’s kingdom will not stand, so the suggestion makes no sense. Satan would not seek to heal.

[27:42]  ¹ tn Here the aorist imperative καταβάτω (katabatw) has been translated as a conditional imperative. This fits the pattern of other conditional imperatives (imperative + καί + future indicative) outlined by ExSyn 489.

[16:24]  ¹ tn Grk “to come after me.”

[16:24]  ² tn This translation better expresses the force of the Greek third person imperative than the traditional “let him deny,” which could be understood as merely permissive.

[16:24]  ³ sn To bear the cross means to accept the rejection of the world for turning to Jesus and following him. Discipleship involves a death that is like a crucifixion; see Gal 6:14.