Meaning, commentary and cross references
Luke 9:23
“And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.”In other translations
KJV · King James Version
And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.
NIV · New International Version
Then he said to them all: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me.
WEB · World English Bible
He said to all, “If anyone desires to come after me, let him deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me.
What does Luke 9:23 mean?
John Gill · Exposition of the Entire Bible, on Luke 9:23
And he said to them all,.... Not only to all the disciples, but "to the multitude", as the Arabic version renders it, who were now called unto him, with his disciples, as is clear from Mark 8:34, any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me; the same is said here, as in Matthew 16:24; see Gill on Matthew 16:24, Mark 8:34, only here the word, "daily", is added; and which, though as Beza observes, is not in the Complutensian edition, nor in five ancient copies; yet is in others, and in the Vulgate Latin, and in all the Oriental versions; and to be retained, as having a very considerable emphasis in it; showing that afflictions, trials, and…
John Gill, Exposition of the Entire Bible (1746–63). Public domain. Digital text: Free Use Bible API (bible.helloao.org).
John Calvin · Commentaries, on Luke 9:21–27
23. Get thee behind me, Satan. It is idle to speculate, as some have done, about the word (opiso) behind; as if Peter were ordered to follow, and not to go before; for, in a passage which we have already considered, Luke (4:8) informs us that our Lord used those very words in repelling the attacks of Satan, and the verb hupage (from which the Latin word Apage is derived) signifies to withdraw [460] Christ therefore throws his disciple to a distance from him, because, in his inconsiderate zeal, he acted the part of Satan; for he does not simply call him adversary, but gives him the name of the devil, as an expression of the greatest abhorrence. Thou art an offense to me; for thou relishest…
John Calvin, Commentaries (Calvin Translation Society English text). Public domain. Digital text: Free Use Bible API (bible.helloao.org).
Context: Luke 9:20–26 (WEB)
20He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Peter answered, “The Christ of God.” 21But he warned them and commanded them to tell this to no one, 22saying, “The Son of Man must suffer many things, and be rejected by the elders, chief priests, and scribes, and be killed, and the third day be raised up.” 23He said to all, “If anyone desires to come after me, let him deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me. 24For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever will lose his life for my sake will save it. 25For what does it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses or forfeits his own self? 26For whoever will be ashamed of me and of my words, of him will the Son of Man be ashamed when he comes in his glory, and the glory of the Father, and of the holy angels.
Cross references
- Matthew 10:38–39
He who doesn’t take his cross and follow after me isn’t worthy of me.
- Luke 14:26–27
“If anyone comes to me, and doesn’t disregard his own father, mother, wife, children, brothers, and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he can’t be my disciple.
- Romans 8:13
For if you live after the flesh, you must die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.
- John 12:25–26
He who loves his life will lose it. He who hates his life in this world will keep it to eternal life.
- Mark 8:34–38
He called the multitude to himself with his disciples and said to them, “Whoever wants to come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.
- Colossians 3:5
Put to death therefore your members which are on the earth: sexual immorality, uncleanness, depraved passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry.
- Titus 2:12
instructing us to the intent that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we would live soberly, righteously, and godly in this present age;
- 2 Timothy 3:12
Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.