23 And He was saying to them all , " If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself , and take up his cross daily e and follow Me. 24 "For whoever e wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever e loses his life for My sake , he is the one who will save it. 25 "For what is a man profited if he gains the whole world , and loses or forfeits himself ? 26 " For whoever e is ashamed of Me and My words , the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when He comes in His glory , and the glory of the Father and of the holy angels .
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Luke 9:23-26
Commentary on Luke 9:18-27
(Read Luke 9:18-27)
It is an unspeakable comfort that our Lord Jesus is God's Anointed; this signifies that he was both appointed to be the Messiah, and qualified for it. Jesus discourses concerning his own sufferings and death. And so far must his disciples be from thinking how to prevent his sufferings, that they must prepare for their own. We often meet with crosses in the way of duty; and though we must not pull them upon our own heads, yet, when they are laid for us, we must take them up, and carry them after Christ. It is well or ill with us, according as it is well or ill with our souls. The body cannot be happy, if the soul be miserable in the other world; but the soul may be happy, though the body is greatly afflicted and oppressed in this world. We must never be ashamed of Christ and his gospel.