←
Explanation for:
Matthew
16
:
25
For he that will save his life, shall lose it: and he that shall lose his life for my sake, shall find it.
10
more explanations
& daily audio-books
spoken by
– enjoy in Theosis App –
Start your
Bible-journey
with explanations
& daily audio-books
only 4$* per month
{"arr":[{"author-name":"Irenaeus of Lyon","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c88d41db83be493e87135c_Irenaeus%20of%20Lyon.png","category":"Holy Fathers and Teachers","century":2,"exegesis-text":"This is the message that Christ proclaimed boldly, serving as the Redeemer for those facing execution for their allegiance to Him and the potential loss of their eternal souls."},{"author-name":"Jerome of Stridon","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c88dcd3432c6dd41375498_Jerome%20of%20Stridon.png","category":"Holy Fathers and Teachers","century":4,"exegesis-text":"What price can a person pay for their soul? Egypt, Ethiopia, and Shebaiah are offered as substitutes for Israel (Isaiah 43:3). In the place of Sheba is Siena, as noted in the ancient Synodal Russian translation."},{"author-name":"John Chrysostom","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c88ea76859f9f8e2ffd3ee_John%20Chrysostom.png","category":"Holy Fathers and Teachers","century":4,"exegesis-text":"In discussing the statement: If anyone desires to save his life, he will lose it; but if anyone loses his life for my sake, he will find it, we observe that the terms used—save and lose—highlight a significant distinction. It must be clear that the difference between saving one’s soul and losing it is just as pronounced as the disparity between destruction and salvation. He further illustrates this by questioning the value of a man who gains the whole world yet forfeits his own soul. Can one truly see that to inadequately save one’s soul is to ultimately bring about its ruin; worse still, it could lead to an irreversible ruin with no hope of redemption? \\n\\nConsider this: if someone claims to have narrowly escaped dire straits and believes he has saved his soul, but lives under the dominion of worldly distractions, what benefit is it if his soul ultimately faces destruction? Ask yourself, if you witness your servants thriving while you endure great suffering, does your status as a master hold any value? Certainly not. Similarly, contemplate the soul: when the body indulges in riches, the soul risks future demise. \\n\\nWhat would a man be willing to exchange for his soul? He affirms the issue further by stating: You cannot exchange one soul for another. If you lose money, you may replace it; the same applies to property, servants, and all material possessions. However, if you lose your soul, no substitute exists. Even if you possessed the entirety of creation or ruled as sovereign over all, you could not trade the universe for even a single soul. \\n\\nIs it any wonder that such is the fate of the soul? The same truth applies to the body. Even with the adornment of countless crowns, if your body is afflicted with irreparable ailments, those adornments cannot alleviate your suffering, even if you were to sacrifice an entire kingdom or immense wealth. Thus, the same principle must apply to the soul, and even more so; prioritizing the care of the soul should take precedence above all other concerns."},{"author-name":"Isaac the Syrian","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c88d787dfcb52d241ef899_Isaac%20the%20Syrian.png","category":"Holy Fathers and Teachers","century":6,"exegesis-text":"Question: What does it mean to deny oneself? Answer: Just as an individual who is ready to bear the cross must keep the thought of death at the forefront of their mind, ascending to the cross with the understanding that they will not partake in the life of this world again, so too must one strive to fulfill these teachings. The essence of the cross signifies a willingness to endure all forms of suffering. The Lord, when explaining this truth, stated: whoever desires to preserve their life in this world will ultimately forsake true life; however, whoever relinquishes their life here “for my sake” (Matt. 10:39) will discover true existence, meaning that they will tread the path of the cross and firmly establish their steps upon it. Yet, if someone holds on to this life, they forfeit the hope for which they embraced tribulation. Such preoccupation prevents one from facing trials for the sake of God and, by yielding to this concern, they are gradually pulled away from the experience of the genuinely divine and blessed existence, which can grow in them until they can overcome it. “But whosoever” chooses to “destroy his soul for My sake,” motivated by love for Me, shall be preserved without blemish and unharmed into eternal life. This reflects the meaning of the statement, “whosoever shall destroy his soul for My sake shall find it.” Thus, it is essential to ready your soul to be entirely forsaken for this life. If you sacrifice yourself for the sake of this life, the Lord will say to those who think in this manner: “I will give you” “eternal life,” as promised (John 10:28). However, if you remain attached to this life, I will reveal to you My promise and assurance of future blessings. You will attain eternal life once you disregard this present existence. When, with such preparations, you set out to act accordingly, all that is typically seen as sorrowful and distressing will become trivial in your eyes. For when the mind is thus conditioned, no struggle or anguish arises in moments of mortal peril. Therefore, it is crucial to understand that if a person does not detest their life in this world, yearning for the future and blessed life, they cannot fully endure the myriad challenges and pains that come upon them at every turn."},{"author-name":"Symeon the New Theologian","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c897eec143c131d21207b3_Symeon%20the%20New%20Theologian.png","category":"Holy Fathers and Teachers","century":10,"exegesis-text":"We serve as representatives of Christ, and it is as though God urges us through our words: be reconciled to God (2 Cor. 5:20). Those who have faithfully followed Christ’s commandments until death have relinquished their possessions to aid the needy, faced trials with perseverance, and forsaken worldly temptations for the love of God, thereby securing their eternal lives. By claiming their souls, they embraced a mental illumination and, in that radiance, beheld the Inaccessible Light, which is God Himself, as it is written: In Thy light shall we see light (Psalm 35:10). How, then, do we attain what belongs to our souls? Let us be vigilant. Each one of our souls is like a lost coin, not lost due to God’s actions, but because we have immersed ourselves in the darkness of sin. Yet, Christ, the true Light, came to meet those who earnestly seek Him, allowing them to perceive Him as only He knows Himself. This is the essence of discovering our souls—seeing God and, illuminated by His light, rising above all creation, with God as our shepherd and guide."},{"author-name":"Euthymios Zigabenos","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c96d263b8c22d9c467bdab_no-pic-theosis.png","category":"Christian Authors","century":11,"exegesis-text":"He further elaborated on this in chapter 10:1, where the context can be understood. As stated by Mark (Mark 8:35), \\"For my sake and the gospel,\\" which refers to my cause and my doctrine."},{"author-name":"Theophylact of Bulgaria","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c8989296bafed9104677d7_Theophylact%20of%20Bulgaria.png","category":"Holy Fathers and Teachers","century":11,"exegesis-text":"Calls us to bear witness through sacrifice. The one who rejects the Lord may preserve his life temporarily, yet he jeopardizes it for what is to come. In contrast, the individual who endures trials for the sake of Christ may seem to lose his soul, but in reality, he will discover it in a state of incorruption and everlasting life."},{"author-name":"Abbot Panteleimon about the Trinity","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c96d263b8c22d9c467bdab_no-pic-theosis.png","category":"Christian Authors","century":19,"exegesis-text":"It is essential to embrace the cross, as the Lord encourages us through both promises of reward and warnings of punishment. He states, \\"FOR WHOEVER WANTS TO SAVE HIS SOUL will lose it, but whoever loses his soul for My sake and for the sake of the Gospel will find it.\\" Though embracing this path is challenging, it is vital to approach it with love, as it is the wisest and most righteous course of action. \\"Do not think that I do not spare you; rather, I show great mercy when I issue this command. For whoever fails to discipline his son ultimately harms him, as the wise saying goes, 'If you strike him with a rod, he will not die; you will discipline him with a rod and save his soul from Sheol' (Proverbs 23:13-14). Similarly, in the military, a commander who is lenient and allows his soldiers to remain idle at home risks the destruction of his forces. Therefore, to avoid such a fate, one must always be prepared to face death. A fierce battle is already underway, so do not remain idle—engage in the fight; should you fall, you will be restored instantly\\" (St John Chrysostom). \\n\\n\\"The Lord calls us to martyrdom,\\" notes Blessed Theophylact. \\"He who denies Christ may gain a life of ease now but ultimately harms his soul. Conversely, the one who willingly sacrifices his soul for the sake of Christ and endures suffering for Him will discover it in its incorruptible state and eternal life.\\" To sacrifice one’s soul for Christ entails putting an end to sinful passions—suppressing desires, quenching anger, and controlling one’s own willfulness and wisdom while willingly enduring suffering as God directs. The phrase \\"to destroy the soul\\" suggests that this journey is fraught with sorrows, sometimes to the point of intense struggle. \\"Do not claim,\\" as the Lord would assert, \\"that the one who has evaded the gravest perils has saved his soul. Consider instead that his soul is enslaved by the world; what benefit is there if his soul perishes?\\" (St John Chrysostom)."},{"author-name":"Gladkow B.I.","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c88bf0ceef8c96e09a6521_Gladkow%20B.I..png","category":"Christian Authors","century":19,"exegesis-text":"By willingly submitting to the divine will and taking up your cross in my footsteps, you may face significant hardships and tribulations in this life. Through such endurance, you will save your soul and gather treasures in heaven. However, if you choose to prioritize your own desires over God's will, living contrary to His intentions, you will harm your soul and forfeit the joy of eternal life."},{"author-name":"Lopuchin A.P.","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c891400ee1341634d2276d_Lopuchin%20A.P..png","category":"Christian Authors","century":19,"exegesis-text":"He shared His teachings with all present, explaining that the foundation of every noble duty and the essence of true living—both the most pleasing service to God and the most uplifting example for humanity—lies in the principle of self-denial. On this occasion, He proclaimed those significant words that have profoundly impacted human conscience, elevating thoughts from the material to the spiritual realm: \\"What profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, but harms his own soul? Or what ransom shall a man give for his soul?\\" Furthermore, Christ reiterated that He too would face judgment."}]}
Support this project and get full access for only 4$/month
Commentarie text can’t be scrolled on PC at the moment. Please use your phone. We’re working on a fix.
