Matthew 10 · Verse 38

Matthew 10:38

And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me.
Matthew 10:38, King James Version

Matthew 10:38 in other translations

BSBand anyone who does not take up his cross and follow Me is not worthy of Me.
WEBHe who doesn’t take his cross and follow after me isn’t worthy of me.
ASVAnd he that doth not take his cross and follow after me, is not worthy of me.
YLTand whoever doth not receive his cross and follow after me, is not worthy of me.
DARBYAnd he who does not take up his cross and follow after me is not worthy of me.
BBEAnd he who does not take his cross and come after me is not good enough for me.
WebsterAnd he that taketh not his cross, and followeth me, is not worthy of me.

What does Matthew 10:38 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
38. And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me--a saying which our Lord once and again emphatically reiterates (Mt 16:24; Lu 9:23; 14:27). We have become so accustomed to this expression--"taking up one's cross"--in the sense of "being prepared for trials in general for Christ's sake," that we are apt to lose sight of its primary and proper sense here--"a preparedness to go forth even to crucifixion," as when our Lord had to bear His own cross on His way to Calvary--a saying the more remarkable as our Lord had not as yet given a hint that He would die this death, nor was crucifixion a Jewish mode of capital punishment.

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Barnes' Notes
Verse 38. And he that taketh not his cross, etc. When persons were condemned to be crucified, a part of the sentence was, that they should carry the cross on which they were to die to the place of execution. Thus Christ carried his, till he fainted from fatigue and exhaustion. Mt 27:31. The cross was usually composed of two rough beams of wood, united in the form of this figure. It was an instrument of death. Mt 27:31,32. To carry it was burdensome, was disgraceful, was trying to the feelings, was an addition to the punishment. So, to carry the cross is a figurative expression, denoting that we must endure whatever is burdensome, or trying, or considered as disgraceful, in following Christ. It consists simply in doing our duty, let the world think of it or speak of it as they may. It does not consist in making trouble for ourselves, or doing things merely to be opposed; it is doing just what is required of us in the Scriptures, let it produce whatever shame, disgrace, or pain it may. This every follower of Jesus is required to do.

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 38 He that taketh not his cross - i.e. He who is not ready, after my example, to suffer death in the cause of my religion, is not worthy of me, does not deserve to be called my disciple. This alludes to the custom of causing the criminal to bear his own cross to the place of execution; so Plutarch, ΕκαϚος των κακουργων εκφερει τον αυτου Ϛαυρον. Each of the malefactors carries on his own cross. See Joh 19:17.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Matthew 10:16-42

Our Lord warned his disciples to prepare for persecution. They were to avoid all things which gave advantage to their enemies, all meddling with worldly or political concerns, all appearance of evil or selfishness, and all underhand measures. Christ foretold troubles, not only that the troubles might not be a surprise, but that they might confirm their faith. He tells them what they should suffer, and from whom…

Read the full comment on Matthew 10:16-42 →

Matthew 10:38 in the original Greek

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

καὶkaiAndG2532
ὃςhoshe whoG3739
οὐounotG3756
λαμβάνειlambaneitakesG2983
τὸνtontheG3588
σταυρὸνstauroncrossG4716
αὐτοῦautouof himG846
καὶkaiandG2532
ἀκολουθεῖakoloutheifollowsG190
ὀπίσωopisōafterG3694
μου,mouMe,G3165
οὐκouknotG3756
ἔστινestinisG1510
μουmouof MeG3165
ἄξιος.axiosworthy.G514

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Matthew 10:38

  • Luke 14:27

    And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple.

  • Mark 8:34

    And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.

  • Matthew 16:24

    Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.

  • Luke 9:23-24

    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. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it.

  • John 19:17

    And he bearing his cross went forth into a place called the place of a skull, which is called in the Hebrew Golgotha:

  • Mark 10:21

    Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
16:24; 27:32; Mr 8:34; 10:21; Lu 9:23,24; 14:27; Joh 19:17

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Matthew 10:37

    He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.

  • Matthew 10:38

    And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me.

  • Matthew 10:39

    He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it.

Read all of Matthew 10

Matthew 10:38 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Y el que no toma su cruz, y sigue en pos de mí, no es digno de mí.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		et celui qui ne prend pas sa croix et ne vient pas après moi, n’est pas digne de moi.
German
Elberfelder 1871		und wer nicht sein Kreuz aufnimmt und mir nachfolgt, ist meiner nicht würdig.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Et qui non accipit crucem suam, et sequitur me, non est me dignus.