And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The call to "deny himself" isn't just about giving up bad habits; it's about actively laying down one's own will and desires, even good ones, to align completely with Christ's. The addition of "daily" emphasizes that this isn't a one-time decision, but a continuous, moment-by-moment commitment to follow Jesus, even when it means embracing hardship or suffering.
And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Just after Peter declared Jesus to be the Messiah, Jesus began to reveal that he must suffer and die in Jerusalem. Peter rebuked him for this, showing a mind focused on human concerns rather than God's plan. In response, Jesus gathered the crowds and disciples to explain that following him requires radical self-denial and a willingness to carry a "cross" daily, directly contrasting Peter's desire to avoid suffering.
Jesus isn't offering a passive membership. He's calling for active commitment. What does it truly mean to 'will' to follow Him?
Jesus opens this powerful invitation with the phrase, 'If anyone would come after me...' This isn't a simple future prediction; it's about present intention and desire. The Greek word here speaks to a volitional act – a conscious decision to want to follow. It’s not about being forced, but about actively choosing His path. This choice sets the stage for everything that follows: denying oneself and taking up a cross.
Self-denial and carrying a cross sound intense. What are we actually denying, and what does this daily burden entail?
Jesus lays out two crucial actions for His followers: 'deny himself' and 'take up his cross daily'.
Deny Yourself
This isn't about masochism or self-hatred. It's a profound redirection of our core desires. It means saying 'no' to our own ego, our pride, our selfish ambitions, and the 'wisdom of men' that opposes God's ways. It’s about dethroning ourselves and exalting Christ in our lives.
Daily Cross-Bearing
The 'cross' here isn't a literal piece of wood, but a symbol of suffering, hardship, and potential shame that comes with following Jesus in a world that often rejects Him. The word 'daily' is key – this isn't a one-time event, but an ongoing commitment. Every single day, we must be prepared to face opposition, to make sacrifices, and to carry whatever burdens God allows for our conformity to Christ.
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Jesus flips the script on success. He says losing your life for His sake is the only way to truly find it. What does this paradox mean?
The verses immediately following Luke 9:23 explain the 'why' behind this radical call. Jesus states, 'For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will save it.'
This is the ultimate paradox of the Christian life. We are naturally wired to preserve ourselves, to seek comfort, security, and personal gain. But Jesus teaches that this very instinct, when applied to our lives in isolation from Him, leads to eternal loss. True life, abundant and eternal, is found not in hoarding our existence for ourselves, but in investing it completely in Christ, even to the point of suffering or 'losing' it for His name's sake. It’s about re-defining 'life' not by earthly success or comfort, but by eternal significance.
Understand the original words
arnēsasthō · Greek Verb
To renounce one's own claim to lordship over one's life. It is the act of putting aside self-centeredness and submitting entirely to the will and sovereignty of God.
stauron · Greek Noun
The instrument of execution in the Roman Empire; metaphorically, it signifies the willingness to undergo total self-sacrifice, shame, and death for the sake of following Jesus. It represents total commitment and obedience to God.
akoloutheitō · Greek Verb
To walk behind someone, but in a spiritual sense, it denotes discipleship: adopting the lifestyle, values, and direction of Jesus Christ. It implies active, ongoing obedience and identification with Him.
c. AD 27-30— this verse
Jesus' Ministry in Galilee
Jesus is actively teaching, healing, and gathering disciples in and around Galilee. This period sees growing crowds and increasing opposition from religious leaders.
c. AD 28
Jesus predicts his suffering
Jesus begins to reveal to his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem, suffer, die, and be resurrected, a truth that deeply troubles them, especially Peter.
c. AD 28
Peter's rebuke and Jesus' response
Peter rebukes Jesus for speaking of suffering, prompting Jesus to strongly reprimand him, calling him 'Satan,' and clarifying that his path is one of suffering, not earthly glory.
c. AD 28
Jesus calls for self-denial
Following Peter's misunderstanding, Jesus addresses the crowds and disciples, laying out the core requirements for following him: denying oneself, taking up one's cross daily, and following him.
This passage is a parallel account where Jesus first speaks about denying oneself and taking up one's cross, directly linking this call to discipleship with the broader theme of following Him even through suffering.
Galatians 2:20Paul's declaration 'I have been crucified with Christ' powerfully echoes the concept of self-denial and dying to one's old self, showing how this principle is lived out in the life of a believer after conversion.
Philippians 3:10The desire to 'know Christ and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death' highlights the deep connection between suffering for Christ and experiencing His resurrection power, which is central to taking up one's cross.
Romans 8:13This verse connects 'putting to death the deeds of the body' with the promise of living, underscoring the spiritual warfare and self-denial required to follow Christ and live according to the Spirit.
1 Corinthians 15:31Paul's statement 'I die every day' directly mirrors the 'daily' aspect of taking up the cross, illustrating the ongoing commitment and constant surrender required of those who follow Jesus.
calvinLuke 9:21-27: "And he straitly charged them, and commanded them to tell no man that thing;"
- Then he charged his disciples [451] not to tell any one that he was Jesus the Christ. 21. From that time Jesus began to make known to his disciples, that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things from the elders, and the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed, and be raised again on the third day. 22. And Peter, taking him aside, [452] began to rebuke him, saying, Lord, spare thyself; [45…
wesleyLuke 9:23: "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."
9:23 Let him deny himself, and take up his cross - The necessity of this duty has been shown in many places: the extent of it is specified here, daily - Therefore that day is lost wherein no cross is taken up.
The call to "deny himself" isn't just about giving up bad habits; it's about actively laying down one's own will and desires, even good ones, to align completely with Christ's. The addition of "daily" emphasizes that this isn't a one-time decision, but a continuous, moment-by-moment commitment to follow Jesus, even when it means embracing hardship or suffering.
Just after Peter declared Jesus to be the Messiah, Jesus began to reveal that he must suffer and die in Jerusalem. Peter rebuked him for this, showing a mind focused on human concerns rather than God's plan. In response, Jesus gathered the crowds and disciples to explain that following him requires radical self-denial and a willingness to carry a "cross" daily, directly contrasting Peter's desire to avoid suffering.
Just after Peter declared Jesus to be the Messiah, Jesus began to reveal that he must suffer and die in Jerusalem. Peter rebuked him for this, showing a mind focused on human concerns rather than God's plan. In response, Jesus gathered the crowds and disciples to explain that following him requires radical self-denial and a willingness to carry a "cross" daily, directly contrasting Peter's desire to avoid suffering.
"And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me." — The call to "deny himself" isn't just about giving up bad habits; it's about actively laying down one's own will and desires, even good ones, to align completely with Christ's. The addition of "daily…
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Last reviewed October 2026