And whoever does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Jesus is calling his followers to a radical commitment, hinting that each person will have their own unique burdens and sufferings to bear in following Him. This "cross" isn't just about facing death, but embracing whatever difficult, even shameful, responsibilities God assigns for His sake.
And whoever does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Jesus is instructing his disciples on the cost of following him, warning them that their mission will bring opposition and that loyalty to him must surpass even the closest family ties. He emphasizes that anyone who doesn't wholeheartedly embrace this difficult path, symbolized by taking up their cross, isn't truly fit to be called his follower. This declaration sets the stage for the ultimate sacrifice and the profound commitment required from all who would join him.
Jesus says 'his cross,' not just 'a cross.' What's the difference? It's more personal and profound than you might think.
When Jesus says, 'he who does not take his cross and follow me,' he's using a powerful, prophetic image. Crucifixion wasn't a Jewish punishment, so this wasn't a familiar idiom for hardship. Jesus uses it to point forward to the unique suffering he would endure, and by extension, the specific, personal sacrifices that would be required of his followers.
Think of it this way: everyone's journey with Christ will involve challenges, but your cross is the particular burden, trial, or suffering that God has uniquely appointed for you to bear in following Him. It's not about seeking out suffering, but about willingly accepting the difficulties that come with discipleship in your specific life circumstances. It's deeply personal – shaped by your calling, your context, and God's plan for your life.
Following Jesus isn't just about enduring hardship. It's about a radical reordering of your priorities. Are your loyalties in the right place?
Matthew 10:37-38 lays out a stark contrast. Before mentioning the cross, Jesus says, 'Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me.' This highlights that following Jesus requires a supreme loyalty that surpasses even our deepest natural affections. The 'cross' then becomes the tangible expression of this ultimate commitment.
It means being willing to let go of anything—possessions, comfort, reputation, even relationships—if they stand between you and Christ. It's a call to a cost-conscious discipleship. Jesus isn't asking us to be miserable; he's asking us to count the cost of following him, just as a builder counts the cost of a tower or a king counts the cost of war. The ultimate 'cost' is laying down our lives, our own agendas, and our self-preservation for His sake.
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Understand the original words
stauron · Greek Noun
A Roman instrument of execution, used by Jesus as a metaphor for the absolute renunciation of one's own will and the acceptance of public shame, suffering, and potential death for the sake of faithfulness to God.
akolouthei · Greek Verb
Biblical discipleship involves coming alongside Jesus, adopting His lifestyle, and following Him into the path of sacrifice and obedience. It signifies a continuous, intentional commitment to imitate Him.
Jesus' words about taking up one's cross were profoundly shaped by Roman crucifixion practices, even though crucifixion wasn't a Jewish punishment. He used this grim reality, and his own future death, to teach his followers that true discipleship involves embracing suffering and ultimate sacrifice for him.
c. 100 BC - 1st Century AD
Roman Crucifixion Practice
Roman authorities compelled condemned criminals to carry their own cross to the place of execution. This was a brutal, public, and humiliating part of the punishment.
c. AD 28-30— this verse
Jesus' Ministry and Teaching
Jesus begins his public ministry, teaching about the Kingdom of God and calling disciples. He speaks of the severe cost of discipleship, including persecution and self-denial.
c. AD 30-33
Jesus' Crucifixion
Jesus is himself crucified by the Romans, an event that would later deeply shape the understanding of his followers regarding suffering and sacrifice.
c. AD 40s-50s
Early Church Expansion and Persecution
The Christian church begins to spread, facing increasing opposition and persecution from both Jewish authorities and the Roman Empire.
c. AD 60s
Matthew's Gospel Composed
The Gospel of Matthew is written, likely in Antioch, to a predominantly Jewish Christian audience. It records Jesus' teachings, including this challenging command.
This passage directly parallels Matthew 10:38, emphasizing that discipleship requires carrying one's cross and following Jesus, even if it means forsaking all earthly possessions and relationships.
Matthew 16:24Jesus here connects taking up one's cross with denying oneself, highlighting that true discipleship involves a radical reorientation of life, prioritizing following Him above self-preservation.
Philippians 3:10Paul speaks of wanting to know Christ and the power of His resurrection, even sharing in His sufferings, which directly echoes the sentiment of willingly embracing hardship for Christ's sake.
2 Corinthians 1:5This verse speaks of the abundant sufferings of Christ flowing through believers, showing that sharing in Christ's 'cross' is an integral part of the Christian experience, not an optional burden.
John 15:18-20Jesus warns His followers that the world will hate them just as it hated Him, underscoring that taking up the cross is a response to the inevitable opposition faced by those who follow Him.
vincentMatthew 10:38: "And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me."
His cross (τὸν σταυρὸν αὐτοῦ)This was no Jewish proverb, crucifixion not being a Jewish punishment; so that Jesus uses the phrase anticipatively, in view of the death which he himself was to die. This was one of those sayings described in John 12:16, which the disciples understood not at the first, but the meaning of which was revealed in the light of later events. The figure itself was borrowed…
calvinMatthew 10:37-42: "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."
- He who loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; and he who loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. 38. And he who doth not take his cross and follow me, [603] is not worthy of me. 39. He who findeth his life [604] shall lose it; and he who loseth his life for my sake shall find it. [605] 40. He who receiv…
Jesus is calling his followers to a radical commitment, hinting that each person will have their own unique burdens and sufferings to bear in following Him. This "cross" isn't just about facing death, but embracing whatever difficult, even shameful, responsibilities God assigns for His sake.
Jesus is instructing his disciples on the cost of following him, warning them that their mission will bring opposition and that loyalty to him must surpass even the closest family ties. He emphasizes that anyone who doesn't wholeheartedly embrace this difficult path, symbolized by taking up their cross, isn't truly fit to be called his follower. This declaration sets the stage for the ultimate sacrifice and the profound commitment required from all who would join him.
Jesus is instructing his disciples on the cost of following him, warning them that their mission will bring opposition and that loyalty to him must surpass even the closest family ties. He emphasizes that anyone who doesn't wholeheartedly embrace this difficult path, symbolized by taking up their cross, isn't truly fit to be called his follower. This declaration sets the stage for the ultimate sacrifice and the profound commitment required from all who would join him.
"And whoever does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me." — Jesus is calling his followers to a radical commitment, hinting that each person will have their own unique burdens and sufferings to bear in following Him. This "cross" isn't just about facing death…
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Last reviewed October 2026