Matthew 16:26 - Printer Friendly

ESV: For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul?

NIV: What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul?

NASB: For what good will it do a person if he gains the whole world, but forfeits his soul? Or what will a person give in exchange for his soul?

CSB: For what will it benefit someone if he gains the whole world yet loses his life? Or what will anyone give in exchange for his life?

NLT: And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul? Is anything worth more than your soul?

KJV: For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?

NKJV: For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?

You can keep your earthly interests, or you can save your soul. That is Jesus' bottom-line declaration in this passage (Matthew 16:24–25) and in this verse. In the form of two questions, Jesus leaves those who will hear Him with only two alternatives.

What is the ultimate benefit to someone who acquires everything the world could ever possibly offer, only to spend an eternity suffering in separation from God? What is a soul worth? What should a man give in return for the saving of his soul? This is the ultimate question.

Jesus has said that those who follow Him must willingly sacrifice themselves in every way. They must be willing to deny their own wants and preferences, taking up their crosses as He is doing, and will soon do in a very literal sense. In other words, they must give up every ounce of their own agenda, totally submitting to the will of God and His purposes. It will "cost" them everything, but what is given up is temporary and relatively worthless.

Those who refuse self-sacrifice can live for themselves. Jesus' question allows for the fact that they may be quite successful in the world's terms. Perhaps they will even gain the whole world for themselves. The problem is that such earthly success can only last until death comes and raises the question of the soul persisting, and entering into eternal death.

In the end, each person must choose between one of only two options (John 14:6). Lose everything I am in the world, to follow Jesus and be eternally saved, or keep everything I am in the world, to serve myself, and lose my own soul forever in the end. Those are the only choices Jesus offers in this passage, and the only two presented in all the Bible.

Matthew 16:21–28 describes the disciples' reaction when Jesus reveals He must be killed by religious leaders and raised on the third day. Peter, recently praised for His faith (Matthew 16:17), chastises Jesus for saying such things. Jesus responds with a devastating rebuke of His own, saying "Get behind me, Satan!" Peter's insistence that Messiah could not be killed is based in his own assumptions, not truth. Christ warns that those who follow Him must be willing to give up all else in the world, and to take on hardship and persecution, as needed. He adds that some standing there will not die before seeing Him coming in His kingdom; this prediction is fulfilled in the next passage (Matthew 17:1–2).

A group of Pharisees and Sadducees demand a miracle from Jesus, though He has already performed many. Jesus refuses and warns the disciples to beware of the teachings of these religious leaders. Jesus asks the disciples who the people say He is, as well as their own opinion. Peter says Jesus is the Christ, and is commended for that statement. Jesus begins to reveal that He must suffer and be killed before being raised on the third day. Peter's attempt to scold Jesus results in a devastating rebuke. Jesus then says all who would follow Him must take up crosses of self-denial.

Matthew 16 finds Jesus returned from the Gentile regions, only to be immediately confronted by another group of Jewish religious leaders. Yet again, these men prove they are insincere: no amount of evidence will ever be enough for them. After a dramatic discussion about Jesus' role as Messiah, Jesus indicates that those who would come after Him must take up their crosses and follow Him. His references to some seeing the Son of Man coming in His kingdom will be fulfilled at the beginning of chapter 17, in an event known as the transfiguration.

The Gospel of Matthew clearly shows the influence of its writer's background, and his effort to reach a specific audience. Matthew was one of Jesus' twelve disciples, a Jewish man, and a former tax collector. This profession would have required literacy, and Matthew may have transcribed some of Jesus' words as they were spoken. This book is filled with references to the Old Testament, demonstrating to Israel that Jesus is the Promised One. Matthew also includes many references to coins, likely due to his former profession. Matthew records extensive accounts of Jesus' teaching, more than the other three Gospels.