He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it.
Parallel translations
- WEB He who seeks his life will lose it; and he who loses his life for my sake will find it.
- BSB Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.
- ESV Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.
- NKJV He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for My sake will find it.
- NASB The one who has found his life will lose it, and the one who has lost his life on My account will find it.
- NLT If you cling to your life, you will lose it; but if you give up your life for me, you will find it.
Scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Clinging to your own life leads to losing it, while losing it for Christ leads to finding true life. Surrender to Him is the path to real gain.
Overview
Jesus states the great paradox of discipleship: self-preserving people forfeit life, while those who give themselves up for Him gain it eternally. This life laid down for Christ's sake is found again in Him who lost His life to save His people. The verse summons believers to a faith that counts Christ worth more than life itself.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 8
- John 12:25He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal.
- Mark 8:35–36For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel’s, the same shall save it.
- Luke 17:33Whosoever shall seek to save his life shall lose it; and whosoever shall lose his life shall preserve it.
- Matt 16:25–26For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it.
- Luke 9:24For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it.
- Rev 2:10Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.
- Phil 1:20–21According to my earnest expectation and my hope, that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but that with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether it be by life, or by death.
- 2 Tim 4:6–8For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
Matthew presents Jesus as the promised King — son of David, son of Abraham — the new Moses and true Israel in whom every prophecy reaches 'that it might be fulfilled.'
How Matthew 10:39 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Greek word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.