Matthew 16:25-28 25For whoever would save his soul will lose it, but whoever loses his soul for my sake will find it. 26For what will it profit a person if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a person give in return for his soul? 27For the Son of Man is going to come with his angels in the glory of his Father, and then he will repay each person according to what he has done. 28Truly, I say to you, there are some standing here who will not taste death until they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom.”
Jesus next shows the reason why this cross-style life is important to accept and embrace in faith. Deciding to follow Jesus and the way of the cross is the most critical decision a person can ever make. Jesus puts this choice is clear terms in these verses. The word translated as life or soul (psychēn) describes the inner most essence of a person’s existence. We are essentially souls. The save one’s soul is to have eternal life. To lose one’s soul means to face the condemnation of hell.
Jesus describes two types of losses and two types of gains, both of which are opposites. A person can lose one’s soul in two ways. Jesus gives the positive way first, the way that really matters. Salvation of one’s soul comes by losing it for Jesus’ sake, for his glory and honor, and in recognition of his supremacy. This is a wide-open invitation to whoever and not a select group of elect. The one who is devoted fully to the point of crucifying the old life in entire sanctification will find infinity more than what he or she has given up in terms of the world and its comfort. Jesus came to give life to the fullest (John 10:10). The key phrase in verse 25 is for my sake, meaning putting Jesus first in all things.
The two rhetorical questions Jesus asks in verse 26 show the opposite type of loss. The same word is used for soul as in verse 25, but the focus shifts to earthly life. This verse describes the typical humanistic and materialistic thinking that has plagued humanity since Adam and Eve. Nothing in this world can compare to life in Jesus Christ. People think that happiness can be found in things of this world. The world can give some happiness, but it cannot grant eternal life. Everything in this world is prone to decay, loss, breakage, and ultimately destruction. Much of Jesus’ teaching is devoted to wealth, earthly goods, and priorities. The second question emphasizes the seriousness of the situation. The choice is between things of this world and one’s eternal destiny. It seems that few people go this far in their daily thinking. The choice is between the wide gate and broad road or the small gate and narrow road (7:13-14).
Verse 27 shifts to eschatology and Jesus’ second coming. This verse serves as a warning and motivation about this most essential choice we must make. Everyone will have to give an account before God of the choices we have made. We get several clues about Jesus’ second coming: the angels will accompany him, he will come with the glory of God, and his coming will mark the time of judgment.
Verse 28 has caused much discussion over the ages. Does Jesus mean that he will come again before the disciples die? The important phrase to consider is coming in his kingdom. Jesus’ kingdom comes in many ways. Picking a specific point in time only confuses the message of this verse. Jesus brought the kingdom through his person. This kingdom came in power through his death and resurrection. His kingdom continued to grow with the coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost and the growth of the church. The disciples gathered with Jesus at this time would experience all of these and see the words of Jesus fulfilled.
The paradox of this passage is that to live we must die. We must look deeply at our priorities and what is most important to us. This passage is a call to not be ashamed of Jesus, the cross, or the life of committed discipleship. When the going gets difficult, we must keep the final goal in mind. We must live in faith and obedience in order that we may gain eternal life.
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