Luke 14:27

Whoever doesn’t bear his own cross, and come after me, can’t be my disciple.

World English Bible
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Other translations

WEBBE

Whoever doesn’t bear his own cross and come after me, can’t be my disciple.

BSB

And whoever does not carry his cross and follow Me cannot be My disciple.

KJV

And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple.

ASV

Whosoever doth not bear his own cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple.

BBE

Whoever does not take up his cross and come after me may not be my disciple.

Original Greek

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καὶ kai and G2532 ὅστις hostis Whoever G3748 οὐ ou not G3756 βαστάζει bastazei carries G941 τὸν ton the G3588 σταυρὸν stauron cross G4716 ἑαυτοῦ he'autou of himself G1438 καὶ kai and G2532 ἔρχεται erchetai comes G2064 ὀπίσω opisō after G3694 μου mou Me G3165 οὐ ou not G3756 δύναται dunatai is able G1410 εἶναί einai to be G1511 μου mou My G3165 μαθητής.¶ mathētēs disciple G3101

The early church

By bearing the cross also he announced the death of his Lord, saying, The world is crucified to me, and I to the world, (Gal. 6:14.) which we also anticipate at our very baptism, in which our old man is crucified, that the body of sin may be destroyed.
Basil of Caesarea · d. 379Catena Aurea (Aquinas, 1274)
He means not that we should place a beam of wood on our shoulders, but that we should ever have death before our eyes. As also Paul died daily and despised death. (1 Cor. 15:31.)
John Chrysostom · d. 407Catena Aurea (Aquinas, 1274)
(in Hom. ut sup.) How the hatred of life ought to be shown He declares as follows; Whosoever bears not his cross, &c.
Gregory the Dialogist · d. 604Catena Aurea (Aquinas, 1274)
(in Hom. 37. in Ev.) Or because the cross is so called from torturing. In two ways we bear our Lord's cross, either when by abstinence we afflict our bodies, or when through compassion of our neighbour we think all his necessities our own. But because some exercise abstinence of the flesh not for God's sake but for vain-glory, and show compassion, not spiritually but carnally, it is rightly added, And, cometh after me. For to bear His cross and come after the Lord, is to use abstinence of the flesh, or compassion to our neighbour, from the desire of an eternal gain.
Gregory the Dialogist · d. 604Catena Aurea (Aquinas, 1274)

Commentary

Matthew Henry · Verses 25–35

Though the disciples of Christ are not all crucified, yet they all bear their cross, and must bear it in the way of duty. Jesus bids them count upon it, and then consider of it. Our Saviour explains this by two similitudes; the former showing that we must consider the expenses of our religion; the latter, that we must consider the perils of it. Sit down and count the cost; consider it will cost the mortifying of sin, even the most beloved lusts. The proudest and most daring sinner cannot stand against God, for who knows the power of his anger? It is our interest to seek peace with him, and we need not send to ask conditions of peace, they are offered to us, and are highly to our advantage. In some way a disciple of Christ will be put to the trial. May we seek to be disciples indeed, and be careful not to grow slack in our profession, or afraid of the cross; that we may be the good salt of the earth, to season those around us with the savour of Christ.

Read Matthew Henry on Luke 14 →

Parallel passages

1

The same words or events elsewhere.

Matthew 10:38

Cross-references

11

Topics

CrossStoicismDiscipleship

Cross-references: Treasury of Scripture Knowledge. Hebrew and Greek data from STEPBible.org (Tyndale House, Cambridge), CC BY 4.0. Library: sources.