Daily Writing

Thursday, 12 February 2026

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? Matthew 16:26

Note: You can listen to today’s commentary courtesy of our friends at the “Bible in Ten” podcast. (Click Here to listen)

You can also read this commentary, scrolling with music, courtesy of our friends at “Discern the Bible” on YouTube. (Click Here to listen), or at Rumble (Click Here to listen).

“For what it benefits a man if he may gain the whole world and he may lose his soul? Or what will he give, man, equivalent his soul?” (CG).

In the previous verse, Jesus spoke of the importance of following Him, saying, “For whoever, if he may desire to save his soul, he will lose it. And whoever, if he may lose his soul because of Me, he will find it.” In explanation of that, He continues, saying, “For what it benefits a man.”

He is asking what advantage is gained in the proposition He will set forth. If one were to deal with his soul in a supposed trade-up or barter for better, what advantage would result “if he may gain the whole world?”

Here is a new word, kerdainó, to gain. HELPS Word Studies says, “an ancient mercantile term for exchanging (trading) one good for another; (figuratively) to exchange (trade out) what is mediocre (‘good’) for the better, i.e. ‘trading up.’”

So, the thought is that this person has a soul, and he trades it for what seems a better deal. It is the old “sell your soul to the devil” idea, where one gets to be a rock star with lots of money, girls, cars, and ten big houses. In the case of this person, he trades his soul, supposedly up, for the whole world. And yet, Jesus says, “and he may lose his soul?”

It is a second new word, zémioó, to injure. In this case, it is to suffer loss. So the person gets the whole world, something once offered to Jesus by the devil in Matthew 4:8 & 9. Despite gaining the world, he isn’t eternal. His soul will be required of him at some point.

When that time comes, he is judged and unceremoniously chucked into the Lake of Fire. Was possessing the world worth it? Only a fool, and the world is filled with them, thinks so. Jesus continues, saying, “Or what will he give, man, equivalent his soul?”

A third new word is seen, antallagma, an equivalent or ransom. The word is only found in this context here and in Mark 8:37. What can a man give for the ransom of His soul, securing safety from eternal damnation? The question is answered in Psalm 49 –

“Why should I fear in the days of evil,
When the iniquity at my heels surrounds me?
⁶ Those who trust in their wealth
And boast in the multitude of their riches,
⁷ None of them can by any means redeem his brother,
Nor give to God a ransom for him—
⁸ For the redemption of their souls is costly,
And it shall cease forever—
⁹ That he should continue to live eternally,
And not see the Pit.” Psalm 49:5-9

The answer is that no payment can be obtained, apart from Jesus Christ (as noted in the previous two verses), to reconcile finite fallen man with the infinitely pure and holy Creator. The separation exists, and apart from God’s intervention in Christ, man stands condemned. It is what Jesus expressly says in John 3:18 –

“He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.”

Life application: Paul alludes to exactly what Jesus is saying here in Matthew 16 –

“But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ. ⁸ Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ ⁹ and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith; ¹⁰ that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, ¹¹ if, by any means, I may attain to the resurrection from the dead.” Philippians 3:7-11

Paul was given a choice. He chose wisely. Each of us is given a choice. Will we follow Jesus, accepting His ransom payment for our souls, or will we cling to this life, attempt to possess everything, and in doing so, lose it all? To attempt to gain in a world of loss is not a smart decision. But to supposedly “lose” now for a life of eternal gain is infinitely beneficial. Choose wisely.

Lord God, we often put way too much hope in things that are unprofitable. It is hard to shake off the desire for the things of this world. Help us to press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. To Your glory, we pray. Amen.

Wednesday, 11 February 2026

For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. Matthew 16:25

Note: You can listen to today’s commentary courtesy of our friends at the “Bible in Ten” podcast. (Click Here to listen)

You can also read this commentary, scrolling with music, courtesy of our friends at “Discern the Bible” on YouTube. (Click Here to listen), or at Rumble (Click Here to listen).

“For whoever, if he may desire to save his soul, he will lose it. And whoever, if he may lose his soul because of Me, he will find it” (CG).

In the previous verse, Jesus said, “If any, he desires to come after Me, let him disown himself, and he took his cross, and he follows Me.” He now continues the sentiment, saying something similar to Matthew 10:39, “For whoever, if he may desire to save his soul, he will lose it.”

As in Matthew 10, the words seem paradoxical. The psuché, soul, was introduced in Matthew 2:20. It is derived from psucho, breath. The meaning is based on the context, and it can mean the breath of one’s life, the seat of affection, the self, a human person, or an individual. The word corresponds to the Hebrew word nephesh.

Jesus is referring to the soul in two ways. The first is the physical humanity of the person. We want to live. It is natural. Animals will respond when their lives are threatened. People are the same. But death is inevitable for all things. Despite this fact, people continue to challenge death, seeking ways to evade it.

However, if a person spends all of his time focused on himself, he will wind up losing the soul he possesses. In this case, it refers to the part of humans that will continue on after death. It is the part that will someday face God for judgment. Jesus next says, “And whoever, if he may lose his soul because of Me, he will find it.”

Jesus mentioned a person taking up his cross and following Him. A cross is an instrument of death. To take up one’s cross means that death may be ahead for that person. However, for the person who follows this path, it means that he will find life through Christ. This is the main subject that has been discussed, meaning, “Who is Jesus?”

Peter rightly answered that Jesus is the Messiah. Therefore, a part of the role of being the Messiah is granting life to His people. But it must transcend this earthly life if the people are bearing a cross while following Him. Referring to the thought in Matthew 10 is needed –

“The ‘having found his soul,’ he will lose it, and the ‘having lost his soul’ because of Me, he will find it.” Matthew 10:39

With that remembered, the structure of Jesus’ words in Matthew 16 can be evaluated –

*If any, he desires to come after Me, let him disown himself,
+and he took his cross, ^and he follows Me.

*For whoever, if he may desire to save his soul, he will lose it.
+And whoever, if he may lose his soul ^because of Me, he will find it.

Jesus directly equates coming after Him to that person saving his soul. He also equates taking his cross with losing his soul (meaning the earthly life he lives). But in following Him with his cross, the person will find his soul (meaning his eternal life). The similarity to Matthew 10 is more readily apparent when the structure is rightly understood.

To find one’s soul refers to self-preservation in this life, something that will not obtain eternal life. However, to lose one’s soul, and act of pursuing God in Christ, will obtain the desired outcome.

Of course, these things must be taken in the context of Jesus’ audience and what it means to be Jesus the Christ. He will go to His cross in Jerusalem. There on the cross, He will die. Pursuing Jesus will no longer mean what it meant. Rather, to look to the cross of Christ in faith is what the epistles proclaim leads to life, meaning eternal life.

With the boxes aligned and in considering all things in their proper dispensation, the matter of what Jesus is referring to is clear and without contradiction.

Life application: Peter admonished Jesus inappropriately. But because he did, we have the words of Jesus’ response to him, along with His continued words to the others, to more fully instruct us on what His mission was.

Remember, these men heard Jesus’ words. They saw His miracles. They walked with Jesus and learned from Him. And yet, when He was crucified, they lost hope, having completely misunderstood what He came to do.

His mission was not to redeem Israel for their glorification among the nations. His mission was to redeem them from sin so that they could be glorified in the presence of God. Sin is the problem. It is a problem that was not and will not be corrected through animal sacrifices.

Those things only pointed to what Jesus would do. Israel still has not learned this lesson. The apostles and disciples did, but only after His work was complete. Israel is going to go back to temple worship and animal sacrifices.

This is not glorifying of God. Coming to Jesus is. With that in mind, and because Israel has the knowledge of the truth, even though they rejected it, what does that mean for them? Hebrews explains it –

“For if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, ²⁷ but a certain fearful expectation of judgment, and fiery indignation which will devour the adversaries. ²⁸ Anyone who has rejected Moses’ law dies without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. ²⁹ Of how much worse punishment, do you suppose, will he be thought worthy who has trampled the Son of God underfoot, counted the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified a common thing, and insulted the Spirit of grace?” Hebrews 10:26-29

Until Israel is willing to come to Jesus, they will not save their soul. The words of Jesus are to individuals, but they also are a truth presented to Israel to hear and understand.

Lord God, thank You that we have Jesus to free us from sin’s consequences. We pray for the nation of Israel today. They know what Christians believe, but they have rejected that message. May many eyes be opened as they continue to reject the only hope of salvation available to humanity. Amen.

Tuesday, 10 February 2026

Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. Matthew 16:24

Note: You can listen to today’s commentary courtesy of our friends at the “Bible in Ten” podcast. (Click Here to listen)

You can also read this commentary, scrolling with music, courtesy of our friends at “Discern the Bible” on YouTube. (Click Here to listen), or at Rumble (Click Here to listen).

“Then, Jesus, He said to His disciples, ‘If any, he desires to come after Me, let him disown himself, and he took his cross, and he follows Me’” (CG).

In the previous verse, Jesus turned and said to Peter to get behind Him because Peter was an offense to Him. Peter was being mindful of the things of men rather than God. Matthew next records, “Then, Jesus, He said to His disciples.”

Mark and Luke add more detail. Mark says, “When He had called the people to Himself, with His disciples also.” Luke apparently confirms this, saying, “Then He said to them all.” There is no contradiction. Matthew is focusing on the disciples. What Jesus says is, “If any, he desires to come after Me.”

Many translations say, “If any man will come after me…” Unless you are using the word to mean “desire,” which it doesn’t always mean, the thought is insufficient. The word theló signifies a determined intent, such as want, desire, etc. To say, “If any man will,” might include those who do, but don’t desire to do so.

Jesus is referring to those who voluntarily follow in His footsteps. Of them, He continues, “let him disown himself.”

It is a new word, aparneomai, to deny utterly or disown. It is an intensification of arneomai, to deny. There is a sense of an utter refusal to identify with the original source involved. In essence, “I once followed this path. It was my general walk of life. However, I am now following Jesus’ path and utterly reject the one I once followed.”

There is a break from the old to take up the new. In this new path, He next says, “and he took his cross, and he follows Me.”

Notice how Jesus doesn’t say, “And he takes up My cross and follows Me.” This is similar to Matthew 10:38 –

“And who not, he receives his cross, and he follows after Me, not he is worthy of Me” (CG).

In both instances, Jesus instructs His hearers to receive their cross, not His. This, then, is the beginning and fundamental error of ten thousand commentaries and sermons over the years. Does what Jesus just said square with these words –

“The allusion is, to Christ’s bearing his own cross, and Simeon’s carrying it after him, which afterwards came to pass.” John Gill, et. al.

It is true that Jesus has alluded to His suffering and death, but that is future. He is not asking them to pick up His cross at all. They have a cross to bear in following Him at this time. Whatever burden He bears, they should be willing to follow Him. They have no idea that He will die on a cross, and when it happened, they were utterly dejected and confused. In fact –

“Then the one whose name was Cleopas answered and said to Him, ‘Are You the only stranger in Jerusalem, and have You not known the things which happened there in these days?’
¹⁹ And He said to them, ‘What things?’
So they said to Him, ‘The things concerning Jesus of Nazareth, who was a Prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, ²⁰ and how the chief priests and our rulers delivered Him to be condemned to death, and crucified Him. ²¹ But we were hoping that it was He who was going to redeem Israel. Indeed, besides all this, today is the third day since these things happened.’” Luke 24:18-21

These disciples, indicative of all of them, failed to understand anything at all about Jesus’ cross. When Jesus tells them to pick up their cross, He is telling them that whatever burdens they have on His path, even if it results in death, is a path they must choose. This is why Jesus rebuked Peter over His appeal concerning the things He would suffer.

In the new dispensation, the dispensation of grace, which began after Jesus’ completed work, we are not instructed to take up our cross at all. That is failed sermon speak. What does Paul say? In Galatians 6, the answer is seen –

“For not even those who are circumcised keep the law, but they desire to have you circumcised that they may boast in your flesh. ¹⁴ But God forbid that I should boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. ¹⁵ For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but a new creation.” Galatians 6:13-15

Jesus was on a trek to fulfill the law and die in fulfillment of it. Those who followed Him were to see this, understand that this was what had to take place (as He explicitly told them), and to take up their own cross, following Him.

With Jesus’ work complete, we now accept peace with God through His cross.

Life application: The dispensational model is correct. God is working in certain ways at certain times to reveal and complete His plan of redemption. The problem is that even dispensationalist teachers and preachers fail to keep the boxes straight.

We do not have a cross to bear in the sense that people speak of when they evaluate Matthew 16:24. Rather, we have a cross to accept, revel in, and boast about, meaning the cross of Jesus Christ. Pay attention to what Jesus says in the context in which He says it.

Consider the full scope of what He is referring to, including the stunned reaction of those who saw Christ crucified and thought, “We had a failed hope.” Then consider the victory of what really transpired. Jesus Christ did redeem Israel. He also redeemed all of Adam’s fallen seed who are willing to come to Him through His cross.

We don’t have to give up this life to obtain it, except in the sense that we are converted to a new life in Christ positionally. We can continue as plumbers, executives, store clerks, or whatever other profession we find ourselves in. We can continue to live in our homes, remain married to our spouses, and so on.

Revel in the new life you have been given, even as you continue to live out your current life in the presence of God who sent His Son to redeem you unto Himself. Yes, revel in the cross of Jesus Christ our Lord.

Lord God Almighty, You are great and greatly to be praised. All glory, honor, and majesty belong to You, forever and ever. Thank You for Jesus Christ and His cross. May that always be our boast. To Your glory, amen.

Monday, 9 February 2026

But He turned and said to Peter, “Get behind Me, Satan! You are an offense to Me, for you are not mindful of the things of God, but the things of men.” Matthew 16:23

Note: You can listen to today’s commentary courtesy of our friends at the “Bible in Ten” podcast. (Click Here to listen)

You can also read this commentary, scrolling with music, courtesy of our friends at “Discern the Bible” on YouTube. (Click Here to listen), or at Rumble (Click Here to listen).

“And, having turned, He said to Peter, ‘You withdraw behind Me, Satan! Snare, you are, to Me. For you think not these of God but these of men’” (CG).

In the previous verse, Peter, without proper thought, admonished Jesus for His words concerning His destiny in Jerusalem. Because of his words, it now says of Jesus, “And, having turned.”

We can only speculate what this means. Was Jesus not directly facing Peter until he spoke, but after hearing his words, Jesus turned toward him? Did Jesus turn towards the disciples to allow them to clearly hear what He was going to say, or did Jesus turn His back to Peter, while speaking as a sign of contempt and admonishment?

The latter seems the most likely. Peter would probably have been facing Jesus. With his words contradicting what Jesus said, Jesus probably turned around with His back now to Peter. With this symbolic act accomplished, the next words would have full effect: “He said to Peter, ‘You withdraw behind Me, Satan!’”

The turning, then, would be a metaphor for the words themselves, confirming His words as an object lesson to Peter. It is the same thought, with the added object lesson, that Jesus said to Satan in Matthew 4:10, “You withdraw Satan!” Peter has taken over the bidding of Satan in his unwitting attempt to frustrate God’s plans for man’s redemption.

This would be what Luke was referring to in Luke 4:13 –

“Now when the devil had ended every temptation, he departed from Him until an opportune time.”

The devil took full advantage of Peter’s overzealous and unintelligent utterance to tempt Jesus. But Jesus was already prepared to defend the Father’s will by standing against such an appeal. With His object lesson and admonishment accomplished, Jesus continues, saying, “Snare, you are, to Me.”

The word skandalon has already been seen. It signifies a trap-stick that is used to snare an animal. It is quite often translated as a stumbling block. Jesus is saying that Peter’s words are Satan’s attempt to trip Jesus up, causing Him to falter through sin.

Once one is in a snare, he is entrapped. Sinning, which it would be for Jesus by denying the Father’s will for Him, would be the result if He were so ensnared. But Jesus prevailed over this. His words continue, saying, “For you think not these of God but these of men.”

Peter had just been told that because of his proclamation, revealed to him by the Father, he would possess the keys to the kingdom of heaven. And yet, he still had an earthly view of God’s plans. He was a work in progress, something that continued on long after Jesus had completed His earthly ministry.

Life application: Paul uses the same term, skandalon, when referring to the crucifixion of Jesus in 1 Corinthians 1:23 and Galatians 5:11. His crucifixion is the basis for the gospel of salvation. In fact, in 1 Corinthians, he directly makes the connection –

“Where is the wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the disputer of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? ²¹ For since, in the wisdom of God, the world through wisdom did not know God, it pleased God through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe. ²² For Jews request a sign, and Greeks seek after wisdom; ²³ but we preach Christ crucified, to the Jews a stumbling block [skandalon] and to the Greeks foolishness, ²⁴ but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. ²⁵ Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.” 1 Corinthians 1:20-25

A trap is something that is hidden and unnoticed. If someone knew he would be trapped, he would simply avoid the thing. However, people overlook what they don’t see. This is what the gospel is like. It is so simple and unassuming that people miss its significance. But in denying the efficacy of the cross, people deny the only means of restoration with God.

The world has many different ways of confusing the issue. The term “all paths lead to God” may sound good, but it isn’t a very well-thought-out sentiment. Religions, by their very definition, are contradictory to other religions. It would be a ridiculously inept Creator who would send His Son to the cross to die for the sins of the world, but who would then accept people into His list of saved people who denied the very thing He had done.

Maligning Jesus, spitting on His cross, etc., are the same as spitting on God who sent His Son to die. Use wisdom as you hear people’s ideas about God, heaven, restoration, etc. It is so easy to be misled by catchphrases, fine-sounding arguments, and appeals to emotion. But such things normally have nothing to do with the reality of what God has done.

Lord God, help us not to be a hindrance to others as they seek the truth of the gospel. Unlike Peter in his admonishment of Jesus, we need to stop and consider things carefully, and then present them in a manner that will glorify You through right instruction concerning Jesus and His complete work. Help us in this, O God. Amen.

Sunday, 8 February 2026

Then Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him, saying, “Far be it from You, Lord; this shall not happen to You!” Matthew 16:22

Note: You can listen to today’s commentary courtesy of our friends at the “Bible in Ten” podcast. (Click Here to listen)

You can also read this commentary, scrolling with music, courtesy of our friends at “Discern the Bible” on YouTube. (Click Here to listen), or at Rumble (Click Here to listen).

“And Peter, having clutched Him, he began to admonish Him, saying, ‘Propitious, to You, Lord! No, not it will be, this to You!’” (CG).

In the previous verse, Jesus told the disciples about the trials ahead for Him in Jerusalem, including being killed. He also told them about the resurrection on the third day. Peter, who had just stepped forward and proclaimed Jesus as the Christ, now has something to say about Jesus’ words. Matthew notes, “And Peter, having clutched Him, he began to admonish Him.”

A new word is seen, proslambanó, to take aside. It is from pros, signifying motion toward something, and lambanó, to take. In this case, the word pros is used to indicate interacting with, and so it means to “aggressively receive, with strong personal interest” (HELPS Word Studies). A suitable single word that can be taken both literally and figuratively would be clutch.

Peter either actually or figuratively clutched on to Jesus because of His words and began to admonish Him over His words, “saying, ‘Propitious, to You, Lord!’”

Another new word, the adjective hileós, is used. It signifies “propitious.” In Attic Greek, it was used to indicate appeasing divine wrath. It is related to the Greek word hilastérion used in Romans 3:25 and Hebrews 9:5 to indicate the mercy seat of the Ark, which prefigured Christ as our propitiation before God.

Peter’s use of it here is idiomatic. He is essentially saying, “For heaven’s sake!” or “God forbid!” In such an exclamation, it then indirectly signifies, “May God be propitious to you.” However, behind Peter’s intent is, “No way, Jose!” Thus, “God forbid” is a good paraphrase. Having said that, he continues with an emphatic “No, not it will be, this to You!”

The double negative adds heavily to the negative intent of the idiomatic expression. Peter is adamant that Jesus is not going to suffer. And whatever Jesus meant by “be killed” is not going to happen.

As is common with Peter, he has failed to stop and think his words through. Even without understanding that Jesus is God, he is admonishing his Lord, Teacher, and Guide. This is something that is wholly inappropriate for a person in his position. He also acted without further questioning, such as, “What do you mean by…”

But if he had stopped and evaluated Jesus’ words before blurting out his admonishment, the most obvious question of all would be, “What do you mean by, ‘and the third day be roused.’” Whatever Jesus meant by “be killed,” that topic is then qualified by the words “be roused.”

Not having a clue about what Jesus was saying, he should have stopped, formed a question, and then asked in a respectable manner. It may be that his zeal is appropriate, but his approach with that zeal is unacceptable.

Life application: In Galatians 4:17, Paul says, while speaking of Judaizers, “They zealously court you, but for no good; yes, they want to exclude you, that you may be zealous for them.” There are times when having zeal is good. This is especially so when it is in the service of God, honoring our duties as citizens of our nation, or for the benefit of family, friends, the downtrodden, etc.

However, if we don’t put curbs on our zeal, we can fall into the same personal trap Peter did. Our good intentions will turn out to be inappropriate because we didn’t consider all the facts. Likewise, if our zeal is misdirected to start with, like the Judaizers in Galatia, we err in whatever we are doing. Peter found this out when he fell into their trap.

If our misdirected zeal is doctrinal in nature, we are working against what God has ordained. That is why when people shoot off their mouths about doctrinal matters without properly understanding what the Bible says about them, they cannot be pleasing to God.

A simple example is the rapture. We have to determine one of two things first. Does the Bible teach there will be a rapture or not? The answer to that needs to be fully understood before talking about the matter in an instructive manner. Only one answer will be correct. The other will be a false teaching.

The next question would be, does the Bible teach about the general timeframe concerning when it will happen? This would mean pre-trib, mid-trib, pre-wrath, post-trib, etc. Only one answer can be correct. The other answers will be contrary to what God expects of us in our instruction.

The next question might be, “Am I maintaining the proper context for my conclusions?” In other words, a person may be using Jesus’ words from Matthew XX to support his rapture conclusions. Is that appropriate, or is it out of the context of what Jesus taught?

Next, a good question is, “Now that the general timeframe of the rapture has been rightly understood, can I pinpoint the precise timing of it, or is that going to be unknown to us until it happens?”

The Bible does tell us. So if we take a contrary position, we are harming, not helping, with proper instruction on this matter. Our conclusions are false, and thus we are teaching falsely. Those who teach falsely have become false teachers. And what does the Bible say about such people?

These are only a few of the many parameters to be understood about a single lesser doctrine that is found in Scripture. How much more should we be prepared before speaking about the more important doctrines that can lead people to a complete misunderstanding about who God is, how to be saved, etc.?

No wonder James says that not many should become teachers. Unless we are willing to do the hard work to rightly understand and teach what the word of God says, we will be more stringently judged for our words. Read the Bible! Study to show yourself approved!

Lord God, You are wonderful, forgiving of our transgressions because of Jesus. But we still must consider that You are holy and Your word is sacred. May we never attempt to run ahead without thinking things through carefully. We do not want to do Satan’s bidding while intending to honor You. Give us wisdom in this, O God. Amen.