Luke 9:24

For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will save it.

Berean Standard Bible

Study note

Setting — Jesus addresses the crowd following him immediately after commanding them to deny themselves, take up their cross daily, and follow him.

The words — ψυχὴν (psuchēn) denotes the natural life or self, while σῶσαι (sōsai) means to rescue or preserve intact.

The thread — The paradox of losing life to save it appears in Luke 17:33, John 12:25, and is echoed in the impending afflictions noted in Acts 20:23.

Why it lands — The text commands readers to abandon self-preservation as a primary goal and to surrender their natural life for Jesus' sake in order to secure true preservation.

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.

The Greek words

King James Version

For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it.

Cross-references

Luke 17:33 Whoever tries to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life will preserve it.
John 12:25 Whoever loves his life will lose it, but whoever hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life.
Acts 20:23 I only know that in town after town the Holy Spirit warns me that chains and afflictions await me.
Revelation 2:10 Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison to test you, and you will suffer tribulation for ten days. Be faithful even unto death, and I will give you the crown of life.
Revelation 12:11 They have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony. And they did not love their lives so as to shy away from death.
Hebrews 11:35 Women received back their dead, raised to life again. Others were tortured and refused their release, so that they might gain a better resurrection.