Bible Strands
Matthew 10:39
Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — Jesus speaks to the Twelve as he sends them out on mission, immediately after commanding them to take up their cross (v. 38).
The words — εὕρων (heurōn), aorist active participle of εὕρισκειν, carries the sense of a decisive act of securing or grasping; paired with ἀπολλύω (apollyō), which means to destroy or lose utterly, not merely to misplace.
The thread — The same antithesis appears in Mark 8:35, Luke 17:33, and John 12:25, where "hates his life in this world" sharpens the contrast.
Why it lands — It asks the reader to stop treating self-preservation as the highest good and to be willing to release what they are clutching.
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
He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it.
Cross-references
- John 12:25 Whoever loves his life will lose it, but whoever hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life.
- Mark 8:35 For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and for the gospel will save it.
- Luke 17:33 Whoever tries to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life will preserve it.
- Matthew 16:25 For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.
- Luke 9:24 For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will save it.
- 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.
- Philippians 1:20 I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have complete boldness so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death.
- 2 Timothy 4:6 For I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time of my departure is at hand.