Matthew 10:39
Translations
King James Version (KJV)
He that finds his life shall lose it: and he that loses his life for my sake shall find it.
American King James Version (AKJV)
He that finds his life shall lose it: and he that loses his life for my sake shall find it.
American Standard Version (ASV)
He that findeth his life shall lose it; and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it.
Basic English Translation (BBE)
He who has the desire to keep his life will have it taken from him, and he who gives up his life because of me will have it given back to him.
Webster's Revision
He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake, shall find it.
World English Bible
He who seeks his life will lose it; and he who loses his life for my sake will find it.
English Revised Version (ERV)
He that findeth his life shall lose it; and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it.
Clarke's Matthew 10:39 Bible Commentary
He that findeth his life, etc. - i.e. He who, for the sake of his temporal interest, abandons his spiritual concerns, shall lose his soul; and he who, in order to avoid martyrdom, abjures the pure religion of Christ, shall lose his soul, and perhaps his life too. He that findeth his life shall lose it, was literally fulfilled in Archbishop Cranmer. He confessed Christ against the devil, and his eldest son, the pope. He was ordered to be burnt; to save his life he recanted, and was, notwithstanding, burnt. Whatever a man sacrifices to God is never lost, for he finds it again in God.
There is a fine piece on this subject in Juvenal, Sat. viii. l. 80, which deserves to be recorded here.
- ambiguae si quando citabere testis
Incertaeque rei, Phalaris liect imperet ut sis
Falsus, et admoto dictet perjuria tauro,
Summum crede nefas Animam praeferre Pudori
Et propter Vitam Vivendi perdere causas
- If ever call'd
To give thy witness in a doubtful case,
Though Phalaris himself should bid thee lie,
On pain of torture in his flaming bull,
Disdain to barter innocence for life;
To which life owes its lustre and its worth
Wakefield
Barnes's Matthew 10:39 Bible Commentary
He that findeth his life ... - The word "life" in this passage is used evidently in two senses. The meaning may be expressed thus: He that is anxious to save his "temporal" life, or his comfort and security here, shall lose "eternal" life, or shall fail of heaven. He that is willing to risk or lose his comfort and "life" here for my sake, shall find "life" everlasting, or shall be saved. The manner of speaking is similar to that where he said, "Let the dead bury their dead." See notes at Matthew 8:22.
Wesley's Matthew 10:39 Bible Commentary
10:39 He that findeth his life shall lose it - He that saves his life by denying me, shall lose it eternally; and he that loseth his life by confessing me, shall save it eternally. And as you shall be thus rewarded, so in proportion shall they who entertain you for my sake. Mt 16:25; John 12:25.