And he that takes not his cross, and follows after me, is not worthy of me.
All Commentaries on Matthew 10:38 Go To Matthew 10
John Chrysostom
AD 407
And not even simply to hate it was His command, but so as to expose it to war, and to battles, and to slaughters, and blood. For he that bears not his cross, and comes after me, cannot be my disciple. Thus He said not merely that we must stand against death, but also against a violent death; and not violent only, but ignominious too.
And He discourses nothing as yet of His own passion, that when they had been for a time instructed in these things, they might more easily receive His word concerning it. Is there not, therefore, cause for amazement, how on their hearing these things, their soul did not wing its way from the body, the hardships being everywhere at hand, and the good things in expectation? How then did it not flee away? Great was both the power of the speaker, and the love of the hearers. Wherefore though hearing things far more intolerable and galling than those great men, Moses and Jeremiah, they continued to obey, and to say nothing against it.
