Matthew 16:24 Then said Jesus to his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. I. WHAT IS THE PRINCIPLE OF SELF-DENIAL? It may be said to be in renouncing whatever comes in competition with the love and service of Christ, your turning from things lawful when they become occasions of spiritual injury either to ourselves or others. Self-denial proceeds on high consideration. 1. Love to Christ, which involves obedience to His word. 2. Living not unto ourselves but unto God and for the welfare of others. These two must be combined. It is not self-denial to give our goods to feed the poor; but apart from the principle of love it is not self-denial. Nor is it self-denial for a man to refuse temporal honours for which God has qualified him, and which are given in a providential way. No self-denial in Joseph refusing to be governor over Egypt. Nor is it self-denial to reject a lawful use of God's creatures, or to deprive himself of that necessary to health. II. How SELF-DENIAL IS EXHIBITED. It is the offspring of faith in Christ. 1. It shows itself in the lowest forms; first, in denying sin, things which the world allows, but which the Word of God condemns. 2. In denying what may be called righteous self. "Count all loss for Christ." 3. In things lawful but not expedient on account of their influence on others. 4. In being true to the Word of God. 5. In things agreeable but questionable. (J. W. Reeve, M. A.) Parallel Verses KJV: Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. |
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