Charles Spurgeon Commentary Matthew 16:26

"For what shall a man be profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and forfeit his life? or what shall a man give in exchange for his life?" — Matthew 16:26 (ASV)

If he loses his real life, how can he profit, even if the world were his? The true gain or loss is a gain or loss of life. All external things are trifles compared with that life. Even now, What is a man profited? He has no real life in Christ, and what is everything else he might possess? What is it but a painted pageantry with which he is amusing his soul on the brink of hell?

As for the world to come, there is no question. To lose eternal life is an overwhelming loss indeed. Nothing can be compared with eternal life.

The soul’s value cannot be estimated by ordinary calculations. Worlds on worlds were a poor price. What shall a man give in exchange for his soul? Barter is out of the question. His soul is so truly a man’s sole inheritance that if he has lost it, he has lost all.