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For what will it profit a man, if he will gain the whole world, and forfeit his life? Or what will a man give in exchange for his life?
Verse Takeaways
1
The Ultimate Bad Deal
Commentators unanimously emphasize the rhetorical power of Jesus's question. They describe gaining the entire world at the cost of one's soul as a 'miserable bargain' and supreme folly. The focus is on the eternal perspective, where temporary worldly pleasures and riches are worthless compared to everlasting life.
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Matthew
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10
18th Century
Presbyterian
For what is a man profited, etc. To gain the whole world means to possess it as our own—all its riches, honors, and pleasures. To lose…
Gain (κερδηση) and
profit (ζημιωθη). Both aorist subjunctives (one active, the other passive) and so punct…
19th Century
Anglican
what is a man profited...? — It is for a specific reason that the argument from expediency, as it might be called, is introduced h…
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Baptist
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 …
For the sense of v.25, see comment on 10:39. Verse 26 furthers the argument by asking twin rhetorical questions, showing the folly of possessing al…
16th Century
Protestant
For what doth it profit a man? The word soul is here used in the strictest sense. Christ reminds them that the soul of m…
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17th Century
Reformed Baptist
For what is a man profited Such persons, though they are only seeking their own profit, will find themselves most sadly mistak…
A true disciple of Christ is one who follows him in duty, and will follow him to glory. He is one who walks in the same way Christ walked, is led b…
13th Century
Catholic
Above, Peter’s confession of Christ’s divinity was related; here, Christ commands silence for a time, specifically, that they do not say that He is…
