Luke 9:23Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

He wished to ensure they understood that His readiness to face scorn and violence was not merely for the world’s sake but meant to enable them to lead lives of peace, allowing them to avoid the hardships that they might otherwise encounter for the sake of their faith and even resist death in the flesh without shame. Thus, He communicates that those aspiring to receive the glory He offers must do so with the requisite courage: “Whosoever desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me.”

In this, we recognize the profound love of Christ, our Redeemer, for humanity; He not only accepted the hardships and ultimate humiliation of the cross for our benefit but also inspires His chosen disciples to pursue the same noble aspiration—those who would lead others and oversee the flock entrusted to them. Those appointed to such vital roles must possess great bravery and steadfastness, enduring hardships without trepidation, and viewing even death with indifference. A person who embodies this spirit essentially renounces personal interests, choosing to disregard temporal concerns, focusing instead on suffering for the joy and love found in Christ. Likewise, humanity is called to follow Christ. The fellowship of the holy apostles cries out to Him, reflecting the sentiment of the psalmist: “For you they kill us every day, we are counted as sheep going to the slaughter.” In this manner, they align with Emmanuel, “who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame.” He taught that those destined to instruct all nations should rise above worldly fears and superficial attachments by willingly embracing the burden of suffering for love of Him.

He illustrated this to His devoted apostle Peter by asking, “Simeon, son of Jonas, do you love Me? Shepherd My lambs, feed My sheep.” As the good Shepherd, He laid down His life for the flock. Unlike a mere hireling, He cared for those He redeemed, confronting danger head-on rather than fleeing from it; He sacrificed Himself, allowing harm to come to Him for our salvation: “For by His wounds we are healed,” “and He suffered for our sins.” Hence, those desiring to follow in His footsteps, who ardently wish to be like Him and lead His intelligent flock, must endure similar trials. They face many ferocious adversaries who mercilessly destroy and lead souls towards destruction. The most learned and eloquent among the pagans often disguise their false teachings in persuasive language, corrupting the naive and drawing them away from God, who is above all, to worship entities that are not gods. These opponents unleashed severe persecutions upon the holy apostles, repeatedly placing them in jeopardy. The blessed Paul recounted his challenges in Iconium, Lystra, Ephesus, and Damascus, recalling: “At Damascus, the governor under Aretas the king was guarding the city of the Damascenes, desiring to seize me. But I was let down in a basket through a window in the wall, and escaped his hands.” On another occasion, he noted, “Alexander, the coppersmith, did me much harm.”

What does this mighty evangelist, this courageous defender who faced grave dangers, say? “For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain.” Furthermore, “I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.” The cruelty of the Jews often manifested against the other apostles, persecuting them, summoning them to synagogues, and savagely scourging them, demanding silence about their messages; they proclaimed, “Have we not strictly commanded you to speak to no man in this name?”—meaning the name of Christ, our Savior. They acknowledged, “Behold! You have filled Jerusalem with your teaching.” After enduring harsh accusations due to their unyielding love for Christ, the disciples left “rejoicing that they had been deemed worthy to suffer for the Name.” If they had yielded to fear or allowed the threats of death to subdue them, how could they have effectively test their convictions? And how could those whom they helped reach God bear fruit? Even wise Paul, unfazed by trials, when he was on his way to Jerusalem and the prophet Agabus bound his feet with his own girdle, proclaiming, “Thus says the Holy Spirit: So shall the Jews at Jerusalem bind the man who owns this girdle,” responded with determination: “What are you doing, weeping and breaking my heart? For I am ready not only to be bound but also to die for the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

It is clear that in imparting new directives to His followers, He stated: "Anyone of you who does not renounce all his possessions cannot be My disciple" (Luke 14:33). This indicates that in the former life, one may have coveted others' belongings, while in the fervor of the new life, one is called to give selflessly of his own.

In today's reading, He teaches that to follow Him, one must deny oneself. This statement underscores the need to forsake not only material possessions but also one's very self. It may be easier for a person to relinquish his belongings than to abandon his own identity. Surrendering material goods may seem manageable, but relinquishing one's essence is a profound challenge. The Lord instructs those who approach Him to abandon their worldly possessions, as we engage in a spiritual battle against malevolent forces. These spirits own nothing in this earthly realm; thus, the naked must contend with the naked. A person who is clothed will surely falter against the naked, as his possessions can become points of vulnerability. Earthly items serve merely as coverings. Therefore, one preparing for spiritual warfare must shed these garments, lest he be ensnared by the very pleasures he clings to.

However, mere abandonment of possessions is insufficient if one does not also let go of the self. What does it mean to forsake oneself? If we depart from our true selves, where exactly do we go? Who continues to live if we turn away from our identity? The truth is that we often fall into sin and stray from our original design. Consider a proud person who turns to Christ; he becomes humble and leaves behind his former self. A person who once indulged in luxury transitions to a disciplined life; he has renounced his previous tendencies. Similarly, a greedy individual who learns to share rather than rob demonstrates a changed self. Although their essence remains unchanged, their wickedness has diminished. Thus, it is stated, "The wicked shall be converted, and he shall be cast away" (Proverbs 12:7). The transformed wicked do not cease to exist in being, but they no longer exist in guilt.

We forsake and deny ourselves when we move away from our former state and pursue the new life to which we are called. Consider how Paul portrayed this transformation when he said, "But I live not unto this cause" (Galatians 2:20). In this way, the once fierce persecutor fades away, making way for a devoted preacher. Had he retained his former self, his sanctity would be in question. Those who claim they no longer live must reflect on how the sacred truths are still echoed in their teachings—Paul follows with the declaration: "but Christ lives in me" (Ibid.). This implies that though he has stepped aside from his old self, he is not dead in essence; rather, he exists fully in Christ.

Let the truth thus proclaim, "If any man desires to walk after Me, let him deny himself." For without retreating from our own selves, we cannot approach Him who is above us nor receive the blessings awaiting us on the other side, unless we are willing to slay our former selves. Just as plants are uprooted to be replanted for growth, the seeds must die in their earthly state to flourish anew. They lose their former selves to manifest what they were meant to become. Those who have renounced vice must now seek virtue to thrive. When the call is issued that if anyone wishes to follow Him, he must deny himself, it is immediately followed by, "And let him take up his cross, and follow Me." The cross can be embraced through physical sacrifice or through the heart's compassion for others.

Reflect on Paul, who stated, "I mortify my body and enslave it, so that I may not, when I preach to others, myself be excluded" (1 Corinthians 9:27). Here we recognize the physical cross, linked to the denial of the flesh; yet, we must also acknowledge the mental cross, which involves extending compassion towards others. He expresses, "Whoever is weary, and I am not weary; whoever is tempted, and I am not overwhelmed" (2 Cor. 11:29). The epitome of a preacher exemplifies temperance, wearing the physical cross while sharing in the burdens of others’ weaknesses through the compassion in his heart.

Some vices hide behind virtues, so we must discern which vices are adjacent to the physical temperance and which align with the emotional compassion of the soul. In the realm of bodily self-denial, there can arise a temptation towards vain glory. Observers may admire the outward signs of piety, like emaciation or pallor, leading to approval not for genuine virtue but superficial admiration. This is metaphorically illustrated by Simon, who, compelled along the way (Matthew 27:32), bears the Lord’s Cross. Those who engage in acts for the sake of vanity carry burdens that mask their true intentions. Simon embodies those who may abstain from indulgence yet remain trapped in their pride, performing seemingly virtuous deeds without real inner change.

Why does Simon bear the cross yet not perish? Because vanity disables true self-denial. The faint-hearted may exhaust their bodies through abstinence, yet they remain alive to worldly glamor. Similarly, a facade of compassion may sometimes harbor a false love that becomes leniency towards sin, where genuine compassion should instead invoke justice. Our love must be directed toward the individual, appreciating the goodness of creation while denouncing the wrongdoing. This balance is crucial; neglecting justice can lead to a false sense of compassion, veering us away from righteous love.

Seek not the vanity, wealth, or pleasures of this world; refrain from anger and revenge when faced with slander; do not boast or be comforted when receiving praise; do not grieve over lost possessions or similar matters, and you will not remain the same. This is what it means to 'deny yourself.' If you do so, you shall walk the narrow path, bear your cross, and follow Christ.

What does it mean to 'follow Christ?' The answer is that many may carry their crosses but may not follow Him. Those who commit wrongdoings and suffer—like wrongdoers, thieves, murderers, fornicators, and drunkards—may bear their crosses in the form of suffering, whether through insults, punishments, imprisonment, exile, or even death, yet they do not follow Christ. So, what does it mean to follow Christ? It is to perform good deeds and to endure hardships for the will of God, who desires our perseverance, all while looking to Christ Himself, who endured so much. Christ acted righteously, ‘and committed no sin’ (1 Pet. 2:22), teaching goodness and bearing all manner of suffering for our sakes, as He was ‘doing the will of the Father who sent Him’ (John 4:34) and accomplishing His work, being ‘obedient even unto death, and the death of the cross’ (Phil. 2:8). Thus, He exemplified the proper way to please God through doing good and enduring evil, fulfilling the will of God.

God's desire is for us to perform good works and graciously withstand all that comes from evil, be it from Satan or from wicked individuals. Therefore, anyone who acts righteously and suffers unjustly, bearing trials for the love of God and Christ, does so in reflection of how Christ suffered out of love for His Father in heaven and for us, the undeserving. Such a person follows Christ with humility, patience, and love, carrying their cross and walking in His way, thus entering into eternal life, as He declared: ‘he that serves Me, let him follow Me; and where I am, there shall My servant be also’ (John 12:26).

Recognize, then, the narrow way. Few are those who find it (Matt. 7:14). Understand what it entails to ‘deny oneself, take up your cross, and follow Christ.’ Realize that only a few truly deny themselves and follow Him. Many desire glory with Christ, but fewer wish to endure the suffering He faced. Yet Christ proclaims, ‘Whoever does not take up his cross and follow Me is not worthy of Me’ (Matt. 10:38). Again, He states, ‘Whoever is ashamed of Me and My words in this adulterous and sinful generation will also be ashamed of the Son of Man when He comes in the glory of His Father with the holy angels’ (Mark 8:38). Furthermore, He teaches, ‘by your patience save your souls’ (Luke 21:19), and the Acts of the Apostles affirms, ‘Through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God’ (Acts 14:22). Note that it is not merely through trials, but through numerous tribulations that we shall enter the kingdom of God.

Christ did not reproach the enjoyment of earthly blessings as gifts bestowed by God. Instead, He urged us to perceive ourselves not as owners but as caretakers of these gifts. Our role is to recognize them as divine property, entrusted to us, where we must manage them according to God's purpose and be answerable for that stewardship. In fulfilling our duty, we also obey His commandment to love our neighbors and act with kindness toward them.

The rich man in the parable, who was blessed with an abundant harvest, faced condemnation not for gathering it into barns but for regarding it solely as his own, neglecting its divine origin and purpose. Had he viewed it as God’s provision, meant for responsible use in accordance with God’s will, he would have escaped judgment. Similarly, another rich man was not condemned for his wealth but for mismanaging it as if it belonged solely to him, ignoring the needs of Lazarus, the beggar at his door. The unfaithful vinedressers were not accused for enjoying the fruits of their labor but for refusing to give the Master what was rightly His, seeking to seize ownership for themselves. Ultimately, Christ does not condemn the enjoyment of earthly goods unless it violates the fundamental command to love our neighbors.

Regarding hermitage and ascetic practices, it is important to note that solitude and abstinence can be vital in battling temptations and the desires of the flesh. The flesh must be disciplined under the authority of the spirit, with the spirit exercising control. Such struggle can necessitate periods of seclusion and fasting, which many saints have used effectively to overcome both temptation and carnal desires. However, once an individual achieves victory through these disciplines, they are called not to withdraw from the world but to engage with it actively, fulfilling the will of God within it. If someone, after overcoming temptations, chooses to remain distant from the world, relishing in their peace of mind, they will struggle to fulfill the imperative of loving others. How will they demonstrate their commitment to love or do good unto others in isolation?

It must be recognized, then, that to “deny yourself” does not entail a total abstention from the abundance that can support our earthly lives, nor does it equate to a life of harsh asceticism. Instead, denying oneself involves surrendering one’s own will to God’s, acting not according to personal desires but in line with divine commands. This understanding underpins the Lord’s message: “Whoever wants to come after Me, let him deny himself and take up his cross, and follow Me.” When we consider the significance of Christ’s crucifixion and resurrection, which He aligned with the Father's will—identical to His own call for us to align our will with that of God’s—we are encouraged to bear the trials He sends with the same obedience as one carrying a cross.

On this occasion, He expressed those impactful words that elevate humanity’s perspective from the earthly to the heavenly: "What good is it to a man if he gains the whole world, but harms his own soul? Or what ransom will a man give for his soul?" (Mk. 8:36-37). He also reiterated to them that He Himself would face trial.