Matthew, 16
24. Then Jesus said to his disciples: If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.
24. Then Jesus said to his disciples: If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.
Matthew chapter 16 presents a series of important teachings and events in the life of Jesus and his disciples. Initially, Jesus rebukes the Pharisees and Sadducees who ask for a sign of heaven, indicating that they know how to interpret time, but do not recognize the own Son of God. He then asks his disciples a question about his identity, and Peter answers that He is the Christ, the Son of the Living God. Jesus then makes a promise to Peter and gives instructions to his disciples about his mission and the importance of taking the cross and following Christ. Next, five verses related to the topics addressed in São Matthew 16:
John 6:68-69: "Simon Peter answered, Lord, to whom we will? You have the words of eternal life. And we have believed and known that you are the Christ, the Son of the living God." As in Matthew 16, Peter declares the identity of Jesus as the Christ, the Son of the Living God.
Mark 8:34: "And calling himself the multitude, with his disciples, he said unto them, If anyone wants to come after me, deny himself, and take his cross, and follow me." In this verse, Jesus gives instructions similar to those He gave to His disciples in Matthew 16, about the importance of taking the cross and following Christ.
Luke 9:23: "And he said to all, If anyone wants to come after me, deny himself, and take his cross every day, and follow me." This verse presents a similar version of Jesus' instruction about taking the cross and following it.
Philippians 2:5-8: "So that there is the same feeling that there was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in God's form, was not used to being equal to God, but emptied Himself, taking The form of the servant, making himself similar to men, and found in the form of man, humbled himself, being obedient to death, and death of the cross. " This verse talks about the humility and obedience of Christ, and the importance of following Him in His humility.
Colossians 1:15-17: "He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation, for in him all things in heaven and earth were created, the visible and the invisible, whether thrones, dominations, or principalists , be powerful; everything was created by Him and to Him. He is before all things, and in it all things subsist. " This verse talks about Christ's position as the Son of God and the Creator of all things.
“Esforce-se, mesmo se for um pouco, mas sempre…” São Padre Pio de Pietrelcina
