Matthew 16:26

New Testament

24 Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If anyone wants to become my follower, he must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me. 25 For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life because of me will find it. 26 For what does it benefit a person if he gains the whole world but forfeits his life? Or what can a person give in exchange for his life? 27 For the Son of Man will come with his angels in the glory of his Father, and then he will reward each person according to what he has done. 28 I tell you the truth, there are some standing here who will not experience death before they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom.”

Pirkei Avot 2:1

Mishnah
Rabbinic

1 Rabbi Said: which is the straight path that a man should choose for himself? One which is an honor to the person adopting it, and [on account of which] honor [accrues] to him from others. And be careful with a light commandment as with a grave one, for you did know not the reward for the fulfillment of the commandments. Also, reckon the loss [that may be sustained through the fulfillment] of a commandment against the reward [accruing] thereby, and the gain [that may be obtained through the committing] of a transgression against the loss [entailed] thereby. Apply your mind to three things and you will not come into the clutches of sin: Know what there is above you: an eye that sees, an ear that hears, and all your deeds are written in a book.

 Notes and References

"... Paul describes this change in outlook on his part in business terms, using the familiar motifs of profit (κέρδος) and loss (ζημία; see MM, 273, 341) — motifs also used by the rabbis, who used the idioms of profit (śākār) and loss (hepsēd; citing Pirkei Avot 2:1), and by Jesus (Matthew 16:26). The metaphor is the familiar one of the balance sheet with its columns marked “assets” and “liabilities.” ..."

Hawthorne, Gerald F. Word Biblical Commentary: Philippians (p. 442) Zondervan, 2018

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