What Does "Whosoever shall save his life shall lose it, " Mean?

16. What Does "Whosoever shall save his life shall lose it, " Mean?

Question: I don't understand what is meant in Matthew 16:25 which says:

"For whosoever shall save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it."

Answer: Matthew 16:24-27 are speaking of our faithfulness to the Lord, not our salvation. The Lord Jesus is showing that, if a Christian lives his life only for himself and not for the Lord, it will be a totally wasted life. Now, Matthew 16:25, "For whosoever will save his life (i.e., live only for his own pleasure) shall lose it:"

He will lose all the blessings, happiness, eternal rewards, etc. which he could have had from serving the Lord.

"and whosoever will lose his life for my sake" (My life is hidden in Christ, He is first in my life.) shall find it."

I, then, find out how exceedingly life is worth living when I put Christ first. In Matthew 16:26, Christ contrasts gaining the world and wasting your life.

"For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? (RSV translates "forfeit his life) "or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?" (RSV, "in return for his life).

Remember, the words "soul" and "life" are from the same Greek word. In Matthew 16:27, Christ promises "and then he shall reward every man according to his works." As we pointed out, this passage (Matthew 16:24-27) is speaking of our service to the Lord after we are saved, not as a condition to be saved.