Conditions and Rewards of Discipleship^(A)

³⁷ “·Those who love [^LThe one who loves…] their father or mother more than they love me are not worthy ·to be my followers [^Lof me]. Those who love their son or daughter more than they love me are not worthy ·to be my followers [^Lof me]. ³⁸ Whoever ·is not willing to carry the [^Ldoes not take up his] cross and follow me is not worthy of me. ³⁹ Those who ·try to hold on to [cling to; seek to preserve; ^Lfind] their lives will ·give up true life [lose them]. Those who ·give up [lose] their lives for ·me [my sake] will ·hold on to true life [^Lfind them]. ⁴⁰ Whoever ·accepts [receives; welcomes] you also ·accepts [receives; welcomes] me, and whoever ·accepts [receives; welcomes] me also ·accepts [receives; welcomes] the One who sent me. ⁴¹ Whoever ·accepts [receives; welcomes] a prophet ·because he is a prophet [^Lin the name of a prophet] will receive the ·reward of [same reward as] a prophet. And whoever ·accepts [receives; welcomes] a ·good [righteous; upright] person because that person is ·good [righteous; upright] will receive the ·reward of [same reward as] a ·good [righteous; upright] person. ⁴² Those who give one of these little ones [even; so much as] a cup of cold water because they are my ·followers [disciples] will ·truly get [^Lcertainly not lose] their reward.”

⁴¹ I tell you the truth, whoever gives you a drink of water because you belong to the ·Christ [Messiah] will ·truly get [^Lcertainly not lose] his reward.

¹⁶ “Whoever listens to you listens to me [Matt. 10:40; John 13:20], and whoever ·refuses to accept [rejects] you ·refuses to accept [rejects] me. And whoever ·refuses to accept [rejects] me ·refuses to accept [rejects] the One who sent me.”

The Cost of Being Jesus’ Follower^(A)

²⁵ Large crowds were traveling with Jesus, and he turned and said to them, ²⁶ “If anyone comes to me but ·does not hate [or loves more than me; ^CJesus is using hyperbole to emphasize his point] his father, mother, wife, children, brothers, or sisters—or even ·life [life itself; or his own life]—he cannot be my ·follower [disciple]. ²⁷ Whoever ·is not willing to [^Ldoes not] carry his own cross and follow me cannot be my ·follower [disciple].

³³ Those who try to ·keep [preserve; keep secure] their lives will lose them. But those who ·give up [lose; let go of] their lives will save them.